Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-31
LIFE In SOLTH POLAR ice
DR.. Eordenskjold Relates Some of His
Thrilling Adventures.
rwES1Y-slx MONTHS AMID PENGUIN:
story of the Swedish Antarctic Ex-
pIoring Expedition Graphically
Told by ~. Distinguished
Leader.

DR.. Otto Nordenskjold. the distinguished
Swedish geographer and Antarctic explorer,
lectured last night at the Lyric theater to
an interested audience on his adventures
while locked up IN the south polar Ice for
twenty-six months 1t was thrilling re-
cital interesting from scientific and
personal standpoint. and was made doubly
impressive by the lucidity Of the lecturers
statement and the remarkable pictures pro-
jected by stereopticon
The lecture began shortly after O'Clock,
tho distinguished explorer being introduced
by f,cv. c. NJ. Lindberg, first in English
and then In the Swedish tongue.
Dr. Nurdensk fold acknowledged the greet
ing and at once proceeded TO the delivery
Of his lecture. speaking in English. The
address was Illustrated by stereopticon
views. giving n comprehensive picture of
the privations OF Arctic exploration and the
topography of the bleak Antarctic shores
with their inhabitants OF seal and penguins
The expedition. under command of the
lecturer sailed from Gothenberg Sweden,
October 10, 1901. in the ship Antarctic. The
field OF exploration was to be that portion
of the south polar region lying directly
south of South America. for the purpose Of
scientific observations and sledge eNpedi-
lions out into the mainland beyond the al
most insurmountable ice barriers. The
original plan was that after the first sum-
mcr cruise a winter station should be estab-
lished. with Or. Nordenskjold and five COM
panions to remain to make observations and
explorations. and the ship to return north
ward and return the next summer.
life During an Antarctic Winter.
The winter station established at
Snow Hil island. house was built, about
ba, a.
from Sweden. Numerous expeditions were
planned and carried out and with the
abundance of penguins and an occasional
seal the party thrived fairly well. The
weather was extremely cold and blizzardy.
the temperature frequently reaching as low
as TO or 20 degrees below zero. They were
beset by fierce storms and the party on its
expeditions frequently narrowly escaped
annlhilation. Early in their experience their
only boat was blown away and crushed be-
yond any possibility of repair. The doctors
story of the gigantic ice walls thrilling
and was given realistic import by the stere-
opticon views. Their neighbors the pen
gums, were very friendly and he described
them as being somewhat of the character
of monkeys In their inqusitive and mis-
chievous tendencies.
The expected relief of the ensuing sum
n1er did not materialize, and the little party
was confronted with the necessity OF spend
Ing another winter in their South Polar
home.
Rescucrs Cast Away.
The Antarctic upon it's return was I'M
able to force It's way TO the winter sta
ton. party of three men from the ship
made dash on sledges to reach Dr. Nor
dcnskjold and party. but was compelled
to abandon the project and improvse "A
is.fa h..s. t.ta m
became helpless in the field ice. and after
month of heroic effort was crushed, but
the crew managed to save enough supplies
before 1t sank to tide them over until they
after extraordinary hardships succeeded in
reaching an island and there contrive for
the winter.
During one of DR.. Nordenskjolds sledge
trips. on October 10, 1903, he was astounded
TO meet three of his comrades from tho
Antarctic, the party that had first left the
ship before II became beset in the Ice This
party was searching for the doctor and
his party and was a sorry looking trio
In the interim nothing had been heard
from the other party nor had any word
been communicated to the outside world
OF the fate of the expedition. The Argen-
tine government fearful of the fate OF
the Nordenskjold expedition. sent out
party succeeded in finding the Nordenskjold
party at Snow Hill island a few weeks
later. The meeting of the rescued and
rescuers can better be imagined than told
Captain Larsen's Arrival.
on the evening of the very day that the
relief ship Uruguay arrived a most remark
able incident happened. The party was all
IN the winter house, when the dogs were
heard growing outside and Dr.. Nordenskjod
went outside TO learn the cause and was
nearly overcome with establishment at find
ing Captain Larsen. sailing master of the
Antarctic approaching with a party of sew
eral men. This party brought news of the
loss of the ship and the whereabouts of the
rest Of the crew.
The return trip was virtually a triumphal
tour, The reunited party was royalty re-
ceived and entertained by the Argentine
government at Buenos Ayres and upon re-
turn to Stockholm. Sweden, was greeted
with royal honors, and the Swedish Antarc-
tic expedition disbanded after over two
years OF remarkable adventures. The re-
suits OF the expedition from a scientific
point of view were satisfactory.
Welcomed to Omaha.
DIR. and Mrs. Nordenskjold reached
Omaha about o'clock Tuesday evening and
were met at the depot by a reception COM
mittee OF Swedish citizens consisting of Rev
c. NJ. Lindberg, Swedish Consul E NJ. STEM
berg, N. p. Swanson. p. Z. Flodman. e. A.
Furen. c. L. Inquest, Rev. p. Munson and
Leonard oberg and were escorted 10 their
hotel where an informal reception was
held. During the reception Mrs. Norden-
skiold was presented with a handsome set
OF silver souvenir teaspoons. symbolical OF
Omaha. with which she was greatly pleased
DIR. Nordensktold was born in 1869 and is
nephew of the famed Arctic explorer.
Baron Adolf Z. Nordenskjold. who ranks
foremost among explorers. DIR. Norden-