Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-08-07
DARING DANISH
EXPLORER DIES
IN ARCTIC SNOW
MYLUS ERICHSEN AND SEVERAL
COMPANIONS PERISH IN
GREENLAND.
VAIN DASH FOR THE POLE.
Navigator's Plans TO Cross Icy Fields
with Sledges Ends in Dis
aSter
TALE OF TERRIBLE SUFFERING.

COPENHAGEN. Aug. G.-Mylius
Erickson. the Danish explorer. has met
his death in the far north According
to information just received in Il teIe-
gram TO the committee of the Denmark
Greenland expedition. Erichsen and two
of his companions who sailed with him
from Copenhagen June "a. 1906. to the
meXplored Iegions of the northeastern
coast of Greenland. persisted in storm
The three men were on an expedition
over the ice when disaster overlook
them. Otherwise the exploring party
has been successful. Large tracts of
unknown land have been mapped ont
and the entire northeastern coast of
Greenland has been charted.
Persisted in Ice Floe.
\ later telegram brings the informa-
ton that Erickson and his companions
were on an ice foe when they were over
taken by the sn0wstorm. The foe drift
ed out to sea. The provisions of the eX-
plorers soon became exhausted. They
drltted for some days, growing weaker
and weaker. When the foe was finally
driven back to land the three men did
not have sufficient strength to make the
effort necessary to return to the station.
They must have persisted on shore. The
EsQuimauX who brought in the news of
the disaster arrived at the station in
dying condition and succumbed imme-
dIateiy afte" making his report.
His Earlier Expeditions
Mylus Erichsen has devoted several
years to the exploration of Greenland.
His first expedition returned from that
country III November. 1904. after two
years and a half in the north. The eX-
ILL
two years ago was supported financially
by the Danish government and his plans
had been approved by many societies of
scientists, including the American
Geographical society
On a former occasion Mr.. Erickson
distinguished himself as the chief Of Il
party which traversed the route across
Melville bay to the Cape York Esqui-
mnN settlement, on the west coast OF
Greenland Mr. Erickson planned on
this last trip and this was the most adj
venturous portion of his undertaking.
to cross the eternal ice cap of Green
land at its broadeSt part by means of
snowshoes dog sledgcs and an automo-
bile.
His Vain Attempt
He purposed 10 set out about March.
1903. accompanied by one of his staff
and two Greenlanders, belonging to the
crew. Other members of the expedi-
ton. with fully loaded sledges were to
go with HIM tue first third of the jour
ney. After leaving his companions
Erickson and the three men he planned
to take with him We're to proceed to the
unknown ice dome of the INTERIOR which
rises at its highest to 10000 feet above
the sea level. This region is completely
devoid of vegetation and animal life.
and here. it is believed is to he found
one of the cold poles of the northern
hemisphere. 1t is doubtful if man could
live there in the coolest season. Under
months of March, April and May for his
venture. He hoped to compass this
venturesome journey in about two and a
half months, coming out on the west
coast. 1t was probably on this trip that
the explorer met his death.