Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-11-23

be futile. We had to swallow the
bitter pill and turn to the south to
explore the peninsular on the north
coast Of which we were lying. The
interior of this peninsular was entire
~ unknown. Or. Sverdrup. with his
scientific instruments, was to be
seen all over the camp and a series
Of observations of the higher strata
of the air was started by the aid OF
kites.
The ice had remained absolutely
immovable all through the Winter
and Spring and that had been very
pleasant and added much to our COM
fort But as the conditions did not
change during the Summer I began
to get restless. What would happen
to us If the ice did not break up"
This question was exceedingly I'M
pleasant and repeated itself oftener
and oftener during the advance OF
the season. 1t was then ] decided to
send two men home with reports and
letters The distance to travel was
500 miles from Grand Harbor to Dick
son Island. lessen and knutsen
volunteered for the service and start
ed the preparations at once. They
built themselves little stone hut
where they could stay until Winter
came and the fee became sufficiently
would take place in the middle. OF
October. They got FIVE dogs and ali
the provisions they needed besides a
complete outfit for Arctic travelling.
They were both experienced Arctic
travellers and there should be no
need for anxiety.
The season advanced rapidly now
and on August = We had the heaviest
snowstorm we experienced during
10 IL L.. IL
bright. In the middle of August new
Ice started to form In the fresh waite.
pools. indicating that Winter was ap-
preaching. What should we do 70
get out IN the drift ice? The Ice was
entirely unbroken from the ship and
out to the nearest islet--a distance of
1000 yards. The only thing We could
try was to blow our way out. But by
measuring the ice We found that 1t
varied from one to three yards IN
thickness. The task seemed almost
insurmountabie But better try.
Now-the same work can be done in
many ways, but with an entirely diff
ferent result. So we took an after
noon off and discussed the subject.
But as we were eight, there were
eight different opinions. 7 chose the
one thought best, namely. to make
all the mines ready and then explode
(FeIH LII AT the sam time.
Decide to Mine Ice.
We had 1000 pounds of black pow
der. This we made up into so 90
pound mines and placed them equally
between the ship and the open wa'ei
round the islet, 1t was hard work, as
we had to- bore holes through the
heavy ice for each mine. That meant
so holes. Each mine was then sunk
down to about a yard under the ice
and exploded as simultaneously as
possible. The result was not very
much to look at. But did not expect
to see very much, either. My hope
was that the ice should crash from
mine hole to mine hole and that
the high tide which We expected In
a few days should do the rest of the
work. The calculation turned out &c
be a good one. oli the night Of Sep
TENDER IL. nearly a year after We
had been imprisoned. a broad lead
opened In the way of the mines and
we passed out into open water. A last
dip Of the flag to our two comrades
left behind. last farewell shout and
we parted forever. They both died
on their way to Dickson Island. Tes-
sem was found later close to his point
of destination. but Knutsen was never
seen. One may conjecture, but the
real reason we shall never know. A
little sack containing reports and
photos was found beside the body.
He had apparently given up every
thing except these papers left in his
care. A fine specimen of a man In
deed.
Now began the most fantastic
navigation I had ever experienced.
1t seemed as IL nothing was real.