The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-09-23
NO MANS LAND.
Unknown Spitzbergen, PeopIed Only
by Thousand Dead.
National Geographical Magazine.

tNatlonal Geographical Magazine.
The new of Spitzbergen has been
spoken oftener during the past few
months than for many long year.
The fact that the Wellman airship
has been building there is responsible
for Spitzbergen becoming something
like a household word. Its history is
romantic.
During the most profitable period of
the Dutch fishery, 1620-35. over 800
Dutch ships and more than $4,000 men
annually visited Spitzenberg; more
than $4,000 men were on the coast in
one summer. These conditions led to
its summer colonization.
The most remarkable of these estab-
lishments was at Amsterdam island
where on a broad plain grew up the
astonishing village of Smeerenberg.
Here, nearly within 10 degrees OF the
north pole, 20 degrees 50 minutes north,
for score of years prevailed an amount
OF comfort and prosperity that can
scarcely be credited by the visitor of
today.
Several hundred ships, with more
than 10000 men, visited it annually
These consisted not alone Of the whal-
ers and land laborers, but of the camp
followers who always frequent centers
of great and rapid productivity.
In the train of the whalers followed
merchant vessels loaded with wine,
brandy, tobacco and edibles unknown
in the plain fare of the hardy fishers
Shops were opened, drinking booths
erected, wooden and even brick tile
covered houses constructed for the la
borers or visiting whalemen.
Even bakeries were constructed, and
as in Holland the sound of the bakers
horn, announcing hot, fresh bread.
nf Z, Tf
report errs not. even the Dutch frau of
1850 was enterprising enough to visit
Smeerenberg.
The shore fisheries soon failed (about
1870, and the Dutch being driven to
the remote and open seas Smeerenberg
fell into decadence; the furnaces were
demolished. the copper cauldrons re-
moved and the tools and utensils of
the cooper and whaler disappeared;
only the polar bear remained to guard
the ruins Of the famous Spitzbergen
fair.
But human interest in Smeerenberg
did not pass away with it's vanishing
habitations, for on the shores of that
bay rest the last mortal remains of a
thousand stalwart fishers, who closed
their lives of toll and struggle in view
of the icy seas
Spitzbergen of late years has been
claiming great attention. a coal de-
post of considerable value has been
found on the island, and it has become
favorite resort for hunters and for
eXcursionistS.
It is known as No Mans Land. as il
belongs 10 no country, Norway and
Sweden being unable to agree as to its
possession. Last year about $500, 900
worth Of oil. furs and eiderdown were
obtained from the island
Some authority ought soon to take
possession of the archipelago, for the
game-such as reindeer, polar bears.
ptarmigan, geese, ducks and other
birds-fOrmerly so plentiful, is being
wantonly exterminated. A party of
tourists last summer killed more than
100 reindeer. leaving the carcasses
where they fell and taking with them
only a few of the finest heads and
antlers. Elder duck nests are robbed
of eggs, which Norway on her north
ern coasts and Denmark in Greenland
protect by law.