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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Siege and Conquest of the North Pole - -Author: George Bryce - -Release Date: January 20, 2016 [EBook #50976] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIEGE, CONQUEST OF NORTH POLE *** - - - - -Produced by Larry Harrison, Cindy Beyer and the online -Project Gutenberg team at -http://www.pgdpcanada.net with images provided by The -Internet Archives-US - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0000' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:10em;font-size:1.3em;'>THE SIEGE AND CONQUEST</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-bottom:10em;font-size:1.3em;'>OF THE NORTH POLE</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='lgc' style=''> <!-- rend=';' --> -<p class='line' style='margin-top:2em;font-size:1.2em;'>THE</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:2em;'>SIEGE AND CONQUEST</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.6em;'>OF THE</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:2em;'>NORTH POLE</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.6em;'>BY</p> -<p class='line' style='margin-bottom:8em;'>GEORGE BRYCE, L.R.C.P. & S. (<span class='sc'>Edin.</span>)</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.9em;'><span class='gesp'>LONDON</span></p> -<p class='line' style='margin-top:.2em;font-size:.9em;'>GIBBINGS & COMPANY LIMITED</p> -<p class='line' style='margin-top:.2em;margin-bottom:.2em;font-size:.8em;'>18 BURY STREET, W.C.</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.6em;'>1910</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:4em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:1.2em;'>PREFACE</p> - -<p class='pindent'>My chief object in compiling this work has been to supply -a brief account of the main efforts which have been made -to reach the North Pole. The subject is now so extensive -that few have the opportunity of covering the whole -ground. While the exciting and specially interesting -incidents have not been omitted, the book aims at giving -the reader an intelligent idea of the equipment and -other means by which the work of exploration has been -carried on.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The many expeditions which have set out to find a -north-west or a north-east passage do not come within -the scope of the book, except when they have had some -special bearing on the struggle for the Pole.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Those who may wish to pursue the subject further by -consulting the original authors can be assured that no -works of fiction relate greater deeds of heroism than are -found in the records of Arctic exploration; and that while -they may satisfy their love for the adventurous they will -add something to their geographical knowledge.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is hoped that the maps may be of considerable assistance -in enabling the reader to follow the narrative. The -spelling of geographical and other names is generally that -adopted by the authors of the original works.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>GEORGE BRYCE.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:1em;font-size:.8em;'><span class='sc'>Birmingham</span>, <span class='it'>December 1909</span>.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:4em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:1.2em;'>CONTENTS AND LIST OF MAPS</p> - -<table id='tab1' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 4em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 24em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>I.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch1'><span class='sc'>Parry’s Expedition of 1827</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>II.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch2'><span class='sc'>Kane’s Expedition (1853, ’54, ’55)</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>III.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch3'><span class='sc'>Expedition commanded by Dr. Hayes in 1860−61</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>IV.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch4'><span class='sc'>The German Expedition (1869−70)</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>V.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch5'><span class='sc'>Voyage of the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> (1871−73)</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>VI.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch6'><span class='sc'>The Austro-Hungarian Expedition (1872−74)</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>VII.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch7'><span class='sc'>The British Expedition of 1875−76</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>VIII.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch8'><span class='sc'>The Voyage of the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> (1879−81)</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>IX.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch9'><span class='sc'>Greely’s Expedition (1881−84)</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>X.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch10'><span class='sc'>The Norwegian Polar Expedition (1893−96)</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XI.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch11'><span class='sc'>Sverdrup’s Expedition (1898−1902)</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XII.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch12'><span class='sc'>Italian Expedition (1899−1900)</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XIII.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch13'><span class='sc'>Peary’s Expeditions (1886−1909)</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XIV.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#ch14'><span class='sc'>Dr. Cook’s Expedition (1907−9)</span></a></td></tr> -</table> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:1.2em;'>MAPS</p> - -<table id='tab2' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 4em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 24em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle0'>1.</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#map-1'><span class='sc'>The Arctic Regions</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle0'>2.</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#map-2'><span class='sc'>Chart of Smith Sound and Kennedy Channel</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle0'>3.</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#map-3'><span class='sc'>Chart of Part of East Greenland</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle0'>4.</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#map-4'><span class='sc'>Kaiser Franz-Josef Land in 1874</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle0'>5.</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#map-5'><span class='sc'>Chart of Greenland and Ellesmere Island</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle0'>6.</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#map-6'><span class='sc'>Franz-Josef Land</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle0'>7.</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#map-7'><span class='sc'>Chart of Sverdrup’s Discoveries</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle0'>8.</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#map-8'><span class='sc'>Chart of Northern Part of Greenland</span></a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle0'>9.</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle1'><a href='#map-9'><span class='sc'>Chart of North Polar Regions</span></a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:4em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:1.2em;'>GLOSSARY OF ARCTIC TERMS</p> - -<table id='tab3' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 30em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Beset</span>, so enclosed by floating ice as to be unable to navigate.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Bore</span>, to force through loose or recent ice.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Calf</span>, detached mass from berg or glacier, rising suddenly to the surface.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Crow’s nest</span>, a look-out place attached to the topgallant-masthead.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Dock</span>, an opening in the ice, artificial or natural, offering protection.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Drift ice</span>, detached ice in motion.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Field ice</span>, an extensive surface of floating ice.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Floe</span>, a detached portion of a field.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Hummocks</span>, ridges of broken ice formed by collision of fields.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Ice-blink</span>, a peculiar appearance of the atmosphere over distant ice.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Ice-foot</span>, the ice which adheres to the coast above the ordinary level of the sea.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Lane or lead</span>, a more or less navigable opening in the ice.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Nip</span>, the condition of a vessel pressed upon by ice on both sides.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Pack</span>, a large area of floating masses of ice driven together more or less closely.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Palæocrystic ice</span>, the name given by Nares to the old ice of the Polar Sea.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Polynia</span>, a Russian term for an open-water space.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle1'><span class='it'>Rue-raddy</span>, a shoulder-belt to drag by.</td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/map-1.jpg' alt='' id='map-1' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/> -<p class='caption'>THE ARCTIC REGIONS</p> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:4em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:1.2em;'>INTRODUCTION</p> - -<div class='literal-container' style=''><div class='literal'> <!-- rend=';fs:.8em;' --> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>“There’s a flag on the mast, and it points to the north,</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>  And the north holds the land that I love;</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>I will steer back to northward, the heavenly course</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>  Of the winds guiding sure from above.”