Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-06-19

Frank Wilbcvt Stokes. the artist,
who sailed last year with the Swedish
expedition under DR.. Nordenskjold to
explore the antarctic regions to the
south of South America, has sent from
Terra del Fuego the account OF the
progress thus far made by the eXpedi-
ton. The Swedish expedition was one
of a number sent out last year for ant
arctic explorations, one being known
as the German expedition, another as
the Scottish, another as the British,
and another having men sent out by
the Argentine republic The Swedish
party sailed in the steamer Antarctic,
Captain Larsen, late in 1901, returning
to Beagle Channel, off Terra del Fue-
go. on March 4. Mr.. Stokes account
follows;
The steamer Antarctic, with the
Nurdenskjold South Polar expedition
on board. after calling at the New
Year Island of the Staten Island
group, situated little to the south
east from the southern extremity of
South America, failed to obtain cor
rection of chronometers at the obsery-
atory of the Argentine government,
situated on that island, for the very
good reason that the observatory was
not complete. On January We last
turned definitely southwark, reaching
the South Shetlands on January y,
where a party landed on Nelson Is
land.
we then steamed through Nelson
Strait, between King George island
and Nelson island into the tempestu-
Gus and generally foggy and ice-laden
seas of Bransneld Strait beating
across and sighting the land of Terre
Louis Philippe on the morning of
January IA. Fine weather favored us
while we steamed southwark, trying to
find a passage through what has been
chaTted as land but which Norden-
skiold believed might prove to be only
ice. to Erebus and Terror Gulf. and
thus reach the eastern shores OF Ora
ham Land, where the winter station
could be established. The bog banks
rolled over the purpled cliffs, and
glistening GLACIERS as we steamed
along. and there was much doubt
where we were, as it was at first sup
posed that we had discovered a new
strait
The new strait, however, proved to
be no other than the Belgiea Strait,
and we turned our prov northward,
opposite Anvers Island, in almost 65
degrees south latitude, and after max
ing several landings, where we found
a few penguins, petrels and seals, sue
ceeded in passing into Erebus and
Terror Gulf by a new strait, UNI
charted passing through a part of
what before was known as JOinville
Land, finding several new islands,
After two days futile endeavOr to land
at Cape Seymour, on account of heavy
ice and bad weather we were again
favored by a bright sunlit day, and
succeeded in making the cache of pro
visions. erecting a pole and leaving an
account of our visit and our intended
destination deposited in a sealed bot
tie while the thousands of penguins
scolded us and pluckily, though in
vain, disputed our right of thus in
yading their territory. This cache
was left in the event of a retreat to-
ward the north, and the contents of
the bottle were for the information of
the Scottish expedition which is eXpec-
ted to be in these ice-laden regions
next summer.
Continuing our way we crossed
Erebus and Terror Gulf and com
menced to skirt the ice-barred coast
Of Graham Land. but there was so
much heavy ice that we advanced only
to within sight of Cape Framnaes and
Welter Island-not quite as far as the
Antarctic Circle The distance across
the ice to the nearest land was esti-
mated to be about eight miles, and
after the party mot including the
author. who sketched.) had made a
little trip across the ice it was deemed
impossible to transport stores to land
across the ice. which was generally
level The leader was in favor of re-
turning to Cape Seymour, though the
majority wished to try to 90 further
south The little Antarctic turned
northward again, then eastward and
zig.zagged along the immense fields
of ice of Weddell Sea until our posi-
tionfnalIy was latitude GO degrees
south longitude 80 degrees west, and
there the season being far advanced
and the Atnarctic's coal supply be.
corin short. besides the captains
anxiety ~ make a seal catch on
Danger island the Antarctic turned
-orthwestn ard.
on February 70. after cruising
around Sidney Herbert Bay and riding
out a severe storm, half hurricane. off
Cockbura Island, We were favored by
three beautiful days "a most precious
rarity in these sterile regionsJ the
winter station was placed near
glacier in Admiralty Inlet Palmer
and and only short distance from
Care Seymour On the morning Of the
third day after our arrival in Admiral
II Inlet the ice came into the inlet
ranfC1v and Young ice" forming