Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-23
ADVENTURE Turks
ON FAMOUS SHIP
Fran, Soon to BE Made Into
Polar Museum, Has Been
to Ends of Earth.

Few exploring ships have had more
adventures than the famous Fran. This
peculiar vessel, soon to be converted
into q permanent polar museum at Oslo
Norway, has the unparalleled record OF
s.fartheSt north and farthest south"
The Fran is built round and tubby
like q large, fiat vegetable dish, with
schooner rig. She Is remembered more
for her ability to withstand tremendous
ice pressure than for fast sailing, says
a bulletin from the National Geo.
graphic Society.
Used by Two Polar Heroes.
Two venerated polar heroes of Nor
way have been closely associated with
the Fran.
She fulfilled all the expectations of
Fridtjof NanSen, who designed her Spe-
cially for his historic drift across the
Arctic ice pack In 1896. Instead OF
being crushed and ANONYMOUSLY sunk
by the viSe-like grip of the heavy ice,
she was lifted by the pressure and sup
ported bodily as If by a ships cradle.
The most northern ATTITUDES for ship
were recorded in her log during the
three years incarceration.
Again, in 1902, the Fran was Sc
lected by Road. Amundsen as a base
ship for his successful dash to the
South Pole. When leaving her skipper
at the Bay Of Whales, near where Ad-
miral Byrd later located Little America,
she visited the most southern navigable
waters.
First Through Northwest Passage.
In San Francisco's Golden Gate Park
rests the Gjoa, q gift of Amundsen.
This little vessel, originally Hardan-
ger herring boat, was the first to trav-
erse the Northwest Passage. Sought
for centuries by adventures and eX-
plorers in single ships, and even fleets,
this water route across North America
was supposed to be short cut to India.
Perhaps the most tragic tale in all
Arctic literature Is the last voyage of
Sir John Franklin, who set out in the
Terror and Erebus to discover this pas
sage in 1845. No other expedition start
cd with more up-to-date equipment or
higher hopes for success. Yet Sir John
and every one of his 1913 men vanished
into the icy wasteS-the Andree trag-
edy of that generation. Not until IA
years efterward, when Capt. McCIntock
discovered skeletons and records on
King William Island, was this strange
Arctic mystery cleared UP and the ter
rible disaster which overlook this lost
feet made known. ESkimos spoke of
strange men from the sea who landed
only to die as they walked.
Peary Ship Is Tug.
Many famous exploration ships are
still active and doing their bit. Adj
nntral Peary's Roosevelt, his base ship
for the discovery Of the North Pole, IS
now a lowly tug on the West Coast.
She was built SO sturdily that her
wooden walls" were 20 inches thick
Even her ice-breaking bow was literally
q solid chunk of oak, like a gladiator'S
cestus," said Peary.
The Quest, Sir Ernest Shackleton's
last Antarctic steamer, has recently
been host to party Of young British
aviation enthusiasts who are studying
the northern air route to America.
The Discovery, a living reminder Of
gallant Sir Robert SCOTS first Antarc-
tic venture, now lies neglected in
London dock. Soon q new steel name
sake viii sail the unknown seas in the
interest Of science.
Byrd's Ship 4 Museum
Even the bark City of New York,
manned by members of the Byrd Ant
Mrs Of Little America, Is doing its bit
for its master. This old ships visit TO
East Coast cities is enabling many
thousands Of people to see a real Arctic
vessel Gin the life"
Perhaps the most romantic of all
Arctic argoSies Is the late Coast Guard
cutter Bear. This historic old brigan-
tine, rescuer of many q beleaguered
Alaskan explorer, whaler or trader, has
Just been retired after over IS years
active service and presented by an act
Of Congress to Oakland, Calf. She will
always be remembered, however, as the
ship which IN 1884 rescued Gen. A. w.
Greeley, then Q lieutenant, and his sur
slopes OF Cape Sabine, Ellesmere Land.