</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:0em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:.8em;'><span class='sc'>Frithjof’s</span> <span class='it'>Saga</span>.</p> -</div></div> <!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>The North Pole is the centre of the Northern Hemisphere. -This hemisphere contains Europe, Asia, North -America, and a large part of Africa, yet no human -being reached its centre before the eighth year of the -twentieth century <span style='font-size:smaller'>A.D.</span></p> - -<p class='pindent'>The North Pole is the point where the axis of the -earth cuts its surface. It is the point where, as Captain -Hall expressed it, there is no north, no east, no west. It -is the place where every wind that blows is a south wind. -It is a point where all the meridians meet, and there is -therefore no longitude. It is one of the two places on -the surface of the earth where there is but one night and -one day in every year. It is a point from which all the -heavenly bodies appear to move in horizontal courses, -and the stars never set. It is not to be confused with -the magnetic pole, which is situated about 1600 miles -south of it, near the mainland of North America. At the -North Pole the magnetic needle points due south.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The North Pole is therefore a place of absorbing -interest, and until it was reached man never rested -satisfied. Ever since Robert Thorne, in the reign of -Henry <span style='font-size:smaller'>VIII.</span>, offered “very weighty and substantial reasons -to set forth a discoverie even to the North Pole,” the -struggle has been going on.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In no other records of adventure do we find greater -deeds of daring than in those of Arctic travel. The -dauntless courage in the face of extreme danger, the -perseverance when hope was forlorn, the self-sacrifices -made to render assistance to comrades, all stamp these -pioneers of science and commerce as heroes in the highest -sense of the word. Some of their daring exploits, their -successes and disasters, are here recorded, but the author -hopes that this book will only serve as an introduction -to the original ones. After reading the thrilling narratives -of Arctic exploration, one is ready to admit that “truth -is stranger than fiction.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Polar regions can be reached by only three -navigable routes. Either by the wide passage between -Greenland and Norway, a smaller passage between Greenland -and America, or by the narrow Bering Strait between -America and Russia.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Up till the beginning of the nineteenth century nearly -all the Arctic voyages had as the chief object the discovery -either of a north-west or a north-east passage to -the Pacific Ocean.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 7th June 1585 two tiny craft sailed from -Dartmouth in quest of the North-West Passage. They -were commanded by John Davis, a daring explorer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Davis sighted Greenland on 20th July, and on the -29th he was off where now stands the Danish settlement -of Godthaab. He crossed the strait which now bears his -name, and traced part of the western coast.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Davis made a second voyage in 1586, and a third in -1587. In the latter year he reached and named Sanderson’s -Hope, in 72° 41′.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Between 1594 and 1596 three expeditions were dispatched -by the Dutch towards Spitzbergen. That of -1596 is of special interest. William Barents, the discoverer -of Spitzbergen, was the chief pilot. The ship -reached Ice Haven, Novaya Zemlya, on 26th August, and -here the party were forced to winter. A house was built -with wood, but the winter was passed miserably, scurvy -ultimately making its appearance among the crew. The -ship being hopelessly beset by the ice, it was decided -during the following summer to abandon it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In two boats, the party of fifteen men started on a -journey of 1524 miles. Barents himself and one of the -crew were ill, and had to be dragged on a sledge from -the house to the boats. Both died on the boat-journey. -The remainder ultimately reached Russian Lapland, where -their troubles ceased.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About 274 years afterwards, the house built by Barents -was discovered by Captain Carlsen. Over the fireplace -still stood the cooking-pans, an old clock was against the -wall, and arms, tools, drinking-vessels, and books were -found as they had been left nearly three centuries before.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In 1607, Henry Hudson endeavoured to reach the Pole -along the east coast of Greenland. He attained 73° at -a point which he named “Hold with Hope.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He then examined the edge of the ice between Greenland -and Spitzbergen, and reached the latitude of 80° 23′. -He named the north-west point of Spitzbergen “Hakluyt -Headland,” and on his way home he discovered the island -now known as “Jan Mayen.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In 1610 he discovered Hudson’s Strait, and the great -bay which bears his name.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 26th March 1616, Robert Bylot as master, with -William Baffin as pilot and navigator, set out from -Gravesend in the <span class='it'>Discovery</span>, a craft of only 55 tons. -Greenland was sighted on 14th May, and on the 30th -May, Sanderson’s Hope, the farthest point of Davis, -was reached. On the 9th June he discovered Baffin -Islands, in 73° 54′. He then took what is known as the -“Middle Passage” across Melville Bay, and reached the -“North Water” of the whalers of to-day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Baffin discovered and charted Wolstenholme Sound and -Hakluyt Island, and passed north till he was within sight -of Cape Alexander. He named Smith Sound after the -first Governor of the East India Company. He also -discovered Carey Islands, Lancaster Sound, and Jones -Sound.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When we consider the wretched means with which these -early explorers were provided, we are lost in astonishment -at their audacity and at the success of their -achievements.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was exactly two hundred years afterwards that these -northern places were visited by Ross and Parry. Baffin’s -work had been almost forgotten, and his discoveries were -not believed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the seventeenth century many expeditions were -sent out which were the means of opening up extensive -commercial relations with Russia and of establishing the -fisheries of Spitzbergen, Davis Straits, and Newfoundland.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the eighteenth century several expeditions were -fitted out by the Hudson Bay Company, and a good deal -of exploration was done by the Russians. In 1728, Vitus -Bering discovered the straits which now bear his name; -and in 1742, Lieutenant Chelyuskin reached the most -northerly point of Asia in 77° 34′ by sledges. In 1765, -Admiral Tschitschagoff was sent by the Czarina Catharine -of Russia with three vessels to Spitzbergen to sail towards -the North Pole. He reached 80° 21′, but found it impossible -to advance farther. The following year he -reached 80° 28′. In 1770 the New Siberian Islands were -discovered by Liakhof.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In 1773, Constantine John Phipps, afterwards Lord -Mulgrave, sailed with the <span class='it'>Racehorse</span> and <span class='it'>Carcass</span>, with a -view of reaching the North Pole. He reached 80° 37′, -and visited some of the Seven Islands. He also mapped -the north of Spitzbergen. In this expedition the great -Horatio Nelson was captain’s coxswain on board the -<span class='it'>Carcass</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In 1818, Captain Buchan in the <span class='it'>Dorothea</span>, and -Lieutenant (afterwards Sir John) Franklin in the <span class='it'>Trent</span>, -attained 80° 34′ north of Spitzbergen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In 1823, Clavering and Sabine, in the ship <span class='it'>Griper</span>, -visited Spitzbergen, and while Sabine carried on magnetic -observations on the inner Norway Island, Clavering went -to sea and steered northwards, but did not get farther -than 80° 20′.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The edge of the ice had now been thoroughly examined -between the coast of Greenland and Novaya Zemlya, and -it became evident that the ice could not be pierced by -a ship. It occurred to Sir John Franklin and Sir Edward -Parry that the best way of reaching the Pole would be by -means of sledging over the ice. Parry put his ideas into -practice in 1827, when he undertook his well-known -expedition in the <span class='it'>Hecla</span>. He had just returned from his -third Arctic voyage in search of the North-West Passage. -His fourth voyage was an important one, and will be -treated at some length in the first chapter.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:3em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:2.5em;'>The Siege and Conquest of the North Pole</p> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak' id='ch1'>CHAPTER I<br/> <span class='sub-head'>PARRY’S EXPEDITION OF 1827</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>In April 1826, Captain William Edward Parry proposed -to Viscount Melville, First Lord Commissioner of the -Admiralty, “to attempt to reach the North Pole, by -means of travelling with sledge-boats over the ice, or -through any spaces of open water that might occur.” The -proposal was referred to the Royal Society, who strongly -recommended its adoption; and an expedition having been -equipped, Parry was appointed to the command of it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Before making the proposal, Parry had given the -subject careful consideration. He mentions that Captain -Lutwidge, the associate of Captain Phipps in the expedition -towards the North Pole in 1773, describes the ice -north of Spitzbergen to the distance of ten or twelve -leagues to have the appearance of “one continued plain -of smooth unbroken ice, bounded only by the horizon.” -The testimony of Mr. Scoresby, Jun., “a close and -intelligent observer of Nature in these regions,” was also -found to agree with that given by Lutwidge. “I once -saw,” says he, “a field that was so free from either fissure -or hummock, that I imagine, had it been free from snow, -a coach might have been driven many leagues over it in -a direct line, without obstruction or danger.” In addition -to these, experienced whalers, whom Parry consulted as -to the nature of the ice, agreed that it was highly -favourable for the purpose of his expedition. An important -factor in determining Parry to make the proposal -was the fact that Franklin had drawn up a plan for -making the attempt on the same lines.