Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-14
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Jhangss spassAta,. Ny Eyrtr'sas. - s"s
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Preparations.
A Norwegian proverb says, The ship
that has once seen the sun set ON
field of ice, will always return to 1t.
With the Fran this certainly VIII
prove to be the case. for in these days
she again sets sail for Polar seas.
Already in the autumn of 1886. short
| ~ after the world had been electrified
| by the news OF the return OF Nahsen
ard the Fran, her captain. Otto SVer-
drup, began planning second arctic
expedition. Before, however, publicly
| announcing his intentions, he laid his
scheme before English and Sc@,dlna-
! Wan scientists. and went carefully over
his plans with Nansen; the former
| agreed with him. that were he success
full in accomplishing what he Intended,
the trip would be OF great scientific
value; the latter naturally fired Sver-
d'up With his usual enthusiasm and
encouragement. Captain SverdrIp had
but to suggest his plan to wealthy Nor
wesians of scientific interests in order
instantly to receive promise OF such
support IS to remove all financial OBJ
s,acles, even slio:iG the government
veto AN appropriation.
The E'ram's first expedition had, OF
course. shown its captain III which
ways she fell short Of, as well rs sur
passed, expectations, ard how she bore
the very varying Stress and strain Of
polar seas. A,ihu,ah the ship had
most admirably whimsical the packing
and grinding OF the zee. us Well as in
ternally fulfilled the wants OF such an
expedition, still Captain Sverlrup had
observed several ways in Which she
could more fully meet requirements.
RcnuGelling the ship, he thought,
might cost about $1,000, but later he
found that it would amount 20 about
Sc $50. In the spring OF 1891 L petit
ten. accompanied by hearty recon-
maada;iun from Nansen, WAS laid be-
fare the Shorihi@&. requesting IN APP
preparation OF no:.e% sufficient to COW
cr the expenses. 1t VS.: instantly and
en-. Enthusiastically voted by both Radicals
and Conservatives.
The entire cost of lie necessary pro-
visions was dcfray2d ny the hrnthers
E!ngnacs and CnusG iteiberg, and the
FRAN Was ready aud transformed early
this spring.
, With Nansen meeting success, after
having sailed out in the face of SO
: much criticism AID scepticism, Sver
drup found ii unnecessary to explain
his intentions Or seaport his views in
order to gain confidence ar belief The
course OF his tii, IS i'll the main as fol-
lows: First, to creep along the west
evn coast OF Greenland. through
Smiths Sound and the Kennedy and
, Robinson Straits, to the northwestern
coast, and from there out into Lin
coin S Sea. we'll known from Mark
hams voyage in 1876. Sverdrup hopes
/ to reach Robinson Strait by August,
| the time Of year when il is frcest from
/. ice. IN Lincolu's Sea. somewhere near
: Gieenland's coast. he hopes to Seek
4 winter quarters. Then, the following
: spring Or summer, the journey will
= continue around the northern shore of
. Greenland tGrcenland, according to the
latest Investigations. is supposed to be
IN isand) and drift with the polar
: current down the eastern shore. The
: course OF the trip is. therefore. mainly
: & decentralization Of Greenland.
): Sverdrur's greatest difficulty. should
he succeed III getting round the north
Of Grecl::;ad. VIII undoubtedly be
when ondt,..vo!ing to force the Fran
! out OF tNe ''!.at':-icc." by which she
:. would gradually Lc carried southwark
! with the .;.i:,' rnGivat. His succeed
(. ing in tnit,. rhis With the Fam in the
). sgIt.nor o.! 1856 WAS w!l:i e..:.ed for
I him N:nsen's le!4l;.lll X. ut ,i.:.cr of
}, the Norwegian Geographical society
I Il CONSIDER Msnse;, sad. '.:tye.drnp's
:. irceiHa u,r s!:ia FROM tic horrible
J crash y. tlp .,r:-ii..t VIII, h surrounded
her the %ye.:ie.l Il, A!r. ,......,t ever per
e formed IN are il lesi::..s.''
II Tie aim vi siNtlo. n.5 journey is
y merely one of :cie.t.!!c feae.irch, and
3 MOI, as Nansen's party was, 10 reacn
$ the axis Of the pole. Besides a study
: OF the meteorological. magnetic, and
!" other physical conditions of these part
ly unknown regions. much OF the work
> VIII be an accurate examination OF
= the paleocfystic ice, rs we'll as the
: oceanic. and the stretches OF land that
are passed The geology of the coun-
!, try also will be investigated the depth.
percentage OF SALT and temperature OF
) the sea, the flora and fauna Of the re-
a giuns. etc.
With the Fran rs their station,
many Shedding expeditions will be
i made in order to locate definitely the
r geographical position Of islands and
: coast, AID as Srerdrup recently put 1t
:. in Il speech at the recent fete of Nor
wegian geoiogists, TO color the white
e Ignorance OF our maps"
t. In one respect a radical departure
d has been made in the Fram's equip
Ii ment, namely, in the use Of petroleum
g for lighting as we'll as heating, instead
t OF electricity. The large quantity Of
c coal needed for heating IS well is for
motor force: has now been replaced by
twenty tons Of petroleum.
Il The Danish government has az
l. usual. done much towards the success
q Af ri la1l