Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-29
tells OF ARCNC TRIP
Walter Wellman Arrives at Hull,
England, on His Return From
the North.
The Explorer Probably Psrna.
nently Crippled as the Result
Of an Accident.
Tells an Interesting Story of His
Travels in the Frozen
Country.

Hull, England, Aug. 29.-Walter Well
man, the leader of the Wellman polar
expedition, who returned to Tromsoe,
Norway, on Aug. IL, arrived here yes
terday. He walks with the aid of
clutches, his right leg, which was seri-
ously injured by fall into snow
covered crevasse while Mr.. Wellman
was leading his party. still being use-
less. The explorer was accompanied by
the American members OF the expedi-
ton, who are we'll. Mr.. Wellman said:
The object of the expedition was
two-fold-to complete the exploration of
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
least to a greater extent than by previ-
Gus explorers, but for the accident to
myself"
Mr.. Wellman recounted the starting
of the expedition from Tromsoe, on
the headquarters of the Jackson expe-
dition on July Is, and hoisted there the
stars and stripes underneath the union
/ jack, which had been flying over the de-
serted settlement for nearly two years.
The provisions left for Professor An
dree. the missing aeronaut, were found
by Mr.. Wellman untouched.
After leaving letters about his own
"a ~
house with him, Mr.. wellman proceeded
due east for Cape Tegethoff, and ar
rived on July 80 1898. There the party
/ landed all the stores and the steamer
returned to Norway.
We established our headquarters in
the little house brought from Jackson's
headquarters, continued MIR. Wellman,
over which flew the stars and stripes.
! Desiring to push farther north with
| the greatest speed dispatched Baldwin
on Aug. with the Norwegians, sledges,
ldogs and boats myself and others in
tending to follow in few days. Shortly
1 after Baldwins departure / discovered
that owing to a sudden break up of the
lice | was unable to proceed, but / sent
1.-TWO Norwegians to inform Baldwin to
| build his outpost, leave two men in
i charge of it and return to my head
l.
5lquarters.'
Il Here Lieut.. Evelyn d. Baldwin, of
/ the United States weather bureau, told
of the doings of the expedition. He
said:
Sept. 81 my party reached Cape Hell
Her in latitude 81, where we decided tc
make an outpost From the outset we
had a constant fight With the high seas
lice and wind, and there was a continue
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 il
with blubber and meat, and leaving two
volunteers. ventsen and Bjorvig.
started to return Oct. 90 to Mr.. Well
mans headquarters, arriving there Oct
100. Mr.. Weilman on Feb. is. 1899, with
three Norwegians, With sledges and
dogs, started north.
Mr.. Wellman, continuing. said: Feb
&C. 1899, arrived at Fort Mckinley
& Bjorvig, rifle in hand, stood at tbs
mouth of the snow tunnel. He wrung
my hand and with tears in his eyes
SAID: Poor yentsen is dead The two
linen had made a compact that in case
of the death of one the survivor shoule
!. keep the body until help came. In tina
little hut the quick and the dead hat
slept side by side through two month
of arctic darkness. Riorvig said he hat
managed to keep up his spirits by re
citing aloud Ibsen's poetry. The mex
day we buried our dead comrsde.
After a delay of ten days the party
including BJorvig, pressed north il
sledges and by march until we reache
SO degrees, east of Rudolf island.
1.-The prospects then We're most reas
surfing. We had three months OF tn
best season before us and We're conf
dent of reaching 81 degrees. Though W
suffered from cold we were in fine form
Then seemingly trivial accider
turned the advance into a precipitat
retreat. While struggling with til
sledges in rough ice my leg was bruise
and sprained by my falling into snow
hidden crevice. For two days / went o
and unless other circumstances had NJ
occurred I should have pressed forwar
so far that / would never have bee
able to return. AT midnight on Marc
20 we were awakened by the crashing
the ice under our feet. 1t swayed an
deep crevices yawned about US. Se'
eral dogs and sledges were crushed.
the darkness and storm it was imposs
lDle W SEE Il pdtIl VI soISls. I>APctlii
Ito be overwhelmed at any moment Y
scrambled over the field of ice ar
saved most of our equipment except Il
dog food, reaching a place of safety
half an hour. While 1t was possible
= go on for some time my leg now d
manded retreat. For two or thr
Idays / stumbled along until fe
% There was nothing to do then but &
on sledge and be dragged back
headquarters. Forced marches by n
\ devoted comrades saved my life.
THE point at which we turned ba'
was twenty five miles northwest
j the Freeden islands. where DIR. Mans
landed in 1895. North of these islam
we photogra Pied three islands al
some large land unseen either by Pa
er or hansen. We also found that t
so-called Dove glacier does not exit
!. / still believe it is possible to reach L
,re pole by Franz Josef Land. But / CT
ed not say If / shall make another effor,
a ns After Mr. Wellman's return
,al Harmsworth House, April g. Baldw
're and four Norwegians went out to Wi
liz eek Land, charting the UNEMPLOYED es
,es coast and discovering new ice-cover
leo island extending to 81 degrees east,
Tor most as large as Wilczek Land. TIL
1t named it Graham Bell Land, after t