New-York tribune., 1900-08-19
EXPLORING GREENLAND.
DANISH AND SWEDISH EXPEDITIONS TO
THE EAST COAST.


really much more inaccessible to explorers. and
far less is known about it. The eastern side OF
that continent is colder than the other. A
mall branch of the Gulf Stream flows up the
western coast and mitgates the severity OF the
temperature That route to the Pole, therefore,
has proved the most popular one with explorers
Brainerd and Lockwood thus enabled to
carry the American flag to above the SD parallel
Of latitude. Peary chose this path as the most
promising. And the Norwegian, Sverdrup, who
followed him up to the Arctic regions two sum-
mers ago did likewise. or the two coasts the
western has been charted much more completely
and affords the sites of many more human set
Elements.
The difference will be better appreciated when
is remembered that sheet of drifting ice lies
Df the eastern coast almost continually. It
1ares in width from season to season, but has a
greater eXpanse the further north goes
There is seldom less than twenty miles of IT
and often more than a hundred. The condition
Of this pack too is sometimes formidable
at one time than at another. 1t may be pene-
trable with Skill patience and courage, and ii
may be too compact for the stoutest ship to ad-
vance one-quarter OF the way through You
tell in advance
The eastern coast of Greenland may be divided
Into four sections, two of which are fairly we'll
known and two of which have thus far defed
the explorer. The lowermost division from Cape
Farewell up to about the Goth parallel of lati-
tude, is the most accessible. and has been fire.
quently visited Then comes a stretch of about
two hundred and fifty miles of which prac-
tcally nothing has been learned. but which a
Danish expedition was to invade this year. From
about latitude $3.50 to Cape Bismarck latitude
7S) Danes, Swedes and Germans have been
somewhat more successful hitherto. But from
Cape Bismarck up to independence Bay the
eastern limit of Peary's sedge journey in July
1897, the ice has thus far prohibited explora-
ton Sverdrup has talked OF trying to crcum-
navigate Greenland the north, from his win
ter anchorage on the west, and thus to emerge
here. But the chances of his doing so are poor
Certainly, for the present, all idea of pushing
up to Independence Bay along the eastern coast
has been abandoned.
THE DANISH EXPEDITION
The Danish expedition Just referred to is
commanded by a lieutenant in the Danish navy
G. Amdrup Six scientists accompany him One
member of the party. Otto Nordenskiold. is
Swede He should not be confounded with the
more famous explorer OF that name whose sur
name is Adolf Another Swede Nathorst loaned
Amdrup the ship in which this years venture
Is made. The vessel is known as the Antarctic
and has been engaged in Arctic work before
preliminary expeditions were made to Green
land in 1893 and 1899 by Amdrup He pene-
uated the Ice near the southern extremity of
the region he now wants to explore landed at
Angmagsalik, pushed northward on siedges
and made large deposit OF provisions Then
he returned by way of Angmagsalik His plan
this year is to invade the same tract from its
northern end His landing ought to be effected
near Cape Grivel. Thence he would travel
southwark on sledges- After going what he re-
garded a suitable distance he was to erect a
building that might serve Of necessary for
winter quarters, and leave a quantity of food
there. Then he wanted to press on further to
the south, and come out at AngmagsaIk be
tween which and the hut he should find his
last years deposit of provisions. If he should
not be able to reach Angmagsalik on schedule
time he planned to return to the building and
stay there all winter
After the Lieutenant and a portion of his
company went ashore il intended that the
Antarctic should cruise along the coast perfect
ing a chart OF that region and studying the
geology, fora and fauna of the points visited
Fossil remains of plants show that ages ago
Greenland enjoyed a tropical climate and veg
citation was then very abundant. But to-day AL
most the only representatives of the vegetab BILE
kingdom found there are few algse mosses and
hardy kind of poppy. Little animal life is en-
countered I'M that part of the world now except
butterflies and birds, the polar bear Walrus
reindeer and musk Efforts will be made TO
of last rnentioDed craa +,,ras fo-