The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-12-22

The POLE.
TheThrilling Adventures
OF the Zeigler
Expedition.

there on his way 20 the United States
Mr. F'iala said:
The America, with the ZiegIer Polar
Expedition On board. left Vardo on
July 70. 1909. sailing through the ice
fields We were imprisoned in the ice
in sight OF Cape Flora for four days
and were finally obliged to use heavy
mines Of junction 20 break a passage
between the immense masses Of ice and
10 allow the shipp 70 escape into open
water.
"At the end OF August We reached
TepIitz Bay, Crown Prince Rudolf Is
land. the most northern harbor in
Franz Josef Land, which formed the
base camp Of the expedition during the
whole of its stay IN the Arctic, and
vas named Camp Abruzzi, in honor OF
the Italian explorer. On october q, N
the darkness OF the Arctic night, the
ship first narrowly escaped destruction
with over half the party aboard Dur
ing heavy gale the America which
was less than mile from our land
headquarters. n1ysteriously disappear
ed. We found that she mad been blown
adrift with her mooring lines en-
tangled in her propeller. Three days
later she returned, having lost her
large anchor and chain. Everybody on
board had been up day and night, none
ever thinking that they would survive
LIKE VORACIOUS BEASTS.
The ship then froze in. and seemed
safe enough 10 all Of US, but on NoYen-
5co y4-aGS,4vea became so great
that the ship was damaged, but TO
what extent we could not tell. Early
in the morning OF November Il, We
were awakened by the crashing ana
thunder of the ice in motion, great
pressure ridges forming around the
America ike vorac3ous beasts, ana
tearing out her stern and penetrating
her side. while tons Of ice demolished
her rail and crashed On deck. She was
soon a wreck and II a sinking condi-
ton, the rising water having exiting
uished her fires. There was nothing for
II but 10 abandon the vessel. and as we
did so final pressure raised her high
on the ice.
ION the night of January p, 1904.
during a gale OF wind that registered
at its maximum y miles an hour, all
the old ice in TepIitz Bay, with several
iLlj4SS u me SAE%4SA- At1A-Ss WV ~ SAN@-~
up and carried away, and with the bay
ice disappeared all that was left of the
America, together with 100 tons of coal
and 30 tons Of provisions.
"On March :, the first sIedge party
left, and was storm bound for a num-
Der Of days at Cape Flige1y, being
obliged TO return owing 10 the injuries
sustained by several OF the men, ana
also IN order 10 repair equipments. The
second party left TepIitz Bay On March
%. and crossed the glacial ice to Cape
Fligely. whence II descend TO the sea
ice The ice conditions were frightful,
and nearly every one of the sledges
was hopelessIy smashed, making il abb
soIuJely necessary, If the equipment
was 10 be saved for another attempt
in the following year, that the party
should return 10 Camp Abruzzi Though
this column only reached compare
lively short distance from land, all the
way had TO be cut with ice-axes, and
il now became clear that il was use
less to attempt to get further north
during the spring OF 1904
A SECOND WINTER IN THE ICE.
i then conducted a company to
Cape Flora TO await the arrival or the
relief ship. The journey occupied 10
days. our party arriving there on May
16. 1904. An outbreak OF CHAMBERS among
our ponies compelled US to kill all ex-
cept two. From May Is TO September
10 we kept ceaseless watch for the re-
lief ship, by which date We had 10 face
the fact that relief was hopeless, and
that all Of Us would be compelled to
spend a second winter in the Arctic
In the meantime, preparations for
the winter and the collection of sup
plies were in full progress TO augment
the stores OF food left at Cape Flora
by previous expeditions. At this time
an important discovery Of coal was
made AZ a point 500 feet up the side
os a steep mountain. Coal was dug
out Of the frozen ground, and d win
ter supply labcrlously conveyed down
the mountain on mems backs to camp.
I prepared TO return to Camp Abruz-
Il for the further attempt to reach
the Pole in 1865 Accom- panied by Mr..
". J. Peters, the second in command
and a small sledge party, we reached
Camp Abruzzi by moonlight on No
vember 20. 1904. having been marching
from Cape Flora since September 19.
This was a dangerous and eventful
trip, ser a large portion Of the way
had 10 be traversed in the darkness.
a stop was made on the way at Camp
Ziegler, Alger Island, where we left
two Of the party, one whose toes had
been frostbitten and the other to keep
him company.
Time and time again men and dogs
would fall into holes and crevices in
| the ice. or run up against great walls
Of ice, the leading men going ahead
without being able TO see any posi-
| bic foothoId- While crossing Hooken
Island glacier. Two Of the party fell
into a crevasse. and at distance Of
So feet were wedged in between the
walls Of ice. Their rescue was attend
ed with great difficulty. one being so
. injured that he had TO be dra gged part
Of the distance north dashed 10 a
sledge
TREACHEROUS ICE.
ON arrival al Camp Abruzzi on No
, venber 20 was saddened to hear Of