The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-02
DIR. NANSEN'S
WELCOME.
A Very Hearty One Given
Him in This City.
PERILS OF POLAR REGIONS
The Doctors Graphic Story of Trip
Toward The Poe.
PERILS OF POLAR REGIONS
A NORWEGIAN TESTIMONIAL.

DIR. Nausen, the most distinguished of
Arctic explorers. received last night a
royal welcome. He was time and again
applauded 10 the echo during his lecture.
Early in the evening a reception in his
honor was given in the parlors of the
Narragansett Hotel, attended by the
most prominent people OF the city. The
Continental Band furnished music.
The platform at Infantry Hall was
decorated with the banners OF the Nor
wegian Singing Society anu the Den
Norske Forening and the flags of Nor
way and tho United States.
Occupying seats on the platform were
Gov .Jyer, Mayor McGuinness, Pres H.
Benz. Andrews and the governors staff i'm
full Uniform. The hall was well filled,
and among the audience were many
prominent citizens. Gov. Dyer MAYOR
McGuinness ana Pres. r. Benz. Andrews
participated in welcoming the distin-
gGlshed lecturer to the city and state in
a happy and pleasing manner. DIR.
Nanser. arising, said:
Ladies and gentlemen, l beg to thank
you Tor your most cordial and hearty
welcome. IL seems strange that so many
people will come to see and hear n MAJ,
who can tell them of n region where ice
only IL. But we all want TO know all
there Is to know about the earth. From
the first men have tried to penetrate in
all directions but the voyages into the
North are attended with the most danger
on account OF the leo and cold. The ice
always threatened the ships and beat
them back, forcing travel on the ice.
The Ice was rough and men had to give
IL up. concluded If more was to be done
some other way Of doing it must be found,
and got the idea of fighting with, in
stead OF against the constant currents
from Siberia toward Greenland.
One of the expeditions from the United
States gave mo the idea, and drift ice
was constantly being carried across the
Northern sea in that direction. L then had |
, snip built strong enough to stand the |
pressure and determin to go TO the ice |
near Siteria, get frozen into the ice and |
d. carried along with II. The main idea
was not 10 reach the pole, bat 10 pene- /
rate further than had been done. and
get'a clearer and more reasonable idea of
Northern regions than before.
The Fran sailed June 2i. 1890 for ST.
1eria. At latitude 7S degrees 80 IN minutes
We met the ice and were soon closed in.
To drift over this comparatively short
distance took about three years. The life
S "A wholesoms one, the air pure and no
terms We had no sickness and had To |
GU tn6 doctor 10 Work on the dogs Tor |
ack of anything to do We led regular
hongh somewhat monotonous life we
ad our meals regularly, three times a
ay-breakfast at 8, dinner at and sup [
or at q. The forenoon and Afternoon
'ere spent in work, rs we were Uy 70
ieans idle. The evening was given to
such as concerts, cards and '
ther games We had fine library of $
'ientiiio and other books and consider .
Bile scientific apparatus We had regular j
and astronomical observa- z
ons to make. In such cold il was not
.sy to handle small thumbscrews on the r
lstruments with bare fingers, and we :
ten got frozen fingers, but then we
,uld go to the good ship aud have good
me thnwing them out so IL was not so
,d. We had als) magnetic observations.
eep sea soundings, often i'm 2000 fathoms
water. ard taking more than doy,
'ep sea temperatures. and the animals
id pants in tho water to take up our
me. Tben there was the study OF the
ortbern lights and tie electricity In the
+. Then i'm the string nature has its
Iarins ana tpe sun grows higher and 7
Rher till IT shines constantly for live
onths. Then there are ponds of water
, the ice and the eyes must be protected
ON the constant glare. When fall
mes on with. tho beautiful Northern
yhts our hearts and thoughts go out to q
o home country. q