New-York tribune., 1901-03-31


ment had it's sombre aspect Nansen's record was
beaten but three men from the Stella Polare
were lost in the attempt The main incident was
reported last year. at the time of the expeditions
return. But the full story has only Just been
told. II is related in Europe now to explain and
justify the proposition to send party to Franz
Josef Land to discover and rescue the missing
Italians in case they yet alive.
The Duke of the Abruzzi started northward in
the summer of 1850. He wintered in the arctic
regions. and as soon as daylight returned in the
spring of 1900 steps were taken to carry out the
real work of the enterprise. The ship had been
in Teplitz Bay, Franz Josef Land. from August
until March. Having been badly damaged by
the ice herself. the Stella Poare could not safely
be taken further north The programme that
was thus made necessary was to sledge it over
the ice from that base of operations. And the
| injuries which the leader of the expedition had
already undergone compelled him to forego the
pleasure OF conducting the eliminating venture
in person.
| The sledse party was organized on an original
and sensible plan 1t included twelve men and
was divided into four sections. one of the lat
ter was to carry enough food to supply the
whole party for period of two three days,
and then to turn back retaining provisions
enough to last the dogs and three during
their return. The second section would cary
on its sledses ccmmissary supplies for the re-
naming nine men for eight days. This sub
division of the party then to follow the
ample OF the first In like manner the third
section was to provision six men and their dogs
for about ten days more. and get back to head
quarters thereafter as possible. Thus
the three who were 10 make the final
dash would not be obliged consume any Of
their own rations feed their own dogs until
nearly three weeks after leaving the ship. II
was this last trio, which included Captain Cagni
that carried off the honOrs of the expedition and
reached latitude S6.;s;s
Nine out of the twelve men who left the Stella
Polare with dogs and sledses came back alive.
The detachment which failed to report again
was the second one 10 leave Captain Cagni. II
was composed of Lieutenant Querini. of the
Italian Navy; a man named St0kken. who was
the son of a veteran arctic explorer. and an
Italian, OIer They We're last seen on March
-. 1850 about twelve days after the start from
Ter-itz Bay. In latitude S3:05. The distance to
the ship IN a direct line could hardly have
eeeded seventy or eighty miles. But the detours
made necessary 10y the condition of the ice might
possibly have extended this to one hundred.
Even So. it is hard to account for their disap-
pearance. when il is remembered that one party
of men went seventy miles further north and
another 2,st and Yet returned in safety.
The most natural explanation of the mystery
Is that Lieutenant Querini and his companions
met with an accident. or. perhaps some mis-
hap overlook the member of the party who was
best qualified to act pilot we'll as leader.
The others thrown upon their own resources,
might not have been able To find their way 10
the snip and, owing to a small supply of food.
they would succumb To starvation in a short
time The Duke of the Abruzzi remained in the
vicinity of Tepltz Bay several weeks after Cap
tain CaSni returned. and when he started south
ward. on August IL. every chance of the sur
Sival of the three men appeared to have been
Exhausted
y new theory regarding the missing mariners
has recently been advanced however In one
sense it is discreditable 10 Querini but il as-
lords the basis of a hope that he and the ether
men may Yet he alive. 1t originated with Count
'arlo Emo. of Venice. a friend of the naval
lieutenant. He hints that QuernTs failure to
etuTn was Intentional and that the trio NAV
lave killed enough game 10 sustain life for a
considerable period. just as Jackson and Nanseu
ire known To have done II may be observed
nat, aside from the immediate peril involved in
departure from the original pro,raTnnle
iuerIn should have been deferred from such q
tep by the fact that he wcuII thus b.. dis
heyinS direct orders. This would be a v-eirbtv