The Washington times., 1914-02-01
THREE EXPLORERS
CROSS GREENLAND
Scientists Have Done Much
Work During Last Two
Years in Interior.

LOMDON fSD. 1s-4AC gCG4S 4S4-'-S
nave been marked by an important ad-
vance in the exploration of the vast in
ierior of Greenland, no fewer than three
different traverses Of the ice-sheet, one
of them at almost its greatest extension
IN width, having been successfully ac-
compushed. The competence Of the
scientific experts who have taken part
n the journeys makes it certain that
The results, when fully worked out, will
oe of the greatest value from a scien-
tifc point of view. The three expedi-
tons are described in the journal issued
oy the Royal Geographical Society.
The first expedition to start was that
Of Knud Rasmussen, who, with the
hagen for an extended research in the
Greenland region in July, 1910; Ras-
mussen founded the station Of Thule IN
North Star bay. intended TO form a
connecting link between the Arctic high
landers and the Danish settlement, and
as base for exploring and scientihc
expeditions.
In 1911, moved by anxiety for the
iate of Einar MiIkelson and Iversen,
Rasmussen resolved to lead a relief
expedition, but unfavorable cond1-
lions made il necessary to postpone
the start TIL the next year. The
party consisted of Rasmussen him
self, FreUchen, Uvdloriak, and InuE-
itsork, arctic hiGhlanders; four
sIedges, and ffty-three dogs. On
April 5, 1912, they started from the
Clements Markham Glacier, just
north of Herbert Island. After as
cending to the island ice, they made
good progress. At first they built
snow huts, but they soon found II
much better to use their tent. ON
Nay 9, 1912, the head Of the Danmark
ISiord was reached, the dogs being
stiu in good condition, though some
we're lost in the difficult descent of
The island ice. The highest point of
the route was 1900 feet above sea
level, and a total distance Of 7S+
miles mad been covered
Down to the Sea.
They made their way down the Dan
mark Fierd until they reached the
sea, and then proceeded up another
cord. Finding the coast barren and
without game, they crossed from the
south to the north side OF the t1ord,
where there was more vegetation and
same was plentiful There were
traces of musk oxen, hares, and lem
mings, birds in the air, and seals IN
the water, Towering saxifrage' and
There were marks of Eskimo tent
places, but no winter huts. On June II
they came to a steep glacier at the
head of the ford, which was named
there was a valley full of flowers,
which the party called Valmuedalen,
Valley of the Poppies).
The SeAond party to start was that
Of the Swiss savant, DR.. de QuerYain,
who, in 1909, had visited Western
Greenland, but had been forced to
turn back from the edge Of the inland
ice This party started on its march
of the ice from Disco bay on June 20,
1912 For the first twenty or twenty
five miles the ice was free from snow
with many water holes and creYasses,
which caused much trouble. After
reaching the snow the party nearly
met disaster on snow-coyered lake.
The expedition owed its success in
great part to the endurance of the
dogs, which had been obtained on the
west coast, but had to be killed at
the end Of the journey by agreement
with the authorities in order to avoid
the risk of carrying a malady TO
which they are subject from the west
TO the east coast.
The expedition of Captain Koch, a CO.
adjutor of Mylius Erchsen, crossed the
island at its widest The personnel and
stores of his expedition were landed In
July, 1872 partly at Danmark Harbol
and partly at Storm Cape. The leader
had decided to depend for transport on
ponies, of which sixteen were landed,
out thirteen st2mpeded at once and
only ten were eventually recovered.
Work Two Months.
The party was employed for over two
months in transporting stores across
the northern portion of Dove Bay in the
direction of Queen Louise Land, which
had been chosen as the site of the win
ter quarters. Many difficulties were en-
countercd, and the motorbOat sank
when attempting to push a way through
newly formed ice. a way was found
with much difficulty up the much-cre-
vasSed glacier front to the surface Of
the great ice stream which descends be
tween Queen Louise Land and Ger
mania Land, but many OF the stores
were lost through the calying of the
glacier.
furTowed by water courses that all hope
of transporting the impedimenta to
Queen Louise Land had to be aban-
doned. Winter quarters were therefore
broke Ids leg through a fall into a
crevasse fifty feet deep, and was laid
UP for three months. The winter was
passed in scientific and other work, and
the party experienced no discomfort
from the cold. One excursion on ponies
revealed a practicable route over the
ice, and in subsequent Sledge trips a
depot was established on the west side
Of Queen Louise Land at height OF
$500 feet
The fnal start on the 7OO-mile march
TO the west coast was made on April
20. in the beginning the party was held
up by a blizzard lasting twelve days
and during the march they often had tC
face violent storms. The ponies suffered
severely, becoming snowblind and eX-
hausted, and three had to be killed
The men suffered from frost bites, but
these were not serious.
Wind Moderates.
As the center of Greenland was
approached the wind moderated. veerine
more TO the south, and finally dying
down. The altitude was between S,o0i
and 5000 feet, and the diminished air
pressure troubled both men and ponies
while the intense solar radiation
coupled with the low nightly tempera-
rure, biistered the skin and caused
sores.
During the first part of the journey
the snow was hard. but deeply fur
rowed, and when the surface became
more even the ponies sank in the soft
snow. The supply of fodder proving in
sufficient four more had 20 be killed on
June II. With the westward slope the
wind rose again, blowing from the
southeast, so that a sail could be
hoisted. The slope became sleeper and
the melting snow formed surface pools
connected by deeply sunk streams
The observations made these eY-