The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-16
County a.d CITY official Paper.
SASsES,s EXPEDITION.

The news as TO the success OF Nansen's
expedition TO tho north pole cannot be sc-
cepted without hesitation. The intense
desire OF the world TO know what really
exists at a point which fancy has invested
with marvellous attributes makes 1t easy
10 believe that the goal can be reached.
But II Is evident that some of the reports
as to Nansen's whereabouts must have
been without foundation. IL he Is now. as
reported, anywhere near the mouth of the
Lena II is very certain he was not a few
months ago on the coast OF Greenland.
What ship 1t was that was sighted drift
Ing or packed In the Ice Ii would be inter
esting To know. 1t may be one OF those
abandoned long ago In some OF the
expeditions which were relieved. and al
though IL Is not near the spot where any
one is known TO have been left. the mys-
FERROUS currents of the unknown sea may
have carried 1t far from its recorded iodg-
Ing place
hansen left the Scandinavian coast with
the intention OF forcing his way through
the northeast passage TO the New Siberian
islands. where he would meet that line OF
exploration followed by the Jeanette corn
Ing In from Boring sea. Although the most
northerly point OF penetration within the
Arctic circle Is not so near the pole on
that side as that reached by Markham ia
1876 or by Lockwood In 1SSa. or at another
point 10y Parry In ISL. he proceeded much
on the theory of the Jeannettes party.
- al an,t - fha zrta
islands. he expected 10 turn thence 10 the
oorth agd follow a supposed current which
wculs esfag him out on the east or west
coast OF Grasalans. now believed To be al
island. Although he Jeanette was
wrecked on the Siberian side of the Arctic
circle articles drifted from the wreck 10
the coast OF Greenland. indicating that
there IS such a current. How near that
current goes TO tho north pole depends en-
TREY upon whether the extreme end " the
earth Ia on land or covered by water.
Whca hansen sailed la the summer Of
iSas he calculated that Il woeld take three
years 70 accomplish his purpose. and that
he would Come out somewhere between
spitshergea and the east coast Of GFse1-
laad. That dc Is heard from near The
mouth Of thu Lana is proc, that 81 he Ia.
succeeded IN reaching the pois he had 10
retrace his steps Instead q following the
drift from tie Jeanette On thu lines he
had laid down. Tire comparatively open
sea he would find north 81 Jeanneits ISL
and 10 due 20 the meeting OF the warmer
water OF the Psel,ic. entering through Be
ring sea. With the currents OF the Atlantis
swollen by the great volume OF waters
pouring eowa IN summer time from the
Siberian mountains through the Lena.
Yana. obi and other rivers, Although Far
~ reached THE hisa Pe,nt OF - degrees =.
minutes from the opposite eide. Re con.
Guided that II vas useless 20 have ths
land sad trust TO the drifting pack Gogns
IN that direction. Il would seem as Il
Nansen. sappoSlng ne reached the pole
came 10 tho same conclusion ana returned
the way he weat
But Il = all a matter OF speculation
within that latisgalnsl line which form,
the inasr Arctic circle. The comparative
~ mild waters Of The past two years CT
the Pacific side may have leSssaea N,
sornpaetness az the ice AMI the stout nttl'
ship may have penetrated the Merit
Kings closely kept secrets N0soty
Knows. unless perseverance, ans good fer
tune OF the explorer have given hln
tins key 60 8 great mystery. Net until al
summers heat has opened I'd travel frcn
rrkatsk 70 the nogth 81 the Issa ca'
rauch mere Ia known. ana With thu litti'
tAaiaitzsHx scrap Of Gsss esuiax frou