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For the journey over the ice, two boats were constructed -having great flatness of floor, with the extreme breadth -carried well forward and aft, and possessing the utmost -buoyancy, as well as capacity for stowage. Their length -was 20 feet, and their extreme breadth 7 feet. The -timbers were made of tough ash and hickory, 1 inch -by half an inch square, and a foot apart, with a -“half-timber” of smaller size between each two. On the -outside of the frame thus formed was laid a covering of -Mackintosh’s waterproof canvas, the outer part being -coated with tar. Over this was placed a plank of fir, -3/16 of an inch thick; then a sheet of stout felt; and over -all, an oak plank of the same thickness as the fir; the -whole of these being firmly and closely secured to the -timbers by iron screws applied from without. “On each -side of the keel, and projecting considerably below it, -was attached a strong ‘runner’ shod with smooth steel, -in the manner of a sledge, upon which the boat entirely -rested while upon the ice; and to afford some additional -chance of making progress on hard and level fields, we -also applied to each boat two wheels, of 5 feet diameter, -and a small one abaft, having a swivel for steering by, -like that of a Bath chair; but these, owing to the irregularities -of the ice, did not prove of any service, and were -subsequently relinquished. A ‘span’ of hide-rope was -attached to the fore part of the runners, and to this -were affixed two strong ropes of horse-hair, for dragging -the boat; each individual being furnished with a broad -leathern shoulder-belt, which could readily be fastened to -or detached from the drag-ropes.” The boats weighed -1539 lb. and 1542 lb. respectively. Two officers and -twelve men were selected for each boat’s crew. The -provisions consisted of biscuit, sweetened cocoa-powder, -and pemmican. The process of making the latter consisted -in drying large thin slices of the lean of the meat -over the smoke of wood fires, then pounding it, and lastly -mixing it with about an equal weight of its own fat. In -this state it was quite ready for use, without further -cooking.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Hecla</span>, which was to convey the expedition to the -north coast of Spitzbergen, left the Thames on the -25th of March 1827. They arrived at Hammerfest on -18th April. Here they obtained a small quantity of -venison and an abundance of good fish. They also -purchased a set of snow-shoes, together with Lapland -shoes (called “Kamooga”). They also took on board -eight reindeer and a supply of moss. “The quantity of -<span class='it'>clean</span> moss considered requisite for each deer per day -is 4 pounds, but they will go five or six days without -provender, and not suffer materially. As long as they -can pick up snow as they go along, which they like to eat -quite clean, they require no water; and ice is to them a -comfortable bed.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hammerfest was left on 29th April, and on the 5th of -May, in latitude 73° 30′, the first straggling mass of ice -was met. After some delay in waiting for the ice to -open, Hakluyt’s Headland was reached on 14th May. -While preparations were being made to land a quantity -of provisions here, a gale came on, and forced Parry to -take shelter among the pack-ice, where he remained beset -twenty-four days. Now began a search for a suitable -harbour for the <span class='it'>Hecla</span>, but it was not till the 20th June -that this was found in Treurenburg Bay. During this -search Parry reached as far north as 81° 5′, and landed -a small store of provisions on Walden Island, and another -on an islet near Little Table Island.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Preparations were now made to leave the ship on the -journey to the north. Parry writes: “As it was still -necessary not to delay our return beyond the end of -August, the time originally intended, I took with me -only seventy-one days’ provisions; which, including the -boats and every other article, made up a weight of 260 lb. -per man; and as it appeared highly improbable, from -what we had seen of the very rugged nature of the ice -we should first have to encounter, that either the reindeer, -the snow-shoes, or the wheels would prove of any service -for some time to come, I gave up the idea of taking -them. We, however, constructed out of the snow-shoes -four excellent sledges for dragging a part of our baggage -over the ice, and these proved of invaluable service to us, -while the rest of the things just mentioned would only -have been an encumbrance.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Hecla</span> was left on the 21st June, and Low Island -was reached on the 22nd. One of the ship’s cutters -accompanied the two boats in order to carry part of -the provisions which were to be landed on Low Island -and on Walden Island. Open water for the boats was -found until they reached latitude 81° 12′ 51″, which was -now the highest that had ever been reached. Scoresby, -in 1806, had reached 81° 12′ 42″, and with this exception -no one had ever reached the 81st degree.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Parry now writes: “Our plan of travelling being -nearly the same throughout this excursion, after we first -entered upon the ice, I may at once give some account -of our usual mode of proceeding. It was my intention -to travel wholly at night, and to rest by day, there being, -of course, constant daylight in these regions during the -summer season. The advantages of this plan, which was -occasionally deranged by circumstances, consisted first, in -our avoiding the intense and oppressive glare from the -snow during the time of the sun’s greatest altitude, so -as to prevent, in some degree, the painful inflammation -in the eyes, called ‘snow-blindness,’ which is common -in all snowy countries. We also thus enjoyed greater -warmth during the hours of rest, and had a better chance -of drying our clothes; besides which, no small advantage -was derived from the snow being harder at night for -travelling. The only disadvantage of this plan was, that -the fogs were somewhat more frequent and more thick -by night than by day, though even in this respect there -was less difference than might have been supposed, the -temperature during the twenty-four hours undergoing -but little variation. This travelling by night and -sleeping by day so completely inverted the natural order -of things, that it was difficult to persuade ourselves of the -reality. Even the officers and myself, who were all -furnished with pocket chronometers, could not always -bear in mind at what part of the twenty-four hours we -had arrived; and there were several of the men who -declared, and I believe truly, that they never knew night -from day during the whole excursion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When we rose in the evening, we commenced our -day by prayers, after which we took off our fur sleeping-dresses, -and put on those for travelling; the former being -made of camblet, lined with racoon-skin, and the latter -of strong blue box-cloth. We made a point of always -putting on the same stockings and boots for travelling -in, whether they had dried during the day or not; and -I believe it was only in five or six instances, at the most, -that they were not either still wet or hard-frozen. This, -indeed, was of no consequence beyond the discomfort of -first putting them on in this state, as they were sure to -be thoroughly wet in a quarter of an hour after commencing -our journey; while, on the other hand, it was of vital -importance to keep dry things for sleeping in. Being -‘rigged’ for travelling, we breakfasted upon warm cocoa -and biscuit, and after stowing the things in the boats -and on the sledges, so as to secure them, as much as -possible, from wet, we set off on our day’s journey, and -usually travelled from five to five and a half hours, then -stopped an hour to dine, and again travelled four, five, or -even six hours, according to circumstances. After this we -halted for the night, as we called it, though it was usually -early in the morning, selecting the largest surface of ice -we happened to be near, for hauling the boats on, in -order to avoid the danger of its breaking up by coming -in contact with other masses, and also to prevent drift -as much as possible. The boats were placed close alongside -each other, with their sterns to the wind, the snow -or wet cleared out of them, and the sails, supported by -the bamboo masts and three paddles, placed over them -as awnings, an entrance being left at the bow. Every -man then immediately put on dry stockings and fur -boots, after which we set about the necessary repairs of -boats, sledges, or clothes; and, after serving the provisions -for the succeeding day, we went to supper. Most of the -officers and men then smoked their pipes, which served to -dry the boats and awnings very much, and usually raised -the temperature of our lodgings 10° or 15°. This part -of the twenty-four hours was often a time, and the only -one, of real enjoyment to us: the men told their stories -and ‘fought all their battles o’er again,’ and the labours -of the day, unsuccessful as they too often were, were forgotten. -A regular watch was set during our resting-time, -to look out for bears or for the ice breaking -up round us, as well as to attend to the drying of -the clothes, each man alternately taking this duty -for one hour. We then concluded our day with -prayers, and having put on our fur dresses, lay down -to sleep with a degree of comfort, which perhaps few -persons would imagine possible under such circumstances; -our chief inconvenience being, that we were -somewhat pinched for room, and therefore obliged to -stow rather closer than was quite agreeable. The temperature, -while we slept, was usually from 36° to 45°, according -to the state of the external atmosphere; but on one or -two occasions, in calm and warm weather, it rose as high -as 60° to 66°, obliging us to throw off a part of our fur -dress. After we had slept seven hours, the man appointed -to boil the cocoa roused us, when it was ready, by the -sound of a bugle, when we commenced our day in the -manner before described.