Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-21
DYCHE TALKS OF NANSEN.
SAYS FRAM'S BUILDER IS ARCTIC
EXPLORER PRE-EMINENT.
The Lawrence Professor, Who Is
Something of an Explorer Him.
self, Talks of N~ansen-Snys
Andree May BE Safe.

Professor L. L.. Dyche, of the chair OF
natural history of the Kansas university,
was in Kansas City last evening, en- route
TO L~eavenworth, where he will lecture to-
night on Alaska. Professor Dyche Will
return here tomorrow morning and meet
Nansen, whom he calls the Arctic eXplor-
er pre-eminent.
"Nansen's expedition puts the whole
question of Arctic exploration in a new
Light" said Professor Dyche, who has Inn
self been u member of two Arctic eXpiora-
ton parties. and hopes some time to make
a third trip, if not to the pole. "Nansen
has gone right through the Arctic basin,'
he continued. "and while he did not touch
the pole. he has gone near enough to it
to know what that field is. Reaching the
mathematical pole is now merely a mat
ter of sentiment, although its accomplish
ment would. OF course, bring lame 10 the
explorer.
.!Nansen's expedition was the first where
a man sat down and coolly and deliberately
laid out all the plans for his trip and FOL
lowed them implicitly. His theories. before
by nearly all Arctic explorers. Greedy said
hi ideas of the Arctic currents were not
wcrld. Greely also said the ice would crush
the Fran even if she Was a solid block Gf
wood. Nansen has: proven that Greedy
region. Indeed. he has shown that 1t was a
| mistake to intrust a man of Greely's ability
with SO important a Mission, scior,,st 80
| well as an explorer. and he brought back 4
great amount of material which Will be
very valuable Men don't &C to the Arctic
region for the sake of scientilic investlsa,
| ton alone. There is Il charm about 1t. and
every man who has been there wants TO go
back. but the most potent incentive lies IN
the fact that the people are idol worship
ers. and a successful trip TO the Arctic re-
gions is sure to bring one fame and fortune.
"if Andree gets back we will climb on
| chairs to see him. He may not bring back
any scientific information. 1t may have
little or nothing of value. but that will
make no difference to us-he Will be our
idol"
"He made one bold dash for fame and
fortune. win or lose. Lose. and he was
lost; win, and he won big. 1t was Eamb-
ling with his life. He stands a chance to
get back. If he came down on the ice he
would have advantages n might reach
land. If he came down in the water he
is lost. 1t is a mistaken idea to think he
is lost because he has not turned up TINS
Where would you expect him to be
now?" g.,
somewhere near where the balloon dropped
him. We don't know about the wind cur
rents of that region. nor do we know when
/ the balloon dropped MIN. foT lHoSe red
sons We have no way of judging where he
is He may be in Siberia"
"Why did Nansen fail to reach the pole?'
"Nansen said: L will explore the Arctic
basin, and if / can reach the mathematical
pole without taking too great risks l will
do it, He left the Fran and made a dash
to the, north. The ice was bad and the
current was against him.. Some days he
fioated as far south as he had Travelled
north. He reached Sc degrees. u minutes
and s seconds, less than 300 miles from the
pole. and then he said: W will make 81
degrees He sat down and thought. When
he arose he said. No, it might decide our
fate This was the practical way of look
ing at it. Nansen explored the Arctic ba-
sin; Peary. or some one else, may stand on
\ the mathematical pole"
will Peary reach the pole?"
"Peary's plans are good" said the profess
sor with a smile. 'They were known as
Dyche's plans before Peary adopted them.
Peary, will at least explore the north of
land than any one else has ever gone. No
one knows how far north Greenland ex-
tends. When he has gone that far by land
he will make a dash for the pole. He may
reach it. 1 would not be surprised If he
| did ~