The Nome nugget., 1920-07-17
AMuNDsEN GIVES DETAILS
 OF POLAR JOURNEY


 B. F. Wall. trader at Cape Serge. Siberia. now in Nome. is In receipt of clipping from a paper published at Tromso. Norway. as follows: Kristiania. May 1. 1920.
 "Morgenposten." "Aftenposten'' and ''Tiden Gang" published the following telegram. which reached here per radio from Seattle, via Apadyr. Siberia. and Nome. Alaska. It was lated April 2srd. 1920.
 We left our winter quarters Sept l2 1919. after having mined ourselves ou, and forced ourselves through solid ice, l two to three yards thick. a distance of 250O yards. The following day we were again fast in the Ice at Samuel Island. On the 14th we got through and proceeded Eastward. The follow l ing day we were agnin arrested by the Ice which hugged St. Peter Island. Az we could not find passage around It. we forced our way through an un- known Strait between the island and the mainland.
 ! The ice offered strong resistance: but after hard struggle we succeeded in forcing our way through this mar row and difficult passage. with only IF feet of ice free water under our keel We found much ice in Norden- skjold> Sea. This was of little con- sequence. We passed through the Laptief Straits that separates the Si- berian Islands from the mainland.
 On the 18th the sea to the East of the island was clear of ice. We set our course in the direction of Jeannetta
 Island: but the next day were again stopped by the ice. We anchored to the solid ice intending to drift with It.
 We soon found by our Investigations that the ice was drifting in a southeriy direction at the rate of 1A to 1M knots an hour. This would not pay-after a close inspection which left us no hope of forcing ourselves through the fee we cast loose and took Southeasterly course. following the ice. This was bitter pill to swallow. but we were | compelled to seek place for winter I quarters some place along the coast. The only feasible place for this ap- peared to be Tschaun Bay. The nights were very dark and the sea was run- ming high At times the Northern lights would point the way. ] A Northwest wind was all the time blowing and this had packed the drift ice into the bay at the point where We intended to make our winter quarters. 1 We had no choice, the ice was closing in on us-nearer and nearer-so pro- | ceeded as far as the ice permitted and | reached the west coast of Alan Island where the situation is far from premis. ing. but our staunch vessel will oar. tainly stand the test.
 Three days after reaching this placa we met some members of the Tschuk. tschn and Makasi tribes. who had their l tents on Alan Island. hut who. on October sixth, had left the place to ! winter in the woods, in the interior country. and herd their reindeer herds. Sverdrup left the "Maud' In their l company. outftted for a period of months in order to study their life. habits. habitatlons etc. Snev (3) and olonkin left the "Maud" October goth to go to Mini Kqymsk. taking with them a number of things intended ta be sent home. On November 11th they returned. having met some Russ sians in the little town of Kolyma, who told them that on account of the war no communication could he had with the outside.
 Hilmer Hansen and Visiting will soon leave us to so to Nome with mail.
 As soon as the ice breaks up in the Spring we will cantinne as far ap Nome. Alaska. where [ hope tn bs in July or August 1920.
 Write us and ask our friends to send us. newspapers from the very time we left Norway.
 After a brief visit in Nome we will leave that place to buffet with the ice about Wrangel Island. The drift from that, place wili take us i've years. All well! Happy New Year!
 ROALD AMUNDSEN,
 Leader Of the Norwesian