Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-23
BACK FROM ARCTIC
Explorer Fiala Tells of At. tempt to Reach the Pole.
NEW ISLANDS AND CAFES FOUND
Thrilling Tale of Adventures and Hairbreadth Escapes In the Ice Packs of the Frozen Seas.
 Lost His Dogs.

Packs of the Frozen Seas.
 Lost His Dogs.
 HULL, England, Aug. 23.-Anthony Fiala of Brooklyn, leader of the Zieg Ter polar expedition, the sembers of which were rescued by the relief ship Terra Nova, under the command of William $. Champ, secretary of the late William Ziegler, arrived here on his way to the United States. Mir Fiala said:
 "This has been another in the long list of failures to reach the pole unless the three determined attempts made to reach high latitude should be consid- cred as not having proved altogether futile; but although the great question of the pole remains unsolyed, we have brought back data which should prove of scientific value and have explored and surveyed the archipelago from Crown Prince Rudolph Land to Cape Flora. discovering four new channels and three large islands.
 Failing to find an opening to the ice in longitude 3S degrees, 57 minutes east, latitude 79 degrees, 57 minutes north, we determined to force way through at the forty eighth parallel.
 Here we were imprisoned for four days, finally getting through with the use of gun cotton.
 At the end of August, 1903, we reached Teplitz bay, the most northern harbor of Franz-Josef Land, where a base and camp were established. The America had narrow escape on Oct. 22, 1905 when she broke adrift, finally, however, being brought back to her anchorage, where she was crushed just about a month later.
 "A shelter was built on shore, and the members of the expedition were kept busy during the winter preparing for the spring sledge journey and in scientific work, which was retarded by severe storms.
 ''The first sledge party left March [, 1904, but was compelled to return ow- ing to injuries received by several of the men after reaching Cape Fligely. A second attempt made on March 9 likewise resulted in failure, the sledges being smashed when but a short dis tance from land Leaving small par ty at the base, l returned to Cape Flora, the trip occupying sixteen days.
 Relief failing to arrive in Septem- Der. 1904. I, accompanied by William J. Peters of the United States geolog- ical survey and a small sledge party, started back to the base, which was reached Nov. 9, 1904. after most eventful and dangerous trip, rough ice having to be crossed in dense darkness and the men and dogs falling into holes and crevices and running against walls of ice.
 Crossing Hooker island two of the men fell into crevice for a distance of sixty-fye feet and were wedged bftween-, walls Of ice Their rescue was attended with the greatest difficult ty, one being SO injured that he had to be lashed to a sled.
 With the exception of Norwegian fireman, who had died. we found all the party at the base in good health and preparations were again begun for another sledge trip to the northward. "The weather delayed the party un- til March Is, 1905. On this day the party left the base. which we renamed Cape Abruzzi, for the ice pack to the north. Crossing glacier east of Cape Rath we forced a way to the north ward, but our progress was slow, the ice being rough and the men having to first cut way and then to assist the teams over the rough road.
 High temperature and fogs also helped to delay our progress. For two days and three nights we were in a temperature of 34 degrees above zero, when it should have been below zero, and the ice was constantly cracking under the tents.
 Under these conditions and with the pressing need for the sending of supplies to the party at Cape Flora, together with my poverty in dogs, l decided to return. The conditions on the southward trip were worse than on the northward one. but a fortunate drop in the temperature allowed us to cross a network of open lanes. and we reached Cape Abruzzi April 1. Mir. Porter. third in command of the ex- petition. was sent south to explore the archipelago. while the rest of the party worked at the moving of stores south to Camp Ziegler. making pro vision in case we should be compelled to spend a hard winter in the arctic In the meantime the scientific work continued without interruption.
 'On July % news came of the ar rival of the relief expedition. and we made a trip of over twenty miles on rotten ice to join the Terra Nova"
 MT. Fiala has not yet decided on the date of his departure for the United States.