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Our allowance of provisions for each man per day was -as follows:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Biscuit, 10 oz.; pemmican, 9 oz.; sweetened cocoa-powder, -1 oz. to make 1 pint; rum, 1 gill; tobacco, -3 oz. per week.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Our fuel consisted entirely of spirits of wine, of which -2 pints formed our daily allowance, the cocoa being cooked -in an iron boiler over a shallow iron lamp, with seven -wicks; a simple apparatus, which answered our purpose -remarkably well. We usually found 1 pint of spirits of -wine sufficient for preparing our breakfast—that is, for -heating 28 pints of water, though it always commenced -from the temperature of 32°.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They set off on their first journey over the ice on 24th -June. Instead of the fine level floes they expected, they -found the ice consisting of pieces of small extent and very -rugged, obliging them to make three journeys, and sometimes -four, with the boats and baggage, and to launch -several times across narrow pools of water. They experienced -a great amount of rain, and had sometimes to -wade through water from 2 to 5 inches deep upon -the ice. It was rarely that they met with a surface -sufficiently level and hard to drag all their loads at one -journey. Deep soft snow was frequently met with, and -proved a difficult obstacle to overcome. At other times -their way lay across small loose pieces of ice, and the -boats had to be made to serve the purpose of a bridge -between the pieces. After a laborious day’s work, they -frequently found that they had not progressed more than -2 miles. It had been calculated that they could travel -20 miles per day over level ice. They found the Lapland -shoes, or Kamoogas, good for walking in when the snow -was dry, but when it was wet they found Esquimaux boots -much superior. On the 5th of July they had reached -latitude 81° 45′ 15″, and on sounding with 400 fathoms -of line failed to reach the bottom. A like result was -met in latitude 82° 17′ 10″, which was reached on 13th July. -About this date they found that they were being drifted -considerably to the south—sometimes 1 or 2 miles per -day. The glare of the sun was often very oppressive: -the best preservative was found to be spectacles having -the glass of a bluish-green colour, and with side-screens -to them. On the 20th July they reached 82° 36′ 52″, less -than 5 miles to the northward of their position on the -17th, although they calculated they certainly had travelled -12 miles. On the 25th July, Parry wrote: “So small -was the ice now around us, that we were obliged to halt -for the night at 2 a.m., being upon the only piece in -sight, in any direction, on which we could venture to -trust the boats while we rested. Such was the ice in the -latitude of 82¾°!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At noon on the 26th they found the latitude 82° 40′ 23″, -and calculated that since midnight on the 22nd they had -lost no less than 13½ miles by drift. At this time Parry -writes: “It had, for some time past, been too evident -that the nature of the ice with which we had to contend -was such, and its drift to the southward, especially with -a northerly wind, so great, as to put beyond our reach -anything but a very moderate share of success in travelling -to the northward. Still, however, we had been anxious -to reach the highest latitude which our means would -allow, and, with this view, although our whole object -had long become unattainable, had pushed on to the -northward for thirty-five days, or until half our resources -were expended, and the middle of our season arrived. -For the last few days, the 83rd parallel was the limit to -which we had ventured to extend our hopes; but even -this expectation had become considerably weakened since -the setting in of the last northerly wind, which continued -to drive us to the southward, during the necessary hours -of rest, nearly as much as we could gain by eleven or -twelve hours of daily labour. Had our success been at -all proportionate to our exertions, it was my full intention -to have proceeded a few days beyond the middle of the -period for which we were provided, trusting to the resources -we expected to find at Table Island. But this -was so far from being the case, that I could not but consider -it as incurring useless fatigue to the officers and -men, and unnecessary wear and tear for the boats, to -persevere any longer in the attempt. I determined, therefore, -on giving the people one entire day’s rest, which they -very much needed, and time to wash and mend their -clothes, while the officers were occupied in making all -the observations which might be interesting in this -latitude; and then to set out on our return on the -following day.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The bottom was found here with 500 fathoms of line. -At the extreme point of the journey the distance from -the <span class='it'>Hecla</span> was 172 miles. To accomplish this distance, -Parry reckoned they travelled 292 miles, of which about -100 were performed by water previous to entering the -ice. But as they travelled by far the greater part of -the distance on the ice three, and not unfrequently five -times over, the total distance estimated was 580 geographical, -or 668 statute miles, being nearly sufficient to -have reached the Pole in a direct line.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Returning south, open water was reached in latitude -81° 34′, about 50 miles north of Table Island. The -party had been forty-eight days on the ice. During this -journey several seals and bears were killed, and these -assisted very much both for meat and fuel. The islet at -Table Island was reached on the 12th of August, and it was -found that bears had devoured all the bread, amounting -to 100 lb., left there. To this islet Parry applied the -name of Lieutenant Ross. The <span class='it'>Hecla</span> was reached on -21st August, after an absence of sixty-one days, and the -total distance travelled was estimated at 1127 miles. -Parry writes: “Considering our constant exposure to -wet, cold, and fatigue, our stockings having generally -been drenched in snow-water for twelve hours out of -every twenty-four, I had great reason to be thankful for -the excellent health in which, upon the whole, we reached -the ship. There is no doubt that we had all become, -in a certain degree, gradually weaker for some time past; -but only three men of our party now required medical -care, two of them with badly swelled legs and general -debility, and the other from a bruise; but even these -three returned to their duty in a short time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Hecla</span> left Treurenburg Bay on 28th August, -rounded Hakluyt’s Headland on the 30th, and arrived at -Shetland on 17th September. Here Parry left the ship, -and proceeded to London <span class='it'>via</span> Inverness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Having finished his narrative of this attempt to reach -the North Pole, Parry makes the following observations:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That the object is of still more difficult attainment -than was before supposed, even by those persons who -were the best qualified to judge of it, will, I believe, -appear evident from a perusal of the foregoing pages; nor -can I, after much consideration and some experience of the -various difficulties which belong to it, recommend any -material improvement in the plan lately adopted. Among -the various schemes suggested for this purpose, it has been -proposed to set out from Spitzbergen, and to make a rapid -journey to the northward, with sledges, or sledge-boats, -drawn wholly by dogs or reindeer; but, however feasible -this plan may at first sight appear, I cannot say that our -late experience of the nature of the ice which they would -probably have to encounter, has been at all favourable to -it. It would, of course, be a matter of extreme imprudence -to set out on this enterprise without the means of crossing—not -merely narrow pools and lanes—but more extensive -spaces of open water, such as we met with between -the margin of the ice and the Spitzbergen shores; and I -do not conceive that any boat sufficiently large to be -efficient and safe for this purpose, could possibly be -managed upon the ice, were the power employed to give -it motion dependent on dogs or reindeer. On the -contrary, it was a frequent subject of remark among -the officers, that reason was a qualification scarcely less -indispensable than strength and activity, in travelling -over such a road; daily instances occurring of our having -to pass over difficult places, which no other animal than -man could have been easily prevailed upon to attempt. -Indeed, the constant necessity of launching and hauling -up the boats (which operations we had frequently to -perform eight or ten, and on one occasion, seventeen -times in the same day) would alone render it inexpedient, -in my opinion, to depend chiefly upon other animals; for -it would certainly require more time and labour to get -them into and out of the boats, than their services in the -intervals, or their flesh ultimately used as food, would be -worth; especially when it is considered how large a weight -of provender must be carried for their own subsistence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In case of employing reindeer, which, from their -strength, docility, and hardy habits, appear the best suited -to this kind of travelling, there would be an evident -advantage in setting out much earlier in the year than we -did; perhaps about the end of April, when the ice is less -broken up, and the snow much harder upon its surface, -than at a more advanced part of the season. But this, it -must be recollected, would involve the necessity of passing -the previous winter on the northern coast of Spitzbergen, -which, even under favourable circumstances, would probably -tend to weaken in some degree the energies of the -men; while, on the other hand, it would be next to -impossible to procure there a supply of provender for a -number of tame reindeer, sufficient even to keep them -alive, much less in tolerable condition, during a whole -winter. In addition to this, it may be observed, that any -party setting out earlier must be provided with a much -greater weight of warm clothing, in order to guard -against the severity of the cold, and also with an increased -proportion of fuel for procuring water by the melting of -snow, there being no fresh water upon the ice, in these -latitudes, before the month of June.”</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Parry’s attempt to reach the Pole, hauling heavy boats -over the ice, brings into prominence the determination -and daring of English sailors. Parry’s record of 82° 45′ -remained unbroken forty-eight years, when a new record -was again made by English sailors in an exactly similar -way to that of Parry, but in a different region.