New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-15
EXPLORERS TALE TOLD
Capt. Koch and His Three Men
Near Death in Greenland.
ATE EVEN THEIR PET DOG
Trained Their Ponies to Feed
Upon the Carcasses of Those
Previously Killed.

Copenhagen. Aug 1I-The story told
by Captain Koch. the Danish explorer.
Of the crossing of Greenland in company
with three hardy companions, shows that
the dangers and hardships 10 be en-
countered on the great inland icefeld
have not decreased since Rear Admiral
Robert L. Peary and Dr.. Fridtjof Nan
sen made their journeys over a portion
Of the same deserted wastes.
The Danish leader and his three COM
panions. Dr. Wagner. a German: Lar
sen. a sailor. and Sigurdson. a native of
Iceland. were reduced during their Jour-
ney to eating d pet dog, the only animal
left. After landing from their ship on
July "a. 1912. the first mlshap encoun-
tered by the expedition was the loss
OF a number OF ponies Shortly after
ward their motorboat disappeared
through the thin Zee and the explorers
were obliged TO wait until nearly the end
OF September before the ice was suft.-
GENTLY thick to carry their sledges and
horses. When they were ready TO start
DR.. Wagner fell and broke a rib.
The expedition arrived at about ten
miles 70 the east Of Queen Louise Land
on Oct 70 and went into winter quar-
tiers there. The shortness OF fodder mads
il necessary TO slaughter all the ponies
with the exception OF five. which wsrs
gradually trained TO canntbalism By
being fed on the flesh OF their brothers-
During a sledging trip Captain Koch
fell forty feet into crevasse. breaking
his right leg. which accident kept him
helpless in the hut throughout the win
ter in an outside temperature OF hfty
degrees below zero.
On April 20 this year tho four man
broke camp and, with Eve sleiShs. each
drawn by d pony, started on their 7s9
mile march to the west coast
During the first forty days violent
Billiards ragged practically without ces-
sation The ponies became snowolind
aSd so exhausted that the men were
obliged TO kill three Of them Later the
suns rays tormented the travellers and
burned the skin from their faces which
soon had the appearance OF raw beef.
while the temperature at night was 30
below zero.
Snowshoes were fitted 10 the feet OF
the two remaining ponies. and proved OF
wonderful assistance TO them in ths
loose snow. But for the ponies the ex-
petition would have been in a WORSE
plight.
II was found necessary 10 kill an
other pony on July II this year, because
the fodder had given out. Next day ths
last pony was killed. much 70 the dis
tress OF the members OF the expedition,
as q few miles further on splendid pas
turage was found.
The rations OF Captain Koch and his
companions had been meanwhile grad
ually reduced and on July Is their pro-
visions were finished.
bowling blizzard came on top OF this
misfortune, and for thlrty-flve hours the
four men We're compelled To take shelter
under a projecting rock. where they re-
NAMED without A morsel OF food. on
July IS they tried 70 push on 70 the coast,
which was now visible. but they were so
exhausted with hunger. cold and wet that
they were scarcely able 10 move. Their
only chance for life was 10 kill the pet
dog which had tramped with them for
about eight hundred miles. This was
done. and its flesh was cooked and eaten.
The neal was hardly finished when the
explorers sighted a sailing boat In ford
to the east OF Proven, on the west coast
OF Greenland.
BY means OF shots and signals the ex-
plorers succeeded in attracting the atten-
ton Of those on board the vessel. and
Pastor Chemnitz, who was on the ship,
soon. with the assistance OF the crew. had
the famished and WORKOUT explorers IA
safety.