The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-04
Expedition Returns From
Franz Josef Land.
IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES MADE
Jack kson-Harmsworth Party IL Back
sn England After Three Years in
the Arcfic-The Land Thoroax xhiy
Explored and Gfllfes Land Proved
Not to Exist Open Sea Extenas
North From - DeSree<-Sothiag
Seen of Andree - Many Valuable
Specimens Obtained.

LONDON. Sept 5-The British steamer
WindVFard. having on board the Jackson
HaFTnsE9EtA expedition which nsS spent
three winters near Cape Flora. Franz
Josef land, arrived here today from thar
country ~ith Jackson and MS colleagues.
All the members OF tna expedition are in
good health. They report having explored
Franz Josef land thoroughly with the
exception % some odd corners
Before the WiBawaro sailed the quar-
tsrs Of the expedition At Eis~ood were
fastened gp. bat Mr.. jackson left there
q quantity Of supplies in case the place
should &c visited by Prof Andrse or other
explorers. RE also established . depot
a. Belle Island
Talking over his experience with a repre-
sentative Of the Associated Press Mr.. Jack
son said that the Wiudward left Franz
Josef land last year with DR.. NanS~a- The
winter had been less severe aud less windy
than usual. Mr.. Jackson and Albert Ar
mi;age. nautical astronomer Of the expedi-
ton. started On March Is with a pony and
dog sleds TO explore the weSt part of
Franz Josef land They encountered
boisieFoas weather and at the end OK the
first month majority OF the dogs and the
pony saccuIbe9 and the explorers were
compelled 70 abandon ali bur the most es-
sential part of their equipment The party
followed the cosst line. sometimes or a SEA
The constant mists which prevailed made
the journey very hard. They shot bear.
the only one seen. and having preserved
the meat and blubbsr they returned 20
Eimwood in the middle OF May. after meet
ing party en- route 10 look for them.
The result Of the exploration. il Is claim
ed, completely revolutionlzed the old idea
OF Franz Josef land and proved that the
much-discussed Gillies land does not lie
where Arctic geographsrs have been in the
habit Of placing Il. and therefore Il may
he considered non-sxis1ent. The whole con-
ttnentsl mass OF land is replaced BY a vast
number of small islands and the lofty
mountain by Iong-rfdge6 hammocks ard
ice packs. while north OF these had been
found an open sea, which Is the most open
north sea in the world The most valuable
magnetic. meteorological and geological Oh
serTations were made and very valuable
botanical and geological collections were
brought 10 England.
The winter life Of the explorers wzs
uneve1tiul The members Of the expasf-
tSon killed lao io3a "a wehfooted bird
found IN the northern resious) in autumn.
which provided ample fresh meat Dur
ing the winter they caught nineteen loon
ard twenty-five kitty-wacks "a bird OF
the gull specses) 70 which they fastened
latels initiated u FL" and liberated them.
The cold sometimes reached 20 degrees
fellow zero.
The members Of the expedition failed
TO see King Oscar land and are con-
vsrced that there IS no great land north
OF Franz Josef lard. They say that the
existence OF Peternann land Is doubtful
and that at most II must be small. These
alterations in he map render the pros
pect OF reaching the North pole from
Franz Josef land more than doubtful as
the returned explorers are satisfied there
is no land north Of s. degrees.
They did not see anything Of Prof. An
dree. who started on Juiy II from the
island Of Tromshoe In an attempt 10
cross the North pole by balloon.
Mr. Jack son announces his intention of
having another Arctic expedition, this
time on his own account.