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The next expedition of importance after Parry’s was -that of Sir John Franklin in search of the North-West -Passage, and does not strictly come within the scope of -this book. Although the many expeditions which were -sent out in search of Franklin and his men were the -means of tracing a great extent of coast-line among the -islands which lie to the north of America, only one had -any special bearing on the struggle for the Pole. This -was the one commanded by Dr. Kane, and will be treated -in the next chapter.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/map-2.jpg' alt='' id='map-2' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/> -<p class='caption'>CHART OF SMITH SOUND AND KENNEDY CHANNEL.</p> -</div> - -<div><h1 id='ch2'>CHAPTER II<br/> <span class='sub-head'>KANE’S EXPEDITION (1853, ’54, ’55)</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>In December 1852, Dr. Kane received orders from the -Secretary of the U.S. Navy to conduct an expedition to -the Arctic seas in search of Sir John Franklin. Dr. -Kane’s plan of search was based upon the probable -extension of the land-masses of Greenland to the Far -North—a fact at that time not verified by travel, but -sustained by the analogies of physical geography. As -inducements in favour of his scheme, he mentioned—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“(1) <span class='it'>Terra firma</span> as the basis of our operations, obviating -the capricious character of ice-travel.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“(2) A due northern line, which, throwing aside the -influences of terrestrial radiation, would lead soonest to -the open sea, should such exist.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“(3) The benefit of the fan-like abutment of land, on -the north face of Greenland, to check the ice in the -course of its southern or equatorial drift, thus obviating -the great drawback of Parry in his attempt to reach the -Pole by the Spitzbergen Sea.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“(4) Animal life to sustain travelling parties.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“(5) The co-operation of the Esquimaux; settlements -of these people having been found as high as Whale -Sound, and probably extending still farther along the -coast.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We were to pass up Baffin’s Bay, therefore, to its -most northern attainable point; and thence, pressing on -toward the Pole as far as boats or sledges could carry -us, examine the coast-lines for vestiges of the lost -party.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Kane left New York on the 30th May 1853, in the -<span class='it'>Advance</span>, a “hermaphrodite brig of 144 tons.” The -entire party numbered eighteen. At Fiskernaes, Greenland, -he engaged Hans Christian, aged nineteen, as an -Esquimaux hunter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The pack was encountered in Melville Bay on 28th July, -and Kane was fortunate in passing through to the North -Water by 4th August. Smith Sound was entered on -7th August. A boat with a stock of provisions was -buried at the north-east point of Littleton Island, and -a cairn was erected on the western cape. About -40 miles north of Littleton Island the ice was met, and -the <span class='it'>Advance</span> was forced into Refuge Harbour. After a -great deal of warping, the brig reached Rensselaer Harbour -in latitude 78° 37′.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Kane attained the latitude of 78° 41′, he made a -curious observation. He states: “We are farther north -than any of our predecessors, except Parry on his Spitzbergen -foot-tramp.” This was far from the truth. Much -higher latitudes had been reached centuries before. In -the seventeenth century both the English and Dutch -had reached a higher latitude in the Spitzbergen Sea: -Tschitschagoff in 1765 reached 80° 21′; Phipps in 1773 -reached 80° 37′; and Scoresby in 1806 reached 81° 12′ 42″. -Had Kane’s statement been confined to the route between -Greenland and America, it would have been correct, but -referring as he did to Parry’s Spitzbergen voyage, he was -entirely astray.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Smith Sound was reached, Kane had more than -fifty dogs, but many of them soon died. Preparations for -the winter were made without delay: a storehouse was -formed on a small island in the harbour; an observatory -was built on another island; and a deck-house was made -to protect the <span class='it'>Advance</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Arrangements were then made to form provision-dépôts -along the Greenland coast for the purpose of northern -exploration. The first dépôt party left on the 20th of -September, and returned on the 15th of October. On -the 25th of September this party reached Cape Russell, -where the first cache of pemmican, together with -some bread and alcohol for fuel, was made. A second -cache was made at Cape Bonsall, about 30 miles to the -north-east of the first dépôt. They reached their -highest latitude, 79° 50′, on 6th October. A third -cache was placed on a low island near the Humboldt -Glacier.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A sunless winter of one hundred and forty days now -closed upon them. The influence of the long, intense -darkness was found most depressing. Most of the dogs -died during this winter from convulsions. The temperature -went down to as low as 68° F. below zero during -February. The dreadful scurvy made its appearance, -and by the middle of March only two members of the -party were free of it. The supplies of the expedition -were found to be altogether inadequate, both as regard -provisions and fuel. On the 19th of March 1854, the -first spring party left the brig, with the object of forming -more dépôts. The temperature was about 40° F. below -zero. On 31st March three of this party made their -appearance at the brig unexpectedly. Kane graphically -describes the incident: “They were swollen and haggard, -and hardly able to speak. Their story was a fearful one. -They had left their companions in the ice, risking their own -lives to bring us the news: Brooks, Baker, Wilson, and -Pierre were all lying frozen and disabled. Where? They -could not tell: somewhere in among the hummocks to -the north and east: it was drifting heavily round them -when they parted. Irish Tom had stayed by to feed -and care for the others; but the chances were sorely -against them. It was in vain to question them further. -They had evidently travelled a great distance, for they -were sinking with fatigue and hunger, and could hardly -be rallied enough to tell us the direction in which they -had come. My first impulse was to move on the instant -with an unencumbered party: a rescue, to be effective or -even hopeful, could not be too prompt. What pressed -on my mind most was, where the sufferers were to be -looked for among the drifts. Ohlsen seemed to have -his faculties rather more at command than his associates, -and I thought that he might assist us as a guide; but -he was sinking with exhaustion, and if he went with us -we must carry him. There was not a moment to be -lost. While some were still busy with the newcomers -and getting ready a hasty meal, others were rigging out -the ‘Little Willie’ with a buffalo-cover, a small tent, -and a package of pemmican; and, as soon as we could -hurry through our arrangements, Ohlsen was strapped -on in a fur bag, his legs wrapped in dog-skins and eider-down, -and we were off upon the ice. Our party consisted -of nine men and myself. We carried only the -clothes on our backs. The thermometer stood at −46°, -78 degrees below the freezing-point. A well-known -peculiar tower of ice, called by the men the ‘Pinnacly -Berg,’ served as our first landmark: other icebergs of -colossal size, which stretched in long beaded lines across -the bay, helped to guide us afterward; and it was not -until we had travelled for sixteen hours that we began -to lose our way. We knew that our lost companions -must be somewhere in the area before us, within a radius -of 40 miles. Mr. Ohlsen, who had been for fifty hours -without rest, fell asleep as soon as we began to move, -and awoke now with unequivocal signs of mental disturbance. -It became evident that he had lost the -bearing of the icebergs, which in form and colour endlessly -repeated themselves; and the uniformity of the -vast field of snow utterly forbade the hope of local -landmarks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Pushing ahead of the party, and clambering over -some rugged ice-piles, I came to a long level floe, which -I thought might probably have attracted the eyes of -weary men in circumstances like our own. It was a light -conjecture; but it was enough to turn the scale, for -there was no other to balance it. I gave orders to -abandon the sledge, and disperse in search of footmarks. -We raised our tent, placed our pemmican in cache, -except a small allowance for each man to carry on his -person; and poor Ohlsen, now just able to keep his legs, -was liberated from his bag. The thermometer had -fallen by this time to −49.3°, and the wind was setting -in sharply from the north-west. It was out of the -question to halt: it required brisk exercise to keep us -from freezing. I could not even melt ice for water; and, -at these temperatures, any resort to snow for the purpose -of allaying thirst was followed by bloody lips and tongue: -it burnt like caustic.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was indispensable, then, that we should move on, -looking out for traces as we went. Yet when the men -were ordered to spread themselves, so as to multiply the -chances, though they all obeyed heartily, some painful -impress of solitary danger, or perhaps it may have been -the varying configuration of the ice-field, kept them -closing up continually into a single group. The strange -manner in which some of us were affected I now attribute -as much to shattered nerves as to the direct influence of -the cold. Men like McGary and Bonsall, who had stood -out our severest marches, were seized with trembling-fits -and short breath; and, in spite of all my efforts to keep -up an example of sound bearing, I fainted twice on the -snow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We had been nearly eighteen hours out without -water or food, when a new hope cheered us. I think it -was Hans, our Esquimaux hunter, who thought he saw -a broad sledge-track. The drift had nearly effaced it, -and we were some of us doubtful at first whether it was -not one of those accidental rifts which the gales make -in the surface-snow. But, as we traced on to the deep -snow among the hummocks, we were led to footsteps; -and, following these with religious care, we at last came -in sight of a small American flag fluttering from a -hummock, and lower down a little Masonic banner -hanging from a tent-pole hardly above the drift. It -was the camp of our disabled comrades: we reached -it after an unbroken march of twenty-one hours. The -little tent was nearly covered. I was not among the -first to come up; but, when I reached the tent-curtain, -the men were standing in silent file on each side of it. -With more kindness and delicacy of feeling than is often -supposed to belong to sailors, but which is almost -characteristic, they intimated their wish that I should -go in alone. As I crawled in, and, coming upon the -darkness, heard before me the burst of welcome gladness -that came from the four poor fellows stretched on their -backs, and then for the first time the cheer outside, my -weakness and my gratitude together almost overcame -me. ‘They had expected me: they were sure I would -come!’