Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-18
'N[LLkAN CONES BACK
Daring American Returns From His
Search For Andree and the
North Pole.
Meets With an Accident Which
Forces Him to Abandon the
Expedition.
Is Now at Tromsoe, the Northern.
most Town In Norway-An
Arctic Tragedy.

Tromsoe, Island of Tromsoe, Norway,
Aug. 1S.-Walter Wellman and the sur
vivors of the polar expedition led by
him arrived here this afternoon, having
successfully completed their explora-
tions in Franz Josetiand. Mr.. Wellman
has discovered important new lands.
The expedition brings grim story of
Arctic tragedy. In the summer 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 Bjorvig and Bert Bentsen, the lat
ter of whom was with hansen on the
Fran, remained there.
The main party wintered in a canvas
covered hut called Harmsworth House,
at Cape Tegethoff, on the southern
point of Halls island, latitude 81.
About the middle of February, be-
height. Mr.. Wellman, with three Nor
wegians and fortyfive dogs. started
north. 1t was the earliest sledge Jour
ney on record in that high latitude.
On reaching Port Mckinley MIR. Well
man found Bentsen dead, but Bjorvig,
according to promise, had kept the body
in the house, sleeping beside it through
two months of Arctic darkness. Not
withstanding his terrible experience,
the survivor was safe and cheerful.
Pushing northward through rough ice
and severe storms, with continuous
temperature for ten days between 40
and so degrees below zero. the party
found new lands north of Freedom is
land, where Nansen landed in 1885.
BY the middle of March all hands
We're confident of reaching latitude 81 OF
IS. if not the pole itself
Then came a succession of disasters.
Mr.. Wellman, while leading the party,
fell into a snow covered crevasse, SER
iously injuring one of his legs and
compelling a retreat.
Two days later the party was
aroused at midnight by an ice-quake
under them due to pressure. In few
moments many dogs were crushed and
the sledges destroyed. The members of
the party narrowly escaped with their
lives, though they managed to save
their precious sleeping bags and some
/ dogs and provisions.
on Mr. Wellmans condition becom-
| Ing alarming, as Inflammation set in
the brave Norwegians dragged him OF
a sledge by forced marches, nearly 20t
miles to headquarters, arriving there
early last April Mr.. Wellman is stil
unable to walk and will probably bs
permanently crippled.
After reaching headquarters Other
ncmb ers of the expedition explored re
gions hitherto unknown and mportan
scientific work was done by Lieut.
Evelyn b. Baldwin, of the United
States weather bureau; DIR. Edward
Hofma, of Grand Haven, Mich, and A
Harlan, of the United States coas'
survey.
! The expedition killed forty-sever
bears and many waruses.
The Capeila arrived at Cape Tege-
thoff in search of the expedition or
July 81 last On August . she met the
stella Polar bearing the expedition
| headed by Prince Luigui duke of Alb
ruzzi, which had sailed from Arch
angel to reconnoiter northwest OF
Franz Josehand and to meet, if posi-
4 Bile, the Wellman expedition.
Mr.. Welman and his companion:
found no trace in Franz Josefiand of th'
missing aeronaut. Professor Andre.