The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-13
svERDRUP AND THE FRAN.
The Norwegians Decide to Wait Be-
fore Sending a Search Party.
New York SUM-

tNeW 4Ogk SUM-
A few months ago the Norwegian
promoters Of Arctic research expressed
their firm belief. that Captain Sver-
drup and his vessel. the Fran, had
pushed their way through Smith sound,
passed around the north end Of Green
land, and were now somewhere on the
east coast OF the great island. The
NOrwegians proposed next spring to
send a real party to that coast
Their faith in this suppositiOn has
now been greatly shaken by a letter
from DIT. Robert Stein, who, when he
went north to explore EIiesmere land,
some two years ago, took a large guam
( tity of mail for Sverdrup and his men.
DR.. Stein said that though he had
spent Two winters on Smith sound. he
had discovered no trace Of Sverdrup,
and he did not believe that the ex-
ploreT had overcome the difficult con-
ditiOns of ice navigation in Smith
sound.
He, therefore, had no confidence that
SveTdrup had left the neighborhOOd OF
Ellesmere land through Smith sound.
He was OF the opinion, as the Sun re-
Gently suggested that SverdTup had
gone west through Jones sound and
vas either attempting to make the
northwest passage to Behring strait or
was trying TO get north through the
sea to the west of Ellesmere land.
Sverdrup had distinctly announced
his intention to explore the archipel-
ago north Of Greenland, and 10 trace
the unknown part Of the east coast
Of that island. 1t is indeed very sur
p-ising that he should have left the
place in Smith sound where he passed
his first winter, changed his plans, and
HfesI L
[ leaving any news Of his intentions
with Peary, who would gladly have for
Warded to Europe any communication
which Sverdrup had to make his
friends.
As 1t Is. they have not the slightest
idea of the whereabouts of the Fran.
She may be trying 10 push through the
channels north Of the continent, and
achiTe the complete northwest passage,
which has never yet been done by d
single vessel.
This passage, so long sought for In
vain, is known 10 exist only because
one vessel from Bering sea and an
other from Jones sound came so near
together, during the Franklin search
that sledge parties easily passed be-
tween them
II. on the other hand, Sverdrup
& ~--- -+-A -ApA III dAAEL la71AAAa llAA BlAe y
Jones svund he may be making new
discoveries in the unknown northern
} part Of the Parry archipelago, or he
may have passed beyond The Islands
into the waters of the unknown Arctic
sea.
The fact is. however. that all guesses
as TO Sverdrup's whereabouts are fu-
tie. Nobody knows at present, within
. thousands Of miles. where he may be.
a search for him therefore under pres
ent circumstances would be the Frank
lin search over again, with an excel
lent prospect. IL misfortune had befall-
/ en- him, that his fate might net be dis
[ covered for a dozen years, # ever,
however many expeditions might be
sent out 70 find traces Of him.
II IS not surprising, therefore, that
( the Norwegians have decided 10 wait
a while before trying TO carry out
! measures of relief. Sverdrup had sup
/ plies to last at least another year, and
/ Il IS hoped that news may be received
from him during the coming season.