The record-union., 1899-08-18
The Party Arrives at Island Of
Tromsoe, Norway,
Having Successfully Completed Their Ex-
pIorations In Franz Joseph Land.
Important New Lands and Many
Islands Discovered by Explorer
WeIlman-A1so Brings Back a
Grim Story of a Tragedy in the
Arctic Regions.

TROMSOE Qsland of Tromsoe, Nor
way), Aug. 17.-Walter Wellman and
the survivors of the Polar expedition
led by him arrived here this evening on
the steamer Capella, having success
fully completed theier explorations in
Franz Josef Land Mr.. Wellman las
discovered important new lands and
many islands
The expedition brings a grim story
of Arctic tragedy. In the autumn or
1898 an outpost called Fort Mckinley
was established in latitude 81. 1t was
house built of rocks and rooted over
with walrus hide Two Norwegians,
Paul Riorvie and Bert BentZen the
latter of whom was with Nansen on
the Fran, remained there.
The main party wintered in can
vas covered hut called Harmsworth
House, at Cape Tegethoff, on the
southern point of Halls Island, latitude
So About the middle of February be-
fore the rise of the sun to its winter
hight, Mr.. Wellman with three Nor
wegians and forty-five dogs, started
north. 1t was the earliest sledge jour
ney on record in that latitude. ON
reaching Fort Mckinley, Mr.. Wellman
found Bentzen dead but Bjorvig, &C
cording 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 a continuous
temperature for ten days of between 40
and 80 degrees below zero, the party
found new lands north of Freedom ISL
and, where Nansen landed in 1895.
By the middle of March all hands
were confident of reaching latitude 81
or SO, if not the pole itself. Then be-
gan q succession of disasters. Mr..
Wellman, while leading the party, fell
into a snow covered creyasse, seriously
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
a few moments many dogs were crush
ed and the 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. Wellman's condition becoming
alarming, an Inflammation having set
in, the brave Norwegians dragged him
on sledge, by forced marches, nearly
200 miles to headquarters, arriving
there early last April. Mr.. Wellman
is still unable to walk, and will proba-
bly, be permanently crippled.
After reaching headquarters other
members Of the expedition explored re-
gions hitherto unknown, and important
scientific work was done by Lieutenant
Z. B. Baldwin Of the United States
Weather Bureau, DR.. Edward Eofma Of
Grand Haven, Mich, and A. Harlan of
the United States Coast Survey.
The expedition killed fourteen bears
and many walruSeS.
The Capella arrived at Cape Tegeth-
off in search of the expedition on July
9th last. On August 9th she met the
Stella Polar, bearing the exredition
headed by Prince Luigi, Duke of
Abruzzi which had sailed from
Archangel to reconnoitre the northwest
of Franz Josef Land and to meet the
Wellman party.
Mr. Wellman and his companions
found not a trace in Franz Josef Land
of the missing aeronaut, Professor An
dree