The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-08-08

HOnnlngSVaag, Norway, Aug. A.
Evelyn B. Baldwin. the Arctic eXplor-
ser, arrived here today. He reported
that all his men were in good health.
He said:
"We have been batfied, but not
beaten" @ 80
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 its perfec-
ton of equipment was not rather a
drawback than an advantage. The men
who have used the simplest means and
carried least impediments have gen.
orally come nearest success in polar
exploration.
In h summer of 1901 two steamers,
the America and Frithjof, were en-
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 1S9Seand 1899,
of which Baldwin was {, member. The
island is in latitude so deg, rs min,
which gave Baldwin a slight initial
advantage over Peary, but is not so
far north as the bases used by 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-
Sedolph Land, and thence make his dash
for the pole.
His party included 40 men, APO dogs
and IL Siberian ponies, equal to any
hardshipS. His intention was to get
securely located OF Prince Rudolph's
Land in the summer Of 1902, spend the
coming winter there, and thence, in
the spring of 1908, start for the rush
to the pole. 1t was his expectation to
get to the SD parallel this summer.
That would have left him over 500
statute miles from the pole, a fearful
distance to be covered in the short Arc
tic summer, over a frozen and melting
sea, such as is now believed to sur
round the pole.
Baldwin's return and his admission
1of failure will greatly disappoint many
people who believed he started with
the best chance ever held by any man
to solve the mystery of the frozen
north. rs.
A WONDERFUL EQUIPMENT.
Baldwin's idea of polar exploration
shad attracted the attention of Mr..
.Ziegler a New York millionaire, who
believed him the man to win the bat
tile Of centuries against snow and ice
and d~esolation. He sent word to Bald
win to see him. They. met, and Ziegler
gttold him to equip an expedition which
could succeed, If money would do it.
Baldwin made his plans with greatest
care. His experience helped him i'm
Intensely. 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,
8~.shipbuilders, engineers, experts in
every useful art and science that could
come into use.
AZ 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
sthe expedition counted on staying.
EXPECTED TO STAY 8 YEARS.
When Baldwin left he did not expect
ito see civilization again for three a
IT. was commonly believed the world
would not hear 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
tgreat stores Of especially prepared
foods: OF whichit was said a man could
carry IN his pockets a supply Of the
atllOSl liSS Is AOod Suii1ClellI LOT q
months tramp and not be seriously in
commencement. They were hermeticaI-
ay sealed; cold, heat or moisture could
!sAot injure them.
Portable houses to be knocked down
and set UP again, were carried. These
TWere$to be erected for shelters on the
return trip from the pole. The great
drove of dogs was to haul the supplies
tand likewise to serve as food; for it
was intended to kill them, one by one,
during the rush over the SHOWS and ice
land feed the c%arcasses to the sur
vivors. It was carefully planned to
ithave enough of them so that the pack
would furnish its own food from the
day of the last grand charge should be-
sgin. till the party should return from
.the north.
DnSTDAMEn KnAIM @.