The Washington times., 1904-08-23
ICE FLOES BLOCK
THE RELIEF PARTY
Report Received From the
Last Ziegler Arctic Ship.
STILL HOPE TO GET THROUGH
Fought Way to Within a Few Miles of
Franz Joseph Land and Then
DIifted Back.

NEW YORK. Aug. 23.-William Zieg-
Ter has received a detailed report from
w. s. Champ. who went ont from Nor
way early in the summer with the
steamship Frithjof. to carry relief TO
the Ziegler polar expedition. under An
thony Fiala, on the America.
The report tells of the severe arctic
season and the futile attempts Of the
Frlthjot 10 buck the ice field, and
shows that the relief party at one time
succeeded in getting within seventy
miles OF Franz JOSEF Land, and then
had to give il up.
Champs plan is to reach Cape Flora
before the winter season begins, about
september ,. There he expects to find
news Of Fiala and the main expedition
A part OF the report TO Mr.. Ziegler de-
scrlblnS recent experiences is as follows;
In the Ice
We entered she ice on the 9Th of July.
and bucked our way up to about Il de-
grees 80 minutes between IS degrees and
40 degrees longitude where we moi such
position
We then forced our passage through
The ice westward and got a good lead
northeast, but again met the heaviest
Ice so far encountered
from the crows nest we thought
mere was open water TO the north, and
II we could get through the ice ahead
OF US We believed we could make Franz
JOSEF Land, so at full speed we bucked
me heaNE pack Ice until we were many
miles In the pack.
Blocked by Floes.
THE ice gradually became more
closely packed and larger foes. and TO
continue In this course meant being
caught fast and drifting with the ice as
a whole
Therefore, we again extricated orr
selves from this position and continued
Tor week to look for a favorable lead
20 northward. We followed the pack
ice, however, TO within thirty miles of
Nova Zembla. when il again turned
southwark TO the shores of that island
We worked nOrthward again on the
10Th OF July. and between A and a. de
grees longitude forced our way 7S de
greeS y minutes north latitude. about
seventy miles from Cape Flora Here
We met the foe ice. and although we
spent week trying to force "a pas
sage. could not make a further northing.
Fog Disappears.
ION the morning Of July 81. for the
first time in three weeks, the horizon
was free from fog. and We were enabled
10 get a good view Of the ice in every
direction. We found that we could not
DO anything more until the wind or
swells broke up the foes. which were
rotten. but impossible to navigate.
1t was at this stage that the chief
board, which was an Inadequate amount
Tor US To be OF any service 10 the Amer
lea. that Is. so far as being able to coal
her. II WAS then decided TO take adj
vantage OF the conditions to return TO
Nardoe for coal
we have had nothing but warm
weather. rain, and fog all the time no
wind-with the exception Of one day
so the Ice has gradually rOtted. and If
We only get a good blow the whole sItu-
alton VIII change in a few days
Midnight Sun.
I'VE will be back to our last position
no later than August 3 or 10 so that
we will have a fun month to accomplish
our mission, and have no doubt We will
get through.
This failure has been a great disap-
pOintment to us, as we are ali anxious
70 reach Franz Josef Land and be of
aid 10 the boys on the America in case
Of need. The party on board are all
well, and We shall spare neither shin
nor coal 10 get through There has
been very little game TO be seen. which
is difficult to explain as We have been
on favorable ice for all kinds Of Arctic
game.
During our eastward voyage we
reached 1906 north latitude This was
our course I'm 1901. W. 6. CHAMP
- .. m. Aug. T. 1904
We are coaliug by the midnight sun
and have every hope Of success
CHAMP"