Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-05

had towed us alongside the America" and
II was with good deal of relief that we
climbed aboard TO wait for a more IA
vorable wind and tide for our work OF land
ing.
When the "Frithjof' had landed most OF
her cargo on Alger Island. We took the rest
on board the America Our plan IS 10
leave as little as possible at Alser Island
ana until the night comes on we shall con-
tnue moving our supplies thence north
ward. As long as It is possible we shall
force the America" through the ice. Then
the dogs and ponies will carry a part OF
our camp equipment, portable houses. etc,
still further along
Delayed by Bad Weather.
IL had been my hope to equal the record
established by Nansen and the Duke of
the Abruzzi In their arctic camp, but have
found this impossible. We experienced a
great deal OF bad weather on our voyage to
Cape Flora: three weeks were consumed
when one should have been sufficient. As
a consequence we found the ice in n more
solid condition. later on. when we were
ready to proceed from Alger Island I'm
fortunately. the ice at this time was not
strong enough to permit our taking the
equipment in sledges over IT. but It was
sufficiently firm to hold the America"
However, though we are located further
south IMAM some OF our predecessors in pole
searching, We feel confident that when the
time comes for our final dash We shall more
than make up the difference Nansen had
less than forty dogs in his winter camp.
We have more than four hundred. This is
not the only item in which our equipment.
SURPRISES that OF any polar explorer. but.
II IL Were assuming that we have sufIi-
Client food. We stand better chance To
reach the north pole than Nansen did In
making his highest point
FRANZ Josef land is not an undiscovered
land to me and l know something of The
long winter night through which We shall
nave to pass. What shall L say Of that
areary movement OF days which are days
IN name only, OF the awful stiffness and the
bitter cold which former explorers have
written about? / shall not attempt to de-
scribe these experiences, because | believe
that no one who has not lived beyond the
arctlc circle and has not watched the short
ening days can appreciate them When one
sees the dull glare of the sun for a few
minutes only out OF twenty-four hours al
ways from the southwark, and has lived
through many days of the calm awful still
ness OF these regions after the sun has dis
appeared. then he may know something OF
tne majesty or King Cold. Now and then
there comes the Ice pressure and the hum
mocks heaye and crack with thunderous
reverberations out Of the eternal quiet
Beauty enough there is also IL one may be
poetic but II Is stern beauty. an austere
GOODNESS OF aspect, that gradually grows
more and more repellant Occasionally we
may venture out for walks over the ice
and when the moonlight or the glow of the
aurora borealis is over the vast fields OF
Ice and snow. there are few scenes more
delightful. But how We shall long to have
the night endi
OF the life We shall live I'D here I fear
Its chief characteristic will be monotony
or course, through the night. we shall try
TO busy ourselves with the allotted labors
or taking observations. making full and
elaborate notes. Now and then We shall
make little excursions in various directions
from camp to camp. We have so much
food that IL has not become necessary to es-
tablish a ration. though we have limited
the use of some of our jellies and preserves.
we nave excellent shelter from the cold
and our portable houses are so arranged
that they will fit snugly together when we
esta blish our final camp. The America" is
htted with electric lights. that on board
the ship the ventilation is Of the best.
Three meals a day, warm clothes a good
bunk and something to do each day-what
more can any man want? There is no rea-
son why We should not be contented ana
happy. Forty men all told We are ana
each one takes his share Of the work We
have several musical Instruments on our
snip and many OF the men can play the Diff
ferent ones. There is a fairly well stocked
library Of books and games Of all kinds
with which to vary the monotony. Boxing
gloves, fencing foils and other gymnastic
paraphernala furnish us with needed exer-
..
When / selected the men who make up our
party, j was very careful to get men who
Were cheerful in disposition and versatile
in amusements. This care has already
proved to be OF much Importance in our life
here.
Our scientific work thus far has been val
liable. We have made continuous meteoro-
logical observations and we have recorded
regularly the force and direction of the
winds. the phenomena of the clouds etc
Our magnetic work has not been limited to
the mere locating of our camps We have
done considerable surveying and chartlng,
and before We get through we hope to have
a fairly accurate map OF such parts or
Franz Josef Land as We shall touch
About the first of April we expect to take
up our northward march over the ice. From
the highest known point on Franz Josef
Land 1t Is so statue miles in direct line
to the pole. and 1 have calculated that we
can cover this distance in less than 100
days We shall have a large pack OF dogs
and each one OF those not used in drawing
the sledges. will carry an adjustable pack
pouch containing from fifteen to twenty
pounds OF condensed food. The sledges will
not be heavily loaded and in this / shall
have decided advantage over previous
northern explorers. L am confident that We
shall be able to move with great rapidly
over the ice and that by the first week In
July We shall reach the northern extrem-
ity of the earth. So far shall be able
We shall send messages back to civilization
by means Of our balloon and buoys. Sew
eral of these buoys have already been start
ed on their way and long before We return
many of our messages and reports should
be In the possession of our friends