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We were now fifteen souls; the thermometer 75° -below the freezing-point; and our sole accommodation a -tent barely able to contain eight persons: more than -half our party were obliged to keep from freezing by -walking outside while the others slept. We could not -halt long. Each of us took a turn of two hours sleep; -and we prepared for our homeward march.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We took with us nothing but the tent, furs to protect -the rescued party, and food for a journey of fifty hours. -Everything else was abandoned. Two large buffalo-bags, -each made of four skins, were doubled up, so as to form -a sort of sack, lined on each side by fur, closed at the -bottom, but opened at the top. This was laid on the -sledge; the tent, smoothly folded, serving as a floor. -The sick, with their limbs sewed up carefully in reindeer-skins, -were placed upon the bed of buffalo-robes, in a half-reclining -posture; other skins and blanket-bags were -thrown above them; and the whole litter was lashed -together so as to allow but a single opening opposite the -mouth for breathing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This necessary work cost us a great deal of time and -effort; but it was essential to the lives of the sufferers. -It took us no less than four hours to strip and refresh -them, and then to embale them in the manner I have -described. Few of us escaped without frost-bitten -fingers: the thermometer was at 55.6° below zero, and -a slight wind added to the severity of the cold.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was completed at last, however: all hands stood -around; and, after repeating a short prayer, we set out -on our retreat. It was fortunate indeed that we were -not inexperienced in sledging over the ice. A great -part of our track lay among a succession of hummocks; -some of them extending in long lines, 15 and 20 feet -high, and so uniformly steep that we had to turn them -by a considerable deviation from our direct course; -others that we forced our way through, far above our -heads in height, lying in parallel ridges, with the space -between too narrow for the sledge to be lowered into it -safely, and yet not wide enough for the runners to cross -without the aid of ropes to stay them. These spaces, too, -were generally choked with light snow, hiding the -openings between the ice-fragments. They were fearful -traps to disengage a limb from, for every man knew that a -fracture or a sprain even would cost him his life. Besides -all this, the sledge was top-heavy with its load: the -maimed men could not bear to be lashed down tight enough -to secure them against falling off. Notwithstanding our -caution in rejecting every superfluous burden, the weight, -including bags and tent, was 1100 pounds.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And yet our march for the first six hours was very -cheering. We made by vigorous pulls and lifts nearly a -mile an hour, and reached the new floes before we were -absolutely weary. Our sledge sustained the trial admirably. -Ohlsen, restored by hope, walked steadily at the -leading belt of the sledge-lines; and I began to feel -certain of reaching our half-way station of the day before, -where we had left our tent. But we were still 9 miles -from it, when, almost without premonition, we all became -aware of an alarming failure of our energies.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I was, of course, familiar with the benumbed and -almost lethargic sensation of extreme cold; and once, -when exposed for some hours in the midwinter of Baffin’s -Bay, I had experienced symptoms which I compared to -the diffused paralysis of the electro-galvanic shock. But -I had treated the <span class='it'>sleepy comfort</span> of freezing as something -like the embellishment of romance. I had evidence now -to the contrary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bonsall and Morton, two of our stoutest men, came -to me, begging permission to sleep: ‘they were not cold: -the wind did not enter them now: a little sleep was all -they wanted.’ Presently Hans was found nearly stiff -under a drift; and Thomas, bolt upright, had his eyes -closed, and could hardly articulate. At last, John Blake -threw himself on the snow, and refused to rise. They did -not complain of feeling cold; but it was in vain that I -wrestled, boxed, ran, argued, jeered, or reprimanded: an -immediate halt could not be avoided.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We pitched our tent with much difficulty. Our hands -were too powerless to strike a fire; we were obliged to do -without water or food. Even the spirits (whisky) had -frozen at the men’s feet, under all the coverings. We -put Bonsall, Ohlsen, Thomas, and Hans, with the other -sick men, well inside the tent, and crowded in as many -others as we could. Then, leaving the party in charge of -Mr. McGary, with orders to come on after four hours’ -rest, I pushed ahead with William Godfrey, who volunteered -to be my companion. My aim was to reach the -half-way tent, and thaw some ice and pemmican before -the others arrived.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The floe was of level ice, and the walking excellent. -I cannot tell how long it took us to make the 9 miles; -for we were in a strange sort of stupor, and had little -apprehension of time. It was probably about four hours. -We kept ourselves awake by imposing on each other a -continued articulation of words; they must have been -incoherent enough. I recall these hours as among the -most wretched I have ever gone through: we were neither -of us in our right senses, and retained a very confused -recollection of what preceded our arrival at the tent. We -both of us, however, remember a bear, who walked leisurely -before us and tore up as he went a jumper that Mr. -McGary had improvidently thrown off the day before. -He tore it into shreds and rolled it into a ball, but never -offered to interfere with our progress. I remember this, -and with it a confused sentiment that our tent and buffalo-robes -might probably share the same fate. Godfrey, -with whom the memory of this day’s work may atone for -many faults of a later time, had a better eye than myself; -and, looking some miles ahead, he could see that our tent -was undergoing the same unceremonious treatment. I -thought I saw it too, but we were so drunken with cold -that we strode on steadily, and, for aught I know, without -quickening our pace.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Probably our approach saved the contents of the tent; -for when we reached it the tent was uninjured, though the -bear had overturned it, tossing the buffalo-robes and pemmican -into the snow: we missed only a couple of blanket-bags. -What we recollect, however, and perhaps all we -recollect, is, that we had great difficulty in raising it. -We crawled into our reindeer sleeping-bags, without -speaking, and for the next three hours slept on in a -dreamy but intense slumber. When I awoke, my long -beard was a mass of ice, frozen fast to the buffalo-skin: -Godfrey had to cut me out with his jack-knife. Four days -after our escape, I found my woollen comfortable with -a goodly share of my beard still adhering to it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We were able to melt water and get some soup -cooked before the rest of our party arrived: it took them -but five hours to walk the 9 miles. They were doing -well, and, considering the circumstances, in wonderful -spirits. The day was most providentially windless, with -a clear sun. All enjoyed the refreshment we had got -ready: the crippled were repacked in their robes; and -we sped briskly toward the hummock-ridges which lay -between us and the Pinnacly Berg.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The hummocks we had now to meet came properly -under the designation of squeezed ice. A great chain of -bergs stretching from north-west to south-east, moving -with the tides, had compressed the surface-floes; and -rearing them up on their edges, produced an area more -like the volcanic pedragal of the basin of Mexico than -anything else I can compare it to.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It required desperate efforts to work our way over it,—literally -desperate, for our strength failed us anew, and we -began to lose our self-control. We could not abstain any -longer from eating snow: our mouths swelled, and some -of us became speechless. Happily the day was warmed -by a clear sunshine, and the thermometer rose to −4° in -the shade: otherwise we must have frozen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Our halts multiplied, and we fell half sleeping on -the snow. I could not prevent it. Strange to say, it -refreshed us. I ventured upon the experiment myself, -making Riley wake me at the end of three minutes; and -I felt so much benefited by it that I timed the men in the -same way. They sat on the runners of the sledge, fell -asleep instantly, and were forced to wakefulness when -their three minutes were out.