Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-04
FRANZ JOSEF LAND.
RETURN OF THE JAcKsox-nAnus-
WORTH EXPEDITION.
IDEAS REVoLUTIoHngD.
GiIiies Land Probably Non-Ezisters.
Existence Of Petermann Land Alss
DoubtfuI-other Valuable Observes
tions-Nothins Seen Of Andree.

LONDON. September a-The British
steamer windward. hsvirg on board
the Jackson -Harmsworth expedition,
which has spent three winters near
Cape Flora, Franz Josef Land. ar
rived here to-day from Franz Josef
Land. with q. f. Jackson and his coli
leagues. All the members OF the ex.
pedltlon are in good health. They re-
port having explored Franz Josef Land
odd corners. Before the wlndward
sailed the quarters of the expedition at
EImwood were fastened up, but Mr..
Jackson left thero 4 quantity OF sup
plies, In case the place should be visit
ed by Professor Andree, or other exc
plorers. He also established a depot at
Bell Island.
Talking over his experiences with .
representative OF the Associated Press,
MFR. Jackson said that since the Wind.
ward left Franz Josef Land. last year,
with DIR. Nansen, the winter had been
less severe and less windy than usual.
Mr.. Jackson. and Albert srnitaxe,
nautical astronomer OF tho expedition.
started on March 10th, with a pony and
dog sledge, to explore the western part
OF Franz Josef Land. They encountered
boisterous winds 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 equipment The
party followed the coast-line, some
times on sea OF ice and sometimes
al ofo oolo tcI Ian \ hf,rh hAr-
dering on Cambridge Bay. The constant
mists which prevailed made the jour-
ney very harassing.
The party shot n bear. the only one
seen. and having procured meat and
blubber, they returned TO Elmwood In
the middle OF May. after meeting
party sent out to look for them, anxiety
having been felt for their safety. as
they were a fortnight overdue. A Sc
cond expedition, which went eastward
at the beginning of June. was less sue
cessful. as on the second day out tho
explorers lost a sledge through the thin
sea-ice, and had a hazardous return
Journey
The result OF the explorations. II ID
claimed, completely rovolutionize the old
ideas OF Franz JOSEF Land, and proves
that the much-discussod Gilles Land
have been In the habit OF placing IL
and, therefore, may be considered non.
existent.
The whole continental mass Of land Is
replaced by vast number Of small,
Islands, and the lofty mountains by
long-ridged hummocks and ice-packs,
while north OF these are. as has been
found. an open sea, which Is the most
open north sea In the whole world.
The most valuable magnetic. meteoro-
logical and geological observations were
made and very valuable botanical and
geological calculations were brought to
England.
The winter life of the explorers was un-
eventful. There was about two hours
twilight from the middle of October till
November and from thence on II was
total darkness until the end of February.
The members Of the expedition killed
14O0 loon "a web-footed bird found In
the northern regIons) in the autumn,
which provided ample fresh meat. Du-
ring the winter they caught 100 loon and
twenty-five kittiwakes "a bird OF the
gull kind, TO which they fastened labels
initialled ~" and which they then iibe-
rated.
The cold sometimes reached 40 degrees
below zero and then jumped up 10 20
degrees below the freezing point.
The members Of the Jackson HARMS
worth expedition failed to see King
Oscar Land and are convinced that there
is no great land northwest OF Franz
Josef Land. They add that the existence
OF Petermann Land Is doubtful, and
that at most II must be small.
These alterations In the map render the
prospect Of reaching the North Pole
from Franz Josef Land more than doubt
full as the returned explorers are satis-
fed there Is no land north Of 81 degrees.
They did not see anything OF Professor
Andree who started on July 1itn from
the Island of Tromso. In an attempt to
reach the North Pole by balloon.
Mr.. Jackson announces his intention
OF hoading another Arctic expedition,
this time on his own account.