The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-09-21
OPEN POLAR SEA
IDEA BASELESS
North Pole Can Be Reached
From Franz JoseAand.
AN INTERVIEW WITH BALDWIN
EXTENDED DETAILS OF THE
WORK ACCOMPLISHED.
AN INTERVIEW WITH BALDWIN

r ONDoN, Sept. 2O.-Evelyn B. Bald
win OF the Baldwin-Zeigler arc
tic expedition arrived in London
today on his way home. He has lit
tie to add to what has already been
cabled regarding his experiences, but
he gave extended details of technical
interest to the arctic navigators on the
work accomplished and the stations
established. The most southerly one
is on Alger island. eighteen miles
north of the Jackson HarmsWorth ex-
petitions former headuarters. A sec
ond station on Greedy island, close TO
the eighty-first parallel, near large
island, which was charted last spring
and named President Mckinley island.
Thirty-hve miles further north is
third station equipped with 5000 pounds
of condensed food, on an island dis
covered. but not yet named. A fourth
and most northerly station, was es-
tablished on Rudolph land, within
sight Of the headquarters. which were
occupied by the Duke of Abruzzzfs ex-
petition II contains all the condensed
stores originally intended for u dash
10 the pole.
Moving Pictures Secured.
The expedition for the first time in
Polar explorations, Mr. Baldwin added,
secured complete photograph records OF
the snow and ice conditions OF the re-
gions there. They include moving
pictures.
Mr.. Baldwin gave an interesting ac-
count of his journey to Cape Norway,
where he came upon DIR. Nansen's hut,
the place where hansen and johann
sen spent their historic winter. The
hut was partly gnawed by foxes and
bears DR.. Nansen's record was in
tact. II was found in a urass cylinder
and was dated May 10. 1896. and writ
ten IN pencil on half a sheet of note
paper. Mr.. Baldwin has the hansen
record. and left his own record in its
place Later. the America, Mr.. Bald
wins ship. was in immediate peril of
being crushed by icebergs, but es-
capped by putting on all available
steam.
While in the arctic region. Mr.. Bald
win released 800 balloons. which were
driven northward, and may later fur-
nish data regarding air and sea cur
rents. Each balloon has attached to II
an automat.e tuoy 5ddfesScS - he
nearest American consul"
Heavy Tee Drifts.
The expeditions start for home was
attended by exciting incidents. II was
necessary TO charge the heavy ice
drifts, blast them with dynamite and
saw channel through the ice. The
America was caught in a violent Ice
neld; her screw and rudder were twist
ed and her propeller frame was broken.
The expedition had another eXcit-
ing experience in a pack further south.
Two members of the expedition, I'M
armed and on a pony sledge. were set
upon by huge white bears. The pony
bolted. and the men were defenseless.
With great presence Of mind they
clambered on top of an iceberg, and
escaped on the other side to the ship.
Mr. Baldwin described fights be-
tween dog teams and herds of walrus,
and, in conclusion. said:
1.-The old idea of an open Polar sea
Is baseless. We know that lands eX-
tends as far as 50 degrees on the Franz
Josefland. and from there ! believe
the pole can be reached. I agree with
Peary that the most practicable way
OF reaching the pole is by sledging from
that point"