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“By eight in the evening we emerged from the floes. -The sight of the Pinnacly Berg revived us. Brandy, an -invaluable resource in emergency, had already been served -out in tablespoonful doses. We now took a longer rest, -and a last stouter dram, and reached the brig at 1 p.m., -we believe without a halt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I say <span class='it'>we believe</span>; and here perhaps is the most decided -proof of our sufferings: we were quite delirious, and had -ceased to entertain a sane apprehension of the circumstances -about us. We moved on like men in a dream. -Our footmarks seen afterward showed that we had steered -a bee-line for the brig. It must have been by a sort of -instinct, for it left no impress on the memory. Bonsall -was sent staggering ahead, and reached the brig, God -knows how, for he had fallen repeatedly at the track-lines; -but he delivered with punctilious accuracy the -messages I had sent by him to Dr. Hayes. I thought -myself the soundest of all, for I went through all the -formula of sanity, and can recall the muttering delirium -of my comrades when we got back into the cabin of our -brig. Yet I have been told since of some speeches and -some orders too of mine, which I should have remembered -for their absurdity if my mind had retained its balance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Petersen and Whipple came out to meet us about -2 miles from the brig. They brought my dog-team, with -the restoratives I had sent for by Bonsall. I do not -remember their coming. Dr. Hayes entered with -judicious energy upon the treatment our condition -called for, administering morphine freely, after the usual -frictions. He reported none of our brain-symptoms as -serious, referring them properly to the class of those -indications of exhausted power which yield to generous -diet and rest. Mr. Ohlsen suffered some time from -strabismus and blindness; two others underwent amputation -of parts of the foot, without unpleasant consequences; -and two died in spite of all our efforts. This rescue party -had been out for seventy-two hours. We had halted in -all eight hours, half of our number sleeping at a time. -We travelled between 80 and 90 miles, most of the -way dragging a heavy sledge. The mean temperature of -the whole time, including the warmest hours of three -days, was at −41.2°. We had no water except at our two -halts, and were at no time able to intermit vigorous -exercise without freezing.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About the beginning of April 1854, Esquimaux made -their appearance. For some time they caused trouble -through stealing everything they could. Great tact was -necessary in dealing with them, but this Dr. Kane -possessed, and he was ultimately successful in making -them close friends.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 25th April, the advance party of the next sledging -expedition left the brig, and was joined later by Dr. Kane. -Deep snow was encountered, and several of the party -began to show signs of the dreaded scurvy. A cache of -provisions on which they intended to rely was found to -have been almost entirely destroyed by bears. Dr. Kane -himself became ill, and the whole party had to return -when in the neighbourhood of the great glacier of -Humboldt. They cached some of their stores, and an -india-rubber boat, near Dallas Bay, in lat. 79.5°, -long. 66°.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 20th May another sledge-party was sent off, and -consisted of Dr. Hayes and William Godfrey. They -were to cross Smith’s Straits above the inlet and make as -near as possible a straight course for Cape Sabine. This -they accomplished with great difficulty, and proceeded -north on the ice along the west coast as far as latitude -79° 45′. They then returned south as far as Cape Sabine, -and recrossed the straits, arriving at the brig on 1st June. -This was a remarkable journey. The equipment was as -follows:—a light sledge and team of seven dogs, 80 lb. -of pemmican, 16 lb. of bread, 18 lb. of lard and rope-yarn -for fuel; a reindeer-skin sleeping-bag for each, a -lamp and pot for cooking, sextant, pocket-compass, telescope, -Sharpe’s rifle, two extra pairs of stockings and one -of boots for each. About the third day Dr. Hayes -suffered from snow-blindness, and this caused some -delay. The dogs’ harness lines had to be frequently -repaired, which could only be done ultimately by cutting -strips from Godfrey’s seal-skin trousers. Great hummocks -of ice from 20 to 40 feet in height were encountered. In -crossing these ridges the sledge frequently capsized and -rolled over and over, dogs, cargo, and all. In twelve -days a distance not less than 400 miles was covered; -the last day’s travel, when provisions ran short, was -70 miles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Kane had not completed the entire circuit of the -frozen waters of Smith Sound. He could not yet say -whether it was landlocked or whether a channel existed -still farther to the north. This he determined to discover. -McGary, Bonsall, Hickey, and Riley were detailed -for the first section of the new parties. They were -accompanied by Morton, who had orders to keep himself -as fresh as possible, so as to enter on his farthest north -reach in the best possible condition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They left the vessel on the 4th of June, and made for the -Humboldt Glacier. Here Morton was joined by Hans -with the dog-sledge, and the two set out on the 18th June, -pursuing a northerly course nearly parallel with the -glacier, and from 4 to 7 miles distant from it, according -to the condition of the ice. The icebergs given off by the -glacier presented great difficulties, but these were finally -overcome. On the 21st of June, Kennedy Channel was -sighted, and they directed their course towards the cape at -the eastern side of the entrance—Cape Andrew Jackson. -Here they found open water, and it was with great difficulty -that the cape was rounded. Still proceeding north, -they reached Cape Constitution in latitude 81° 22′. An -attempt to pass this cape failed. Morton climbed up the -cliff to a height of 500 feet, and could get no farther. As -far as he could see not a speck of ice was visible. He -stated: “As far as I could discern, the sea was open, a -swell coming in from the northward and running crosswise, -as if with a small eastern set. The wind was due north—enough -of it to make white caps—and the surf broke in -on the rocks below in regular breakers. The sky to the -north-west was of dark rain-cloud, the first that I had seen -since the brig was frozen up. Ivory gulls were nesting in -the rocks above me, and out to sea were mollemoke and -silver-backed gulls. The ducks had not been seen north -of the first island of the channel, but petrel and gulls hung -about the waves near the coast.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Morton was absent on this journey thirty days. The -open condition of Kennedy Channel, discovered by him, -had a most important bearing on some of the expeditions -which followed Kane’s. It gave strong support to the -theory of an open polar sea, which was believed in by -many until the British Expedition of 1875. Dr. Kane -himself wavered between the arguments for and against. -He, however, was aware of the fact that open water, which -had frequently been described as a polar sea, had been -found by many explorers in various parts of the Arctic -regions, which on further investigation was found to be -merely temporary. And Dr. Kane, after referring to this -fact, wrote: “All these illusory discoveries were no doubt -chronicled with perfect integrity; and it may seem to -others, as since I have left the field it sometimes does to -myself, that my own, though on a larger scale, may one -day pass within the same category.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All the sledge-parties had now returned to the brig, -and the season of Arctic travel had ended. The question -now to be faced was how they were to pass a second -winter in the event of the ice not liberating the brig, -which seemed likely. As Dr. Kane remarked, “there -never was, and I trust never will be, a party worse armed -for the encounter of a second Arctic winter. We have -neither health, fuel, nor provisions.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He first determined to examine the condition of the ice -to the south. He found that for 35 miles the straits -were absolutely tight. He then resolved to make an -attempt to communicate with Beechy Island and obtain -assistance from Sir Edward Belcher’s squadron, which was -in search of Franklin in Wellington Channel. A whale-boat -was mounted on a sledge, and Kane with five of his -men started off on the tremendous undertaking. On some -rocky islets near Littleton Island over 200 eider ducks -were killed in a few hours. They ultimately reached -within 10 miles of Cape Parry, but were stopped there -by a solid mass of ice. They returned to Northumberland -Island, and obtained an abundance of auks and -eiders. The ice still remaining solid, they decided to -return to the brig. There was still no sign of the ice -breaking up. On 15th August, Dr. Kane wrote: “The -season travels on: the young ice grows thicker, and my -messmates’ faces grow longer, every day. I have again to -play buffoon to keep up the spirits of the party.” On the -18th of August the amount of wood was reduced to 6 lb. a -meal. A suggestion was now made by some of the party -that an effort should be made to reach the Danish settlements. -On 24th August, Dr. Kane called all hands and -frankly explained his reasons which determined him to -remain with the brig. He gave his permission, however, -to such as were desirous of making the attempt to reach -the settlements to do so. Eight men decided to remain -with Dr. Kane. The others received a liberal share of the -resources, and left the brig on 28th August. One of this -party—George Riley—returned a few days afterwards. -Dr. Kane now took steps to make the brig as warm as -possible in view of the fact that there was little fuel left. -Moss and turf were collected with which the quarter-deck -was well padded. A space about 18 feet square was -enclosed below, and this was packed from floor to ceiling -with inner walls of the same material. The floor was -covered 2 inches deep with oakum, on the top of which -was placed a canvas carpet. The entrance to this space -was from the hold by a low moss-lined tunnel. The whole -arrangement was an imitation of the igloë of the Esquimaux. -The outer-deck planking of the brig was now -stripped off and stacked for firewood. On the 11th -September the stock of game consisted of six long-tailed -ducks and three ptarmigan.