The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-30
ALMOST TO THE POLE
Walter Wellman, Arctic Explorer,
Relates His Experiences.
HOW HIS LIFE WAS SAVED
DRAGGED OVER THE ICE WITH
HIS LEG CRUSHED.
Forced to Retreat or He Believes That
He Would Have Reached the Goal
Sought By SO Many Venturesome
Scientists-Found Food Left For
Andree.

was accompanied by the American
members of the expedition, who are
well. In an interview with a repre-
sentative of the Associated Press, Mr.
Wellman said:
1.-The object of the expedition was two
fold-to complete the exploration OF
4 Franz Josef land, of which the north
and northeast parts We're practically
unknown, and to reach a high latitude
or even the pole itself. The first object
was successfully accomplished. The
second would have been achieved, al
least to a greater extent than by
previous explorers. but for the accident
| to myself
Mr.. Wellman recounted the starting
of the expedition from Tromsoe. June
&c. 1898. how it reached Elmwood. the
headquarters of the Jackson expedition
July 20. and hoisted there the stars
and stripes underneath the Union Jack
which had been flying over the deserted
settlement for nearly two years. The
provisions left for Professor Andree
the missing aeronaut, We're found by
Mr.. Wellman untouched.
Start For the Pole.
After leaving letters about his ex-
J petition and taking a collapsible house
with him. Mr.. Wellman proceeded due
east for Cape Tegethoff and arrived
there July 80. 1898. There the party
landed all the stores and the steamer
returned to Norway.
I'VE established our headquarters in
the little house brought from Jackson S
! headquarters" continued Mr.. Wellman
! ''over which flew the stars and stripes
! Desiring to push further north with
the greatest speed, 1 dispatched Bald
win. Aug. 5, with the Norwegians
sledges, dogs and boats, myself and
others intending to follow in few
days: -.s
Shortly after Baldwins departure
/ discovered that, owing to a sudden
/ breakup of the ice, l was unable TO
| proceed, but sent two Norwegians to
inform Baldwin to build his outpost
leave two men in charge of it, and re-
turn to my headquarters.
Here, Lieutenant Evelyn B. Baldwin
! of the bureau. told of the doings of his
! expedition. He said:
Perils of the Trip.
September 81, my party reached
Cape Heller, in latitude 81, where
we decided to make an outpost.
From the very outset. we had a
constant fight with the high seas, ice
and wind, and there was a continual
| fog. The ice underneath us parted with
terrific crashes, leaving us adrift on
small foes. Here we built station and
called it Fort Mckinley. We stocked it
with blubber and meat and. leaving
there two volunteers, Ventzen and
/ Bjorvig, l started to return Oct. %, to
Mr.. Wellmans headquarters, arriving
/ there Oct. 80 in safety, in spite of
great hardships, cold, darkness and
! ice.
THE party spent the winter COM
fortably in Harmsworth house. which
was completely buried in snow. They
killed many bears. Mr.. Wellman, Feb.
Is. 1899, with Norwegians, with sledges
and dogs. started north"
Mr.. Wellman, continuing, said: Feb
! %. 1889. l arrived at Fort Mckinley
/ Bjorvig. rifle in hand, stood at the
mouth of the snow tunnel. He wrung
my hand and with tears in his eyes
said: Poor Ventzen is dead
"'Of course you have buried him.
said.
No Bjorvig said. he lies there,
pointing to the house. 1 have kept my
| promise
The Quick and the Dead.
1.-THE two men had a compact that in
case of death, the survivor should keep
the body until help came. In the little
hut the quick and the dead had slept
side by side through two months of
Arctic darkness. Bjorvig said he had
managed to keep up his spirits by re-
citing Ibsen's poetry.
1.-The next day we gathered stones
and under these we buried cur dead
comrade. A few fitting words were
spoken as we stood around in 20 de-
grees of frost.
After delay of ten days, the party.
including Bjorvig, pressed north in
sledgos and by march until we reached
50 degrees east of Rudolph island,
THE prospects then were reassur-
ing. We had three months of the best
season before us and were confident of
reaching 81 degrees. Though, of
course. we had suffered from cold, we
were all in fine form.
Then a seemingly trivial accident
turned the advance into a precipitate
retreat. While struggling with the
sledges in rough ice. my right leg was
bruised and sprained by my falling
into a hidden crevase. For two days l
went on, and unless other circum-
stances had occurred, l should have
pressed onward so far that 1 would
never have been able to return alive.
Crushing of Ice.
at midnight. March %, we were
awakened by the crushing of the ice
under our feet. 1t swayed and deep
crevasses yawned about us. Several
darkness and storm it was impossible
to see a path of safety. Expecting 70
be overwhelmed at any moment by the
ice, we scrambled over the field of ice
and saved most of our equipment, ex-
cept the dog food, reaching place of
safety in half an hour.
Our brave Norwegian comrades did
not express the slightest fear. While
1t was possible to go on for a time, my
leg now demanded a retreat. For two
or three days l stumbled along. until
/ fell. There was nothing to do then
but get on a sledge and be dragged
back to headquarters by the men and
the dogs Forced marches by my de-
voted comrades saved my life.
1.-THE point at which we turned back
was twenty-five miles northwest of
Freeden islands. where DIR. Nansen
landed in 1895. North Of these islands
we photographed three islands and
some large land, unseen either by Payer
or Nansen. We also found that Payers
so-called Dover glacier does not exist.
II still believe it is possible to reach
the pole by Franz Josef land. But
cannot say if 1 shall make another ef-
fort"