The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-18

Tromsoe, Island of Tromsoe, Norway,
Aug 11.-Walter Wellman and the sur
vivors of the polar expedition led by
him, arrived here this evening on the
steamer Capella, having successfully
completed their explorations in Franz
Josef land. Mr.. Wellman has dis
covered important new lands and many
/ islands. -
The expedition brings a grim story
of Arctic tragedy. In the autumn of
1898 an outpost called Fort Mckinley
was established in latitude ST. It was
house built of rocks and rooted over
with walruS hide. Two Norwegians,
Paul Bjorvig and Bert Bentzen, the
latter of whom was with hansen on the
Fran, remained there. The main party
wintered in a canvas covered hut
named Harmsworth house at Cape
! Tegethoff, on the southern point of
Halls Island, latitude so.
About the middle of February before
the rise of the sun to its winter height,
Mr.. Wellman with three Norwegians
and forty-five dogs, started north. 1t
was the earliest sledge journey on
record in that high latitude. On reach
ing Fort Mckinley, Mr.. Welln,in found
Bentzen dead but Bjorvig; according
to promise, had kept the body in the
house, sleeping beside it through two
months Of Arctic darkness. Notwith-
standing his terrible experience the
survivor was safe and cheerful.
Series CT Disasters.
Pushing northward through rough ice
and severe storms, with a continuous
temperature of ten days between 40 and
80 degrees below zero. the party found
new lands north of Freedom Island
where Manson landed in, 1909
BY the middle of March all hands
Were confident of reaching lititude 81
or So, if. not the pole itself. Then be-
gan succession of disasters. Mr. Well
man, whilc leading the party, fell into
snow covered crevasse. seriously in
juring 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
a few moments many dogs were crush
ed and their sledges destroyed. The
members of the expedition narrowly
escaped with their lives, though they
managed to save their precious sleep
ing bags and some dogs and provisions.
On Mr.. Wellmans condition becom-
ing alarming, an Inflammation setting
in, the brave Norwegians dragged him
on a sledge, by forced marches nearly
200 miles to headquarters, arriving
there early last April.
Wellman Crippled For Life.
Mr.. Wellman is still unable to walk
and will probably be permanently
crippled.
After reaching headquarters, other
members of the expedition explored !
regions hitherto unknown and import |
ant scientific work was done by Lieu
tenant Evelyn Baldwin OF the United |
States weather bureau; DR.. Edward |
Hoffman of Grand Haven. Mich, and |
A. Harlan. of the United States coast |
survey. The expedition killed forty !
seven bears and many walruses.
The Capella arrived at Cape Teget- !
hoff in search of the expedition on July |
81 last. On Aug. g. she met the Stella !
Polar, bearing the expedition headed |
by Prince Luigi. duke of Abruzzi, /
which had sailed from Archangel to !
reconnoitre northwest Franz Josef land |
and to meet, if possible the Wellman |
Mr.. Wellman and his companions
found no trace in Franz Josef land of
the missing aeronaut, Professor /,
Andree.