The San Francisco call., 1905-08-23
EXPLORER TELLS
Of ARCTIC TRIP
Fiala Speaks of the Work
of His Expedition in Its
Search for the North Pole
REPORTS DISCOVERIES
Hardships Encountered in
the Long Journey Over the
: Extensive Fields of Ice


HULL, Eng, Aug. 22.-Anthony Ffala'
leader of the ZiegIer polar expedition, ar
rived here to-day on his way TO the
United States. F'iala said:
This has been another In the long list of
failures to reach the pole, unless the three de-
termined attempts made to reach high IatituIes
should be considered as not having proved alto
gether futile. But, although the great queS-
tion of the pole remains unsolved. We have
brought back data which should prove Of scien-
tific value, and have explored and surveyed the
archipelago from Crown Prince Rudolph Land
to Cape Flora. discovering four new channels
Failing to tind an opening in the ice In longi-
tude 3S degrees 81 minutes east. latitude -
degrees 81 minutes north. we determined 20
force way through at the forty-eiShth- paraI-
lel Here were imprisoned for four days.
finally getting through by the use OF guncot-
ton-
At the end of August. 1908, we reached Tep
litz Bay. the most northerly harbor of Franz
Josef Land, where base and camp were es-
tablished.
The America had narrow escape on octo-
Der %. 1908, when she broke adrift. finally.
however being brought back to her anchorage,
where she was crushed just about month
later.
\ shelter was built on the shore and mem
bers of the expedition were kept busy during
the winter preparing Tor the spring sieuse JouI
ney and in scientific work. which was retarded
by severe storms.
The first sledge party left March T. 1904. but
compelled to return. owing to injuries re-
ceived by several of the men after reaching
Cape Flfngeley. second attempt was made
on March 25 The sledges were again smashed
when a short distance from land Leaving
small party at the base. ! returned to Cape
Flora, the trip occupying sixteen days
I. accompanied by William ]. Peters OF the
United States Geological Survey and a small
was reached November 20. 1904. after most
eventfu 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 crevtce foe
distance of sixty-ive feet and were wedged
between walls of ice. Their rescue was at
tended with the greatest difficulty. one being
SO severely injured that he had to be lashed
to the sledge.
With the exception of a Norwegian fireman.
who had died, found all the party at the
base in good health, ana preparations were
again begun for another sIedge trip to the
northward.
The weather delayed the party until March
16. 1905 On this day the party left the base.
pack to the north Crossing glacier east OF
Cape Wrath. we forced way to the northward.
but our progress was slow, the Ice being rough
and the men having to first cut a way and
then to assist the teams over the rough road.
High temperatures and fogs also helped to de-
lay our progress. For two days and three
nights were in a temperature of 81 de-
gress above zero, when IT should have been be-
under the tents Under these conditions and
with the pressing need for the sending OF sup
plies to the party at Cape Flora, together with
my poverty in dogs. decided to return
The conditions on the southwark trip were
worse than on the northward one. but for
tunate drop in the temperature enabled US to
cross network of open lanes and we reached
Cape AbruzzI April 1. Mr.. Porter third in
command of tho expedition, was sent south to
explore the archipelago while the rest OF the
party worked at the moving OF stores south Of
Cape Ziegler, making provision in case~we
should be compelled to spend third winter IN
the Arctic In the meantime the scientific
work continued without interruption.
On July 80 news came OF the arrival Of the
oFs1 do rrfrn Nr
than twenty miles on rotten ice TO join the
Terra Nova.
Fiala has not yet decided on the date
of his departure for the United States.