The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-18
WELLMAN RETURNS.
Prevented From Reaching the
Pole by an Accident.

Tromsoe, Island of Tromsoe, Norway,
Aug. 1S.-Walter Wellman and the sur
vivors of the polar expedition led by
him have 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 Fit. 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 Bentzen, the
latter of whom was with Nansen 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 so. About
the middle of February, before the rise
of the sun to it's winter height, Mr..
Wellman, with three NOrwegians and
forty-ffve dogs, started north. 1t was
the earliest sledge journey on record
in that high latitude. On reaching TT
Mckinley, Mr.. WellmaE found BentZen
dead but Bjorvig, according to prom
Use, had kept the body in the house
sleeping beside it through two months
of Arctic darkness. Notwirhstanding
his terrible experience the survivor
was safe and cheerful
Pushing northward through rough
ice and severe storms with a cOntin-
uous temperature of ten days between
forty and fifty degrees below zero, the
party found new lands north of Free
dom island, where NanSen landed in
1895. By the middle of March all hands
were confident of reaching latitude 81
or 49, if not the pole itself.
Then began a succession of disasters.
Mr.. Wellman, while leading the party,
fell into a snow covered crevasse, ser
compelling a retreat.
Two days later the party was aroused
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 expedition narrowly escaped with
their lives, though they managed to
save their precious sleeping bags and
some dogs and provisions.
On Mr.. Wellman's condition becom-
ing alarming, an Inflammation having
set in, the brave NOrwegians dragged
him on sledge, by forced marches
nearly 200 miles to headquarters, ar
irving there early last April
Mr.. Wellman is still unable to walk
and will probably be permanently Grip
pied.
After reaching headquarters other
members of the expedition explored
regions hitherto unknown and import
ant scientific work was done by Lieu
tenant Evelyn B. Baldwin, of the |
United States weather bureau, DR.. Ed
ward HOfma, OF Gran0 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 !
q last. On August she met the Stella |
Polar. bearing the expedition headed |
by Prince Luigi, Duke of Abruzzi. |
which had sailed from Archangel to re- |
northwest Franz Josef |
land and to meet if possible the Well |
man expedition.
Mr.. Wellman and his companions |
found no trace in Franz Josefland of |
the missing aerOnaut Prof. Andree.