Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-08-09
'"bAFFLED BUT
NOT BEATEN
Explorer Baldwin Returns to
Norway After a Years
Search for Pole.
HIGH HOPES
Expedition the Best Equipped
in History Of Polar Ex-
ploration.
MEN IN GOOD HEALTH
Baldwin Arrives at H~onningsvaag,
Norway, and Declares He is Not
Observation-Disclosures a Three.
Year Voyage.

Honningsvaag, Norway, Aug. A.
Evelyn Il. Baldwin, the Arctic eXplor-
err, arrived here today. He reported
tina all his men were in good health.
He said:
I'VE have been bafled, but not
beaten"
STARTED OUT LAST SUMMER.
Baldwin's expedition, financed by
William Ziegler without regard to ex-
pense, was commonly considered the
most completely equipped ever started
on the polar hunt. 1t has long been a
question, however, whether it's perfec-
ton Of equipment was not rather q
drawback than an advantage. The men
who have used the simplest mean and
carried least impediments have gen
orally come nearest success In polar
exploration.
In the summer OF 1901 two steamers,
the America and Frithjof, were I'm.
ployed carrying the party to Franz
Josef land, where headquarters were
established at Alger island. This island
was discovered and named by the Wal
ter Welman expedition in 1898 and 1899,
of which Baldwin was a member. The
island is in latitude so deg, 20 min,
which gave Baldwin a slight initial
advantage over Pcary, but is not so
far north as the bases Used ny Nansen
and Captain Cagni.
PLANS OF EXPLORER.
Mr.. Baldwin's plan was to take plen-
ty Of time; to push on and establish
another headquarters in Prince Ru-
dolph Land, and thence make his dash
for the pole.
His party included 40 men, 420 dogs
and II Siberian ponies, equal to any
hardships. His intention was to get
securely located on Prince Rudolph's
I n md In tho 4 D1DNpr, nf 10OD Gnpn1 the
coming winter there, II thence, in
the spring OF 1908, start for he rush
to the pole. 1t was his expectation to
get to the SGD parallel this summer.
That would nave left him over 500
statute miles from the pole, G-fearfui
distance TO be covered in the short Arc
tic summer, over a frozen and melting
sea, such as Is now believed 10 sur
round the pole.
Ealdwin's return and his admission
Of lure will greatly ~disappoint many
Pc. lie who believed he started with
the best chance ever held by any man
to solve the mystery of the frozen
north.
A WONDERFUL EQUIPMENT.
Baldwin's idea Of polar exploration
had attracted the attention of Mr..
Ziegler a New York millionaire, who
believed him the man 10 win the bat
tie or centuries against SIlpN anu ICE
and desolation. lie sent word to Bald
win to see him. They met, and Iiegier
tcld him to equip an expedition which
could succeed, if money would do 1t.
Baldwin made his plans with greatest
care. His experience helped him i'm
menscly. He started to lay siege to the
pole, not TO carry 1t by assault.
His equipment was sufficient for four
years. He carried nurses, a physician,
Il ,-l,,tl1At nnuinnGHC nXnnrtC in
every useful art and science that could
come into uSe.
A corps of astronomical observers
was equipped with the most wonderful
outfit of portable instruments eVer
made. Daily observations of climate.
wind, currents, everything, were to be
taken throughout the three years that
the expedition counted on staying.
EXPECTED TO STAY 8 YEARS.
When Baldwin left he did not expect
to see civilization again for three years.
1t was commonly believed the world
would not hcar from HIM again in that
time. That he has appeared on the
northern limits Of Norway is a sur
prise.
The America and Frithjof carried
great stores of especially prepared
foods, of which 1t was said a man could
carry in his pockets q supply Of the
most nutritive food sufficient for a
months tramp and not be seriously in
convenienced. They were hcrmetical-
ly sealed; cold, heat or moisture could
not injure them.
Portable houses to be knocked down
and set Up again, were carried. These
were to be erected for shelters on the
return trip from the pole. The great
drove Of dogs vas to haul the supplies
and likewise to serve as food; for 1t
was intended to kill them, II by one,
during the rush over the SHOWS and ice
and feed the Carcasses to the sur
vivors. 1t was carefully planned to
have enough of them so that the pack
would furnish It's own food from the
day Of the last grand charge should be-
gin. till the party should return from
the north.