Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-13


later the crushed boat was discovered
beneath the ice near Juliannehaal. in the
nelghborhOod Of the southwestern eX-
tremity of Greenland. IL is certain that
the floating mass could not have arrived
in this locality by traversing the polar
basin. But by what route then? Evil
IDENTIFY II must have descended Smiths
Straits. In this narrow entrance the
polar current runs close 10 the shores
Of Bafiin and Labrador, carrying every
thing afloat to the American and not TO
the Greenland side The ice mass could
not have reached Juliannehaal, unless II
was carried by the great polar current
which flows 10 the south the length Of the
eastern side Of Greenland. and it must.
after doubling Cape Farewell, have turned
northward again by Davis's Straits. This
cannot be doubted.
Pausing now to understand the route
the floating mass took, We see it must
have come by New Siberia 10 Eastern
Greenland. 1t seems reasonable 10 sup
pose that the flotsam, having been driven
against the northwest, could only traverse
the icy ocean of Siberia by the
current which flows in this direction, and
which. after having passed 10 the north
of Franz Joseph Land and of Spitzber-
gen, probably in the neighborhood OF the
Pole. came thus 10 the waters Of Eastern
Greenland. and was carried to the south
by the polar current of this region.
In the actual state of our photographic
knowledge. this is without doubt the only
plausible itinerary. From the isles OF
New Siberia TO Julianehaal, the distance
by the route indicated is not greater imam
900 nautical miles 0he nautical mile
contains 6OSO feeO. This passage of
fiotsam having been effected in 1000 days,
IL must have progressed about twenty
one miles in twenty-four hours, other
cases of floating masses, less broken
than that of the debris of the Jeanette.
confirms the theory of the efiluX of the
Siberian waters against the eastern sEore
OF Greenland. One, for example, picked
I'D on this shore a wooden whale lance
like those made by the Eskimos Of Be
ring Strait. Most Of the floating wood
picked Up on the Greenland coast comes
from the northern part Of the CONT
nent Of Asia. Among twenty-five chips
collected by the German Arctic eApedi-
ton Of Koldewey, seventeen were known
10 have come from Siberia.
This is not all. The examination OF
the mud collected in 1883 on the shores
Of Greenland revealed the most sgnifi-
cant facts. This mud contained speci-
mems Of not less than twenty minerals.
This varied composition Dr. Tornelohm
Of Stockholm, regards as absolute proof
Of an extended CONTEMPORARY ST.
IBERIA.
Lastly, In the middle of these deposits,
Dr. CIeve discovered curious diatcms
among the multitude of chips examined
By him, which were identical with those
collected by the Vega expedition 10 Cape
Vankarema, near the Boring Straits.
A GREAT CURRENT EXISTS.
All these observations furnish indubi-
table proofs OF the existence of great
current, which, starting from the icy
ocean Of Siberia, follows the eastern
shore Of Greenland, and passes into the
polar basin.
Theory corroborates the existence Of
this current. To the east Of Southern
Spitzbergen and the extremity of Franz
Joseph Land on the glacial ocean, is a
centre OF barometric depression. In viz
tue OF the law of Buys-Ballot the winds
in the northern part OF this zone OF
minimum blow from east 10 west and
drive the waters in this direction and
against the polar basin and Greenland
assert that TO attain the polar basin
we must follow the current flowing 10
the north. and upon this 1 have based
! will start with seven men, one OF
whom will be an Esquimaux, who will
look after the dogs and reindeer. A ship
will accompany us upon the coast OF ST.
IBERIA in the environs of the current
formed by the discharge into the sea Of
the river Lena. We will get as far
north as possible 10 IS degrees of north
latitude and 135 degrees or 40 degrees Of
west longitude. We will then leave the
ship, carrying with US a sufficient guam
tity OF provisions TO support the men Of
the expedition, TO keep alive the dogs for
one year and half, and the reindeer for
nearly year.
Besides the provisions, the baggage OF
the expedition viii be composed Of
/. a long boat, constructed in a man
ner suitable for a dwelling and capable
Tor serving as an equipage boat, to be Of
aluminium and wood.
2 Six skeletons OF Kayaks, each of
which can carry one or two men with
provisions enough for six months. with
three wrappings OF linen and skins.
3. Twenty-Five sleds OF different form
and construction. appropriate for differ !
ent circumstances, and Of which the |
plans and designs are drawn by me.
We shall travel constantly northward. |
following the current. which will carry
us to the north OF So degrees west. 1t is |
the route extolled by DT. Nansen. and |
which l have described as that followed !
by the Jeanette and by the fiotsam.
Supposing that we accomplish an aver |
age OF four miles per day. we would /
reach the Pole in $50 days travel. We |
would continue then In the direction OF |
SpitzbeTsen 20 the. Damon Island, where |
the explorer Andree started with his bal |
loon We can reach Europe by the rega- |
lar tourist excursion boats. This jtine- \
rary enables US TO profit by the great /
polar current flowing toward the north.
IL we study the course Of the Fran du-
ring two years and nine months. we find /
the vessel travelled go miles a year. II
viii be our fault IL we cannot bear the
time Of the Fran. Remember. also. that
Perry's expedition started with provisions
for seventy days only, and had a counter
current Of two miles a day. Notwith-
standing these disadvantages, he attain
ed g. degrees north. after having made
Loo miles, or more than fourteen miles
a day.
BY the route Of Smiths Straits, 4 Is