The San Francisco call., 1897-09-04
Return of the Jackson
HarmsWorth Explor-
ing Party.
The True Position of Franz
Josef Land at Last
Determined.
Many Islands Long Known on the
Maps Now Found to Be
Nom Existent.

LONDON, ENG, Sept. 3-The British
steamer Windward. having on board the
Jackson Harmsworth expedition, which
has spent three winters near Cape Flora
Franz Josef Land, arrived here to-day
from that place with Jackson and his COL
leagues. All the members of the expedi-
ton are in good health. They report hav-
ing explored Franz Josef Land thor
oughy, with the exception of some odd
corners.
Before the Windward sailed. the quar-
ters OF the expedition at Elmwood were
fastened up, but MIR. Jackson left there a
quantity of supplies in case the place
should be visited by Professor Andree or
other explorers. He also established a de-
pot at Belle Island.
Talking over his experience with rep
resentative of the Associated Press, Mr.
Jackson said that since the Windward
left Franz Josef Land last year with DR..
Nansen, the winter had been less severe
and less windy than usual. Mr.. Jackson
and Albert Armitage nautical astronomer
of the expedition, started on March 10
with a pony and dog sleds to explore the
western part of Franz Josef Land. They
encountered boisterous weather, and at
the end of the first month a majority of
the dogs and the pony succumbed and the
explorers were compelled to abandon all
but the most essential part of their equip
ment. The party followed the coast line,
sometimes on q sea of ice and sometimes
along glaciated land.
The constant mists which prevailed
made the journey very hard. They shot
bear, the only one seen, and having pre-
served the meat and blubbsr they re-
turned 10 EImwood in the middle of Nav,
after meeting party en- route to look for
them.
The result of the explorations, it is
claimed, completely revolutioniZed the
old idea OF Franz Josef Land, and proved
that the much discussed Gillles Land does
not lie where Arctic geographers have
been in the habit of placing il, and there
fore it may be considered non-existent.
The whole continental mass OF land is
replaced by a vast number OF small
islands and the lofty mountain by long.
r!dged moCks and ice packs, while
north of these had been found an open
sea. which is the most open north sea in
The whole world. The most valuable
magnetic, meteorological and geological
observations were made, and very valu-
able botanical and geological collections
we're brought to England. The winter
life OF the explorers was uneVentfuI. The
mem bers of the expedition killed 400
looms "a web-footed bird found in the
northern regiohs) in autumn, W hich pro-
vided ample fresh meat. During the
winter they caught nineteen looms and
twenty-five kittywacks Ga bird of the gull
species), to which they fastened labels
initiated 81. H. and liberated them. The
cold sometimes reached 40 degrees below
zero.
The mem bers of the expedition failed to
see King Oscar Land, nd ara convir ced
that there is no great land north of Franz
Josef Land.
They add that the existence of Peter
mann Land is doubtful, and that most of
it must be small. These alterations in
the map render the prospect of reaching
the north pole from Franz Josef Land
more than doubtful, as the returned ex-
plorers are satisfied there is no land north
of 81 degrees. They did not see anything
of Professor Andree, who started on July
II from the island of Tromsoe In an at
tempt TO cross the north pole by balloon.
Mr.. Jackson announces his intention of
heading another arctic expedition, this
time on his own account.