Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-20
ARCTIC EXPLORER SAFE
Mogg Expedition Marooned on Way to
Wild District Not Visited Since '32-
First News Since 1892.

Washington. Feb. 20.-Private ad-
vices from the Arctic ocean say thas
Capt. William Mogg and his crew OF
four men, in the whaling schooner
Olga thought to have been lost III
gale at sea fifteen months ago, are
alive and spending the arctic winter
at Point Barrow. The news comes IN
a letter from Captain Mogg, written
Nov. /, 1908. and dispatched by Eskimo
messenger to Teller City, 500 mites
over almost impossible trails, thence
by dog team routes thru Nome and st.
Michael to Valdez and by steamer to
Puget sound.
The iMogg expedition left this port
in June, 1907. equipped as whaling
venture in waters of the Arctic almost
unknown and equally unexplored. 1t
had the backing of the geographical
society of London and planned to visit
the Banksland district, a region that
has not been visited by white people
since the visit of Explorer Captain lie
Cour in 1892 The actual destination
of the expedition was Cape Prince AL
bert. nearly 1000 miles northeast from
Point Barrow.
First News Since 1907.
No news had been received from
Captain Mogg since September, 1907,
when the cutter Thetis went north to
investigate a charge made against him
of abducting an Eskimo woman.
By reason of severe storms, impass-
able ice fields and a series OF mlsfor-
tunes that constitute a doleful story Of
hardships, none of the primary objects
of the voyage had been accomplished.
After unsuccessfully combating the ice
on the Banksland shore during the
brief summer seasons of 1907 and 1908,
ending in bringing the schooner CAST
in the icebergs $50 miles from Point
Barrow, a refuge was sought for the
present winter and to outfit for re-
newed attempts at progress northward
next summer.
Long Stay on Bleak Shores.
A description of the long stay On
the bleak shores of the uninhabited
arctic island furnishes thrilling ac-
count of arctic adventure. Plans FOR
the winter, which was to continue from
Sept. z to July, consisted of finding
snug cove for the schooner's anchorage,
facilities FOR Tending off as great
quantity of ice as possible and provld-
ing additional shelter to fight the aw-
full cold that was to ensue.
No white people had been seen since
the early days of September, when
Captain Cottle of the steamer Belvo-
dere spoke the Olga, and transfer Of
stores occurred The interchange of
greetings was the last to be offered
the Mogg party for more than a year.
In a career Of twenty years whaling
and sailing the arctice. Captain Mogg
writes that he has never seem such
quantities of ice assembled many miles
from shore lines as prevailed in the
past open season Every mile of prog
ress that his little command was able
to make was attended by danger Of be-
ing crushed between gigantic bergs or
massive ice fields.
Wedged Fast in Ice.
On Sept. Z, off Flaxman island, near
ly 400 miles from Point Barrow, the
vessel became hopelessly wedged be-
tween the ice and with young ice form
ing, steadily the seasons work was
abandoned.
The crew walked to Point Barrow,
the trip being attended by grave dan
gers of falling into f1ssures. Point
Barrow was reached Oct. II. From
that point Captain Mogg writes that he
has hope his vessel will not be dam
aged in the spring opening and that
he can again start out on his voyage
further north for the lands that prom
Use much interesting information and
wealth.