Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-29
THE WELLMAN EXPEDITION.
WeIlman Himself Tells Its Story
Thinks Pole AttainnbIe.

HULL, ENGLAND, August 22-Walter
Wellmar, the leader of the Wellman To-
Ian expedition who returned to Tromsoe,
Noryay. August nth, after having sue
cessfully completed explorations in Franz
Josef Land, arrived here to-day. He
walks with the aid Of crutches. his right
leg, which was seriously injured by fall
into a snow-covered crevasse, while Mr..
Welkman was leading his party. still
being useless The explorer is accompa-
MED by the American members of the
expedition, who are we'll
In an interview with a representative
of the Associated Press. Mr.. Weliman
said: 1.-The object of the expedition was
twofold-to complete the exploration OF
Franz Josef Land, of which the north
and northeast parts were practically I'M
known. and to reach high latitude, or
even the Pole Itself.
1.-The first object was successfully ac-
complished. The second would have teen
achieved, at least to a greater extent
than by previous explorers, but for the
accident to myself"
ANDREE PROVISIONS UNTOUCHED.
The provisions left for Professor An
dree. the missing aeronaut, were found
by Mr.. Wellman, untouched.
After leaving letters about his own ex-
petition, and taking a eallapsible house
with him, Mr.. Welman proceeded due
east to Cape Tegethoff. and arrived there
July 80. 1898. There the party landed all
tho stores, and the steamer returned 10
Norway.
I'VE established our headquarters in
the little house brought from Jackson's
al IN m
lover which flew the Stars and Stripes"
Mr.. Wellman dispatched Lieutenant T..
B. Baldwin, OF the United States Weather
Bureau, with an expedition North, in
tending to follow him in few days. He
was unable TO proceed, however and
Baldwin. after establishing an outpost.
named Fort Mckinley in latitude 81, left
1t In charge OF two volunteers-Ventzen
and Bjoeryig-and returned to Wellman's
headquarters.
Mr.. Wellman, February IS. 1899. with
three Norwegians, with sedges and dogs,
started north.
DEATH OF vENTZEN.
Mr.. Welman, continuing, said: Feb
ruary %, 1899. / arrived at Fort Mckin-
ley. Bjoervig, rife in hand, stood at the
mouth Of the snow tunnel. He wruns
my hand, and with tears In his eyes,
said: Poor Ventzen is dead
"'Of course you have buried him. !
said.
mo Bjoervg replied. he lies there,
pointing to the hut. Il kept my promise.
The two men had made a compact that
In case of the death of one, the survivor
should keep the body till help came. In
that little hut the quick and the dead had
slept side by side through two months of
Arctic darkness.
"The next day we gathered stones, and
under these we buried our dead comrade.
Only a few fitting words were spoken as
we stood around the grave.
'F'or ten days the party pressed north,
and March goth reached 81 degrees
east of Rudolf Island.
"rhen a seemingly trivial accident
turned the satisfactory advance into a
precipitate retreat While struggling with
the sledges in rough ice. my right leg
was bruised and sprained by my falling
into q snow-hidden crevasse. For two
DAYS I went on, and II other circum-
stances had not occurred, j should have
pressed onward so far that would never
have been able TO return alive.
WELI.MAN'S NARROW ESCAPE.
"For two or three days l stumbled along
until / fell. There was nothing TO do
then but get on sledge and be dragged
by the men and dogs TO headquarters.
Forced marches by my devoted comrades
saved my life.
'"rhe point at which we turned back
was twenty-five miles northwest OF the
Freeden Islands, where DR.. Nansen land
ed in 1895. North of these islands we pho
tographed three Islands and some large
land, unseen either by Payer or hansen.
we also found that Payers so-called
Dove glacier does not exist.
81 stlll believe 1t is possible TO reach
the pole by Franz Josef Land. but can
not say II l shall make another attempt"