Evening star., 1901-10-26

win. Commander Baldwin ZieGler Polar Expedi-
ti1n.
CAMP ZIEGLER, Franz Josef Land
August 23, 1901.
At so degrees "a minutes north latitude
and 30 degrees 81 minutes east longitude
we have established the first base of opera
tions in our advance toward the north pole.
We decided to locate on level beach off
the southwest coast of Alger Island, and a
better spot for an arctic camp 1t has not
been my good fortune to discover. We
chose the place only after giving up every
other desirable locality as unsuitable after
comparing it with this first place of land
ing. As it is, we are so situated as to be
thoroughly protected from winds, storms,
snow and ice, and at the same time we are
within easy reach of the best hunting To-
calities in the islands. 1t was clear to US
before stopping at Alger Island that it was
impossible to get a farther northing We
succeeded in getting through the channel
which lies between Alger and McClntock
Islands, being, so far as l am aware, the
first party to get through the ice here. At
the farther end, however, we found the ice
so rotten and untrustworthy that we )uld
not walk upon it, and so thick and heavy
that it would be unwise to attempt to force
a passage through it with the America.
We were therefore under the necessity of
retraclng our course along the south coast
of Alger Island and up the western cham
mel until we were stopped by the ice. The
exposed position of this western slope was
enough to condemn a location here, SO we
returned to the southwestern part If the
island and cOntented ourselves as best we
might with attaining successfully this lat
ltude. But for our dogs it might have been
feasible to have maneuVered ABOUT in the
America until the close of the season In
the hope of finding an open passage to some
more northern point, though ehe result of
such a venture would have )een decidedly
problema teal. Under the circumstances
however, the safest course to pursue was
TO establish our first station here, first get
ting our dogs and equipment ir.n com
Portable shape. Then we would be free to
look about for means of getting arther
north in the America and if successful.
establish second station To this second
station the dogs and equipment could he
moved over the ice after it had hardened
and both stations could be maintained Ly
our expedition as our needs might REQUIRE
Bright Hope GIeanis.
At no time since our party was assem-
bled, or, indeed, since our plans were com.
pieted, has my hope been brighter than it
Is at present. We are all united in the
reorganization to plant the American flag
at the north pole, and with this thought in
mind, as it has been so constantly for MANY
months, we have every reason to he home
ful We have successfully ACCOMPLISHED
the establishment of our first base above
the Spth parallel of latitude the F'rithlot
ana the America, after being separated a
month. have met up in the polar ice with
out mlshap; we have more supplies than
we shall need. $40 dogs and a party of a.
men OF marked ability, sterling character
anu apuhuant energy Every man of us
is in good physical condition Six of the
dogs died on the voyage up, but their sick
ness and death We're due to the excitement
of getting them aboard in Russia and 10
the terrible heat which prevailed until we
We're far out at sea on our way to Franz
Josef Land
our nortnWard voyage was accomplished
without difficulty and almost without Incl
dent until we struck the ice. A few of the
men were seasick and more than one-fourtb
OF the dogs We're indisposed part of the
time. 1t was necessary for the Siberians
who had charge of the dogs to watch the
animals night and day, and whenever there
were heavy seas most of our marty were
kept busy shifting the dogs about on deck
In order that they might not be washed
overheard or injured by the waves which
broke over the rail. As there were seventy
OF these half-wild beasts on the deck above
stormy nights.
Over the Open Seas.
AS soon as we reached the ice regions we
proceeded slower, watching carefully for
the most open seas, and frequently stop.
1t necessary to shift our cargo about in the
hold considerably in order that the bow OF
the vessel might be higher in the water en-
ap!lnS her to make her way easier through
the Ice W henever We sighted bear or wal
Iuses' unless there was danger of the ice
cIoSihS IN on US, We stopped the ship and
went on an fmpromptu hunt I had the
sooa luck 10 bring down several bears wit n
my gun and also to harpoon a number of
, Halruses. Boatswain Jacobsen had not
good luck in the hunt always gave him ma ~
ucuiar pleasure, because he had in pros
pect lonS-deferred enjoyment. Every nit
" our arctlc game is saved The choice
pieces Oh pear meat go into our own Harder
ana the rest is put away for the dogs The
arctic sailor thinks there is no better tonic
than bears gall mixed with a little cognac,
and, OF course, the skins will give to o,,1
winter quarters almost all the comforts of
home. - VI
We caught the first sight of land on the
l4th or August, and not long after the
shout OF our lookout, Land aheadr, rano
or Cape Flora lOomed up before MS n
was glad sight to our men We had been
almost three weeks out of sight of land
ana had seen no men outside of those i'm
our own party, save for a fishing vessel
which We met before We struck the ice
Aside from the fact, however that we were
coming to land We felt particularly pleased
because the bit Of land ahead of us was al
ready famous in the history of arctic ey.
ploration. Here it was that jackson bull,
his winter encampment, four houses ot
which are still standing. Leigh Smith and
| his comrades spent winter here in a mere
dugout. Nansen and Johansen ended theiI
adventures here. after reaching the far.
thest north and the Italian expedition unde,
| the Duke Of the Abruzzi left some whale.
| boats behind 1t at this spot Earlv the
following morning We made landing anc
| began a search for news of the Frithfor
| which had left us nearly month before
| The first notice we found was one that haf