Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-04-04
NORWAY.
Chrtsfiaua.


When Captain Amundsen returns In
March from his lecture tour before the
leading geographical societies of Eu-
rope, where gold medals and honors
of very kind have been so freely be-
slowed upon the hero of the northwest
passage, he will spend some time lee
turing In the provincial towns of Nor
way. In May his impressario, Mr..
Harry Randall, leaves for America,
where Captain Amundsen will make
an extensive lecture tour e fall.
The captain has still another project
In mind. He believed that when he
could find the magnetic pole he would
try his luck In finding the hitherto
undiscovered " north one," and many
believe that he Is the very man for
the task. The Fran" the famous
ship of DR.. Frithjof Nansen and Cap
tain Otto Sverdrup, has also been
spoken Of In connection with Amund-
sens Intended venture. The FRAN
is now the property of the Norwegian
government and Is In custody Of the
navy department. Should this ship
not be obtainable or unsuitable Cap
tain AmunGsen will have a new ship
built. Mr.. Amundsen has not as yet
determined when he will make Tho
start northward.
The loss of the Norwegian steamer
"Skuld" has been reported by the of
fcers OF the steamer Bosnia" which
arrived from Hamburg March 10. The
Bosnia" sighted the "Skuld" lying on
her beam ends in latitude ALA north
and longitude $40 east, about 100
miles south of the island Of Miquelon
on March 13. Her crew had evidently
abandoned her and it was believed by
the "Bosnia's" officers that they We're
taken off by some vessel which sighted
her before the Bosnia" 1t Is be-
lieved that the "SkulG" was upset dur
ing one of the heavy gales reported by
steamers during the last two weeks.
She was a freight steamer running
on no line, but picking up freights
wherever offered. 1t is believed that
she carried no passengers. The 'Skuld'
was Of 1882 tons, was 265 feet in
length, hailed from Tonsberg, Norway,
and was owned by Otto Thoresen.
Since the fatal avalanche and tidal
wave at Nordfjord in 1905, no disaster
Of the same character has taken place
which approaches that which is chron-
Icled on Feb. % and % at Vesterrass,
In Gieranger, and at Opstryn, Nord-
ford. At the first place thirteen per-
sons and ut the latter sever lost their
lives and several houses n cattle
were buried under huge avalanches
coming down from the overhanging
mountains. Several persons have been
rescued, but the death roll Is likely to
remain as stated. The snowfall has
been extremely heavy in Norway this
year, and this catastrophe, like most
such occurrences, was not lacking In
thrilling incidents and wonderful es-
capes from death.
The annual Holmenkollen, tourna-
ment was a splendid success this year
and all the ski and skating races In
all their varieties were well attended.
King Haakon made a trip to see the
great games and q number of well
known British, German and French
newspapers sent their best men to COW
er the affair. The week was undoubt-
eddy a great advertisement for Nor
way as an excellent tourist country
ever In the winter season. Some CT
the British newspaper men say that
Norway beats Switzerland for scenery,
even in winter.
Says a Christiania correspondent:
ut is a sure sign Of spring when some
Of the theatrical companies of euro
pean cities put in an appearance in
Cbristiania. At present he well
known French actress Susanna Des-
pres, with her company is at the Ma
tional theater. Her opening perform
ance was Ibsen's "DolTs House." and
was, OF course, given in French. This
has given Ibsen's countrymen an OPP
portunity to see how the dramas OF
the master are interpreted by the ar
fists of sunny France.