The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-04-27
AN ARCTIC TRAGEDY.
The Story of the nl-Fated Erichsen
Expedition.

ln6l6 Is d rOluduCe dllu lcSC1uo L1Oi
about the frozen reaches Of the unex-
plored region which appeals even to
those who are quite willing to accept
their knowledge Of the bleak North
land at second hand.
It is this which gives interest to
the story of the expedition headed
by Mylius Erichsen which left Copen-
hagen in 1906 to survey and chart
the uncharted section Of Greenland
and to determine whether this north
ern possession of Denmark was an IS
land. The expedition accomplished its
object, but only at the cost Of Life
and great hardship.
The party sailed from Copenhagen
June "a, 1906, on the steamer Den
mark. Its object was that of charting
Greenland between Koldeney island
on the east side and Cape Bridgman,
Peary Land, at the northerly end Of
the island. The distance to be covered
was approximately 1,4O0 kilometres,
or $40 miles-a distance greater than
the airline distance between New
York and Chicago. The vessel was an
chored in an inlet beyond Cape Bis
marck, on the east side of Greenland,
which was christened port Of Den
mark. Here the vessel remained two
years while explorations we're made.
On March %, 1907, caravan Of
ten men and ninety dogs sci out to
establish stations and take up the
work Of the expedition. 1t was IL
vided into four groups. One Of these
was made up of Erichsen, the leader !;
Lieut.. Hagen, photographer, and
Bronlund. Greenlander who could
write. The second group was com
posed of Capt. Koch, Behtelsen, an
artist, and Tobias Oabvielsen, OF
Greenland. This group, after travel
ing for three months toward the
northeast, reached Cape Bndgman,
Peary Land, and turned back, hay
ing reached its goal. On the way
back they met Erichsen, who had en-
countered difficulties. Eriohsen Or
dered them to continue on the back
track, and with his party continued
toward the northwest, hoping to ind
Cape Glacier, in Independence Bay.
He and his two companies were not
seen alive again, The progress OF the
party was made known by the diary
kept by Bronlund, which was found
with other documents, carefully pack
ed, lying beside his body. From the
journal it was learned that Wlth1n a
week after leaving Koch's party the
supply of provisions became exhaust
ed. From this time Eriehsen, his
companions and their dogs, lived on
such game as they could shoot. 1t
was under the same date, June 4, that
these triumphant words appeared IN
the journal. "Cape Glacier is reach
ed. The problem is solved. Greenland
is an island.' -
The journey back was trying one.
The ice had broken up, and it was
evident that they must wait until
the autumn ice formed before they
could advance. In the meantime the
game became scarcer and scarcer. On
August s the journal recorded that
several days had passed without a
taste Of meat. The dogs were losing
strength and the mems boots were
worn out. They tried to go further,
hor;~~ 10 find game, hit succeeded
| on!y in landing on some ice pack,
where they found themselves sur
rounded by water. They began to
kill the dogs, which were unable to
! drag the sledges, feeding the remain
ing animals with part of the flesh OF