Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-08
WELLMAN'S PROJECT
Will Sail for the Arctic on June Is,
1898.
WILL CAMP THE NEXT WINTER
Early in the Following Year HeWiII
Set Out for the Pole.
WILL BE ANOTHER DASH"

Walter wellman, the newspaper corre-
spondent, has reached Washington from
Europe, having gone across the water to
arrange for another attempt at the north
pole. He went to Norway and Russia and
consulted DIR. Nansen, arranging for
steamer and a large number of Siberian
draught dogs. Mr.. Wellman described his
purposes and aims to a Star reporter this
morning. He said:
That the effort to reach the north pole
will go on till the feat is accomplished may
be taken for granted. Leaving out of the
discussion the question whether 1t is of
any practical value to do it, man set out
long time ago to achieve this thing and he
Will never stop till he has succeeded. Ma
lions have engaged in the friendly rivalry
OF an advance toward the pole, and the
world watches with keen interest every
step nearer the goal. Engl.shmen, Norwe-
gians and Americans have been conspicu-
Gus in this race, and next year at least
three expeditions will be in the field-Capt.
Sverdrup OF Norway, in the Fran, and
Lieut. Peary of the United States, on the
west coast of Greenland, and myself in
Franz Josef Land.
My plan is very simple one All the
details OF 1t l submitted to DR.. hansen in
Cnrlstiania few weeks ago. and he ap-
proved them in the main and made some
suggestions, of which YOU NAV be sure I
shall make good use,
Aithougn my own experience had been
vaIuanie l really had not decided to make
the attempt until DIR. Nansen gave me SO
much encouragement. Nansen is a broad
ana generous man, and not above giving
heip TO such a humble member of the guild
OF arctic enthusiasts as myself
we shall sail from Bergen Norwav IN
d stanch Ice steamer, June 15 next wear
Inc expedition party will be composed of
zen men-two or three Americans and the
nardy fellows who were with me three
years ago have volunteered their services.
Al cape Flora, in latitude so degrees. where
W. MI. 'ackson made his headquarters, we
shah establish supply station, leaving
Two men In charge. The remainder will
push on next autumn, with sledges dogs
ana small boats. as far north as we can 90
before the winter sets in. Probably we
shall reach Cape Fligely, the furthest noint
tcue ned by Payer a quarter of a century
ago, though we may be able to 60 consid-
eraDV further No one knows Row far
north the, land of the Franz Josef Archi-
pelago extends; but it is believed to 20 as
1ar as the eighty-third parallel
nereVer We winter we shall find plenty
OF game for food and fuel for ourselves
and the dogs. This is one great ADVANTAGES
franz Josef Land has over North Green
land as point of departure for a polar
party. In northern Greenland there are few
seaIs. and consequently few ice bears
Ihere are few or no walruses In Franz
josef Land all these are plentiful. When
we come to winter we shall profit by the
IeSsoh Whlch hansen and ~JOhansen taught
al, arctic workers-that one may winter
Wherever he can find game and has a gun
and cartridges. As DR.. hansen modestIy
SAID TO me, OF course, you can winter
there You will have tools to throw up
your nut with. and many other requisites
Johansen and had not even a pickax or a
shovel III
Early In 1899 we shall, If everything
goes rignt, set out upon our journey to-
WARD me pole. There will be five or six
men and sixty dogs. We shall 20 equipped
Tor journey of 100 or 40 DAYS. The fay-
orabie season for sledging over the ice
OF the Arctic sea is in spring, while the
eoio rs sun great and there is light to
traVel by. In summer the ice breaks up
considerably, leads or channels are numer-
Gus. and. worse than all, the snow is soft
ana slushy In the cold weather of spring
10 to 10 below zero Fahr-the surface is
hard and sledging at its best. DR. Nan.
sens advice to me is to start as early as
Possible-even before the sun returns
While 1t will not be pleasant to crawl out
or February. before the sun has shown
nlmSel1 above the southern horizon to go
forth into the terrible cold, 1t will have to
De done II we are to get in 100 or 40 days
How far will You have to travel from
cape Fh3ely, say, to the pole?"
About $50 English miles Whether or
not we can go the whole way and return
be told by trying 1t amounts to about ten
miles Der day. DR.. Nansen Travelled an
average of about eight miles. and he saws
II ne were going again he could do ten or
Twelve, perhaps more. There is no doubt
In nv mind that il DIR. hansen were to
attempt the pole by this method he would
reach it. He thinks So too. Whether or
not can do 1t remains to be seen; but it
Is certainly my right to try 1t II / wish
These attempts to reach the 9Oth degree
are really 'dashes' for the pole. Dr. Nan
sen made dash from the Franz Andree
made his dash by balloon. Peary will try
to make dash from northern Greenland
and l from Franz Josef land. We shall
have fixed stations to fall back upon. which
Is more than Nansen had. Mr.. Jackson has
done splendid work up there, and the Wind
wards voyages have shown US that this
Archipelago may be reached without much
trouble, perhaps IN five years out Of six.
II Is my expectation to return to Europe
in the autumn of 1882"