The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-16
BY S. C. Hammer.

oy - W F1oiIIVCT.
HRISTIANIA, Norway, Nov. o.
~ Brief and gloomy is the ordinary
November day in Norway and
the entrance day of Captain Amundson
and his stout comrades of the Gjoa ex-
petition Gjoamendene, as we call
them In Norway, by way of abbrevia-
tion) was no exception to the rule.
But the Norwegians know how to ap-
preciate a performance like this and
the splendor of the deed throws it's
luster Of the barren surroundings.
Therefore, in spite of snow, fog, heavy
gales and rough sea, the tour of the
"Gjoamendene has been triumph
from Christianssand to Christiania, and
it is question whether any polar ex-
expedition has received more hearty
welcome from the population Of the
Norwegian capital.
1t was happy idea of the Norweg-
Ian government to order the ironclad
Norge to 60 to Christianssand and
bring Gjoamendene' to Christiania.
The great liner, Hellig Olaf, whose
name will be familiar to many of the
readers of The Journal, arrived
at Christianssand last Sunday from
New York. The Norge had entered
the port of Christianssand as early as
Friday, and amidst volleys of honor
from the ironclad and the forts and the
striking tunes of "Ja vi Elsker' and
"Sonner af Norge,' Captain Amundsen
and his comrades left Hellig Olav for
Norge. The ford was filed with
boats and small steamers, and the en-
thusiasm of the spectators was IN
abated by the inclement weather. A
subsequent public banquet was great
success, AND as lasting token Of the
admiration of Christianssand, Captain
Amundsen was appointed honorary
member of it's Seamen s association.
King Haakon remembered the return
OF the Gjoa by dispatching telegram
from Windsor castle, wishing the
"Gjoamendene welcome back latter
an expedition so skilfully planned and
SO successfully achieved.''
Bv 2 am. Monday, the Norge left for
Christiania and late in the afternoon
she anchored off Drobak, the little we'll
following morning at o'clock the
Norge steamed up the ford in the
midst of heavy snow shower. A few
hours later she entered the port, ex-
changing salutes with the fortress OF
Akershus. Captain Amundsen and his
comrades stayed on board until l
o'clock, when they were landed in a
steam launch. On leaving the Norge,
the "Gioamendene' were saluted by
'vice admiral 8 salute'' (thirteen
guns), and on landing they were
saluted in the same way by the fortress
Of Akershus.
A Moment of Great Beauty.
1t was a moment of overwhe Ginning
beauty. The snow weather had abated
a little, and the contours of the sur
roundings of the ford appeared in
their graywhite habit under the
gloomy sky of November. The walls
their families by special permission of
the war office. looked like the upper
galleries of an immense amphitheater
the pit of which was formed by the
large pier, where forty-nine corpora
tions with flying colors had taken
place like guard of honor. A little
below w was the nreceP Tnn pierm with
headed by Premier Nicholson in per
son, the presidents Of the storthing, the
municipality board Of Christiania and
number of others. Then suddenly,
like an immense wave of emotion which
broke the ice 4 of suspense 4spna =, the ne
spectators, echoing and re-echoine
from the pit Of the gallery, in the
midst of "Ja vi Elsker,' played by a
fine military band.
In the name of the municipality of
Christiania, Mr.. Bugge, president of the
municipality board, addressed Captain
Amundsen and his men men. I'VE are
few in number and in possession of sc
little means, you have been able to
solve problem which has taxed in
vain the efforts of men for centuries
You have completed the northwest pas
sage and settled the magnetic pole. BY
of science and added to the glory Of the
fatherland. Therefore be welcome in
the capital of Norway. Long live
Captain Amundsen and his .comrades!
A few minutes after the : Gloamen
dene" entered a number of carriages
waiting on the pier. In each carriage
there was a member of the expedition
and member of the arrangement com
Bugge leading the way. After the
carriages followed the corporations
The straight distance from the pie
to the Grand hotel being very shor'
one, the procession was laid thru Rad
husgaden. Kirkegaden and Karl Joha1
as far as the Grand hotel In othe,
words, the procession marched thru thu
three sides of a rectangle, the base o.
which was the direct distance between
the pier and the Grand. The streets
were everywhere lined with immens,
crowds and all traffic had to be sus
pended.
At the Grand Hotel.
On arriving at the Grand hotel
which was decorated with colors ant
gsarlands, the windows being framed b,
electric lamps, Captain Amundsen ant
his men took place on the balcony, from
where they viewed the procession as i
passed by. The corporations lowered
their colors and waved their hats u,
towards the balcony. The ftGioa
mendene' were especially cheered b,
the students, who have record among