The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-08-22
WALTER WELLMAN
Is HEARD FROM.
The Brave Explorer and Party
Back at TOmsOe.
HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL TRIP.
The Intrepid Journalist Probably Lame
For Life, Through An Accident
CHASTITY Experience of One
of the Party On Duty.

The News-Democrat recently printed
the fact that the relatives of Walter
Welman, the Arctic explorer, were wor-
ried about him, as he had not been
heard from for nearly two years. His
daughters have been visiting in this
city for several weeks and his wife is
former Canton girl. A special to the
News Democrat tells of the finding of
the explorer, and of his being a cripple
for life because of an accident which
befel him while engaged in his explora-
tions.
DETAILS OF THE TRIP.
TRoMsoE, Island. of Tromsoe, Nor
way, Aug. lS.-Walter Wellman and
the survivors of the polar expedition
led by him arrived here ON the steamer
Capella, having successfully completed
their explorations in Franz Josef Land
Mr.. Wellman has discovered import
ant new lands and many islands.
The expedition brings a grim story of
Arctic tragedy. In the autumn of 1898
an outpost called Port Mckinley was
established in latitude 81. 1t was a
house built of rocks and rooted over
with walrus hide. Two Norwegians,
Paul Bjoervig and Bert Bentzeen, the
latter of whom was with Nansen on the
Fran, remained there.
The main party wintered in a can
vas covered hut called Harmsworth
House at Cape Tegethoff, on the south
ern point at Halls island, latitude 80.
About the middle of February before
the rise of the sun to its winter height,
Mr.. Wellman, with three Norwegians
and as dogs, started north. 1t was the
earliest sledge journey on record in that
high latitude.
On reaching Port Mckinley, Mr..
Wellman found Bentzeen dead, but
Bjoervig, according to promise, had kept
the body in the house, sleeping beside it
through two months Of Arctic darkness.
Notwithstanding his terrible experience
the survivor was safe and cheerful.
Pushing northward through rough ice
and severe storms, with a continuous
temperature for ten days between 40
and 90 degrees below zero, the party
found new lands north of Freedom
island, where Nansen landed in 1895.
By the middle Of March all hands
or SO, if not the pole itself.
Then began a succession of disasters.
Mr.. Wellman, while leading the party,
fell into a snow covered crevasse, seri.
ously lnjuring one of his legs and com.
pelling retreat.
Two days later the party was reused
at midnight by an icequake under them,
due to pressure. In few moments
many dogs were crushed and the sledges
destroyed. The members of the expedi-
ton narrowly escaped with their lives,
though they managed to save their pre-
cious sleeping bags and some dogs and
provisions.
On Mr.. Wellman's condition becom-
ing alarming, as Inflammation set in,
the brave NOrwegians dragged him ON
sledgt, by forced marches, nearly 200
miles to the headquarters, arriving
there early last April.
Mr.. Wellman is still unable to walk
and will probably be permanently
crippled.
After reaching headquarters other
members of the expedition explored re-
gions hitherto unknown, and important
scientific work was done by Lieutenant
Evelyn B. Baldwin of the United States
weather bureau, DR.. Edward Hofma of
Grand Haven, Mich, and A. Harlan of
the United States coast survey.
The expedition killed AZ bears and
many walruses.
The Capella arrived at Cape Tege-
thoff in search of the expedition on
July 27 last. On Aug. 8 she met the
Stella Polar, bearing the expedition
headed by Prince Luigi, Duke of
Abruzzi, which had sailed from Arch.
angel to reconnoiter northwest Franz
Josef land and to meet, if possible, the
Wellman expedition.
Mr.. Wellman and his companions
found no trace in Franz Josef land of
the missing aeroaaut. Prof. Andree.