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Soon after this, Dr. Kane started with Hans to try and -obtain seal in the open water some distance from the -brig. Seal were sighted, but before they could be reached -the ice became thin and dangerous. An attempt was -made to reach a solid floe, but when within 50 paces -from it, the sledges broke through. What followed is -best described in Dr. Kane’s own words: “My first thought -was to liberate the dogs. I leaned forward to cut poor -Tood’s traces, and the next minute was swimming in a -little circle of pasty ice and water alongside him. Hans, -dear good fellow, drew near to help me, uttering piteous -expressions in broken English; but I ordered him to -throw himself on his belly, with his hands and legs -extended, and to make for the island by cogging himself -forward with his jack-knife. In the meantime—a mere -instant—I was floundering about with sledge, dogs, and -lines, in confused puddle around me. I succeeded in -cutting poor Tood’s lines and letting him scramble to the -ice, for the poor fellow was drowning me with his piteous -caresses, and made my way for the sledge; but I found -that it would not buoy me, and that I had no resource -but to try the circumference of the hole. Around this I -paddled faithfully, the miserable ice always yielding when -my hopes of a lodgement were greatest. During this -process I enlarged my circle of operations to a very -uncomfortable diameter, and was beginning to feel weaker -after every effort. Hans meanwhile had reached the firm -ice, and was on his knees, like a good Moravian, praying -incoherently in English and Esquimaux; at every fresh -crushing-in of the ice he would ejaculate ‘God!’ and -when I recommenced my paddling he recommenced his -prayers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I was nearly gone. My knife had been lost in cutting -out the dogs; and a spare one which I carried in my -trousers-pocket was so enveloped in the wet skins that I -could not reach it. I owed my extrication at last to a -newly broken team-dog who was still fast to the sledge, -and in struggling carried one of the runners chock against -the edge of the circle. All my previous attempts to use -the sledge as a bridge had failed, for it broke through, -to the much greater injury of the ice. I felt that it was a -last chance. I threw myself on my back, so as to lessen as -much as possible my weight, and placed the nape of my -neck against the rim or edge of the ice; then with caution -slowly bent my leg, and, placing the ball of my moccasined -foot against the sledge, I pressed steadily against the -runner, listening to the half-yielding crunch of the ice -beneath.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Presently I felt that my head was pillowed by the ice, -and that my wet fur jumper was sliding up the surface. -Next came my shoulders; they were fairly on. One -more decided push, and I was launched up on the ice, and -safe.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 5th October the stock of fresh meat consisted of -one rabbit and three ducks. On the 7th they were -fortunate in killing a bear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Darkness was now creeping in on them, and some -remarks of Kane on the Arctic night are well worth -quoting: “The intense beauty of the Arctic firmament -can hardly be imagined. It looked close above our heads, -with its stars magnified in glory, and the very planets -twinkling so much as to baffle the observations of our -astronomer. I am afraid to speak of some of these night-scenes. -I have trodden the deck and the floes, when the -life of earth seemed suspended, its movements, its sounds, -its colouring, its companionships; and as I looked on the -radiant hemisphere, circling above me as if rendering -worship to the unseen Centre of light, I have ejaculated -in humility of spirit, ‘Lord, what is man that Thou art -mindful of him?’ And then I have thought of the -kindly world we had left, with its revolving sunshine and -shadow; and the other stars that gladden it in their -changes, and the hearts that warmed to us there; till I -lost myself in memories of those who are not;—and they -bore me back to the stars again.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By the beginning of December, scurvy was making sad -inroads among the party. On the 2nd, Dr. Kane wrote: -“Had to put Mr. McGary and Riley under active treatment -for scurvy. Gums retracted, ankles swollen, and -bad lumbago. Mr. Wilson’s case, a still worse one, has -been brought under. Morton’s is a saddening one: I -cannot afford to lose him. He is not only one of my -most intelligent men, but he is daring, cool, and everyway -trustworthy. His tendon Achilles has been completely -perforated, and the surface of the heel-bone -exposed. An operation in cold, darkness, and privation -would probably bring on locked-jaw. Brooks grows -discouraged: the poor fellow has scurvy in his stump, -and his leg is drawn up by the contraction of the flexors -at the knee-joint. This is the third case on board—the -fourth if I include my own—of contracted tendons.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 7th of December, Bonsall and Petersen, two of -the party that left Kane on 28th August, returned to the -brig, and the remainder of the party arrived on the 12th. -They had gone through a terrible trial. When they -arrived at the brig, the thermometer was at −50°; they -were covered with rime and snow, and were fainting -with hunger. They had journeyed 350 miles, and their -last run from the bay near Etah, some 70 miles in a -straight line, was through the hummocks at this appalling -temperature. For more than two months they had lived -on frozen seal and walrus-meat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Food for the whole party became more and more -scarce, and Dr. Kane determined to make a journey to -Etah in order to obtain assistance from the Esquimaux, -if possible. His views on sledging at this period are -interesting: “My plans for sledging, simple as I once -thought them, and simple certainly as compared with -those of the English parties, have completely changed. -Give me an 8 lb. reindeer-fur bag to sleep in, an -Esquimaux lamp with a lump of moss, a sheet iron snow-melter -or a copper soup-pot, with a tin cylinder to slip -over it and defend it from the wind, a good <span class='it'>pièce de -résistance</span> of raw walrus-beef; and I want nothing more -for a long journey, if the thermometer will keep itself as -high as minus 30°. Give me a bear-skin bag and coffee -to boot; and with the clothes on my back I am ready -for minus 60°,—but no wind.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The programme runs after this fashion. Keep the -blood in motion, without loitering on the march: and -for the halt, raise a snow-house; or if the snow lie scant -or impracticable, ensconce yourself in a burrow or under -the hospitable lee of an inclined hummock-slab. The -outside fat of your walrus sustains your little moss fire: -its frozen slices give you bread, its frozen blubber gives -you butter, its scrag ends make the soup. The snow -supplies you with water; and when you are ambitious of -coffee there is a bagful stowed away in your boot. Spread -out your bear-bag, your only heavy movable; stuff your -reindeer-bag inside, hang your boots up outside, take a -blade of bone, and scrape off all the ice from your furs. -Now crawl in, the whole party of you, feet foremost; -draw the top of your dormitory close, heading to leeward. -Fancy yourself in Sybaris; and, if you are only tired -enough, you may sleep—like St. Lawrence on his grid-iron, -or even a trifle better.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 17th January 1855, Dr. Kane wrote: “There is no -evading it any longer: it has been evident for the past -ten days that the present state of things cannot last. -We require meat, and cannot get along without it. Our -sick have finished the bear’s head, and are now eating the -condemned abscessed liver of the animal, including some -intestines that were not given to the dogs. We have -about three days’ allowance; thin chips of raw frozen -meat, not exceeding 4 oz. in weight for each man per -day.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 22nd January, Kane and Hans left the brig to make -an attempt to reach Etah. Unfortunately, a severe snowstorm -came on soon after they reached a half-way hut. -After being storm-bound two days, they attempted to -push on, but found that the snow had accumulated to -such an extent that it was impossible to complete the -journey. They returned to the hut, and next day tried -the land-ice, but in vain. Kane, however, climbed a hill -from which he discovered a trough through the hummock-ridges, -and level plains of ice stretching to the south. -Had the dogs not been disabled and the moonlight -waning, they could now have made the journey; but as -it was, they were forced to return to the brig, which they -reached thoroughly exhausted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Petersen and Hans started on 3rd February to make -another attempt. They returned on the 5th, having -found that the snow had become impassable. At this -time only five of the party were able to work, and even -these were not free from scurvy. On 28th February -Kane had to report: “The scurvy is steadily gaining -on us. I do my best to sustain the more desperate cases; -but as fast as I partially build up one, another is stricken -down. The disease is perhaps less malignant than it was, -but it is more diffused throughout our party. Except -William Morton, who is disabled by a frozen heel, not -one of our eighteen is exempt. Of the six workers of our -party, as I counted them a month ago, two are unable to -do outdoor work, and the remaining four divide the -duties of the ship among them. Hans musters his remaining -energies to conduct the hunt. Petersen is his -disheartened, moping assistant. The other two, Bonsall -and myself, have all the daily offices of household and -hospital. We chop five large sacks of ice, cut 6 fathoms -of 8-inch hawser into junks of a foot each, serve out -the meat when we have it, hack at the molasses, and hew -out with crowbar and axe the pork and dried apples, pass -up the foul slop and cleansings of our dormitory; and in -a word, cook, <span class='it'>scullionise</span>, and attend the sick. Added to -this, for five nights running I have kept watch from 8 p.m. -to 4 a.m., catching cat-naps as I could in the day without -changing my clothes, but carefully waking every hour to -note thermometers.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Such was the stuff of which Dr. Kane was made!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 6th of March, Kane made the desperate venture -of sending Hans, the only effective huntsman, on a sledge-journey -to find the Esquimaux of Etah. He took with -him the two surviving dogs in the lightest sledge. He -returned on the 10th, having made the journey successfully. -He found that the plight of the Esquimaux, so -far as food was concerned, had been worse than those at -the brig. Hans, however, assisted in a walrus-hunt, and -with his rifle succeeded in killing a walrus. With his -share of the meat he returned to the brig, where he was -heartily welcomed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By the end of March, Kane was able to hope that the -scurvy was abating. In his journal on 3rd April, he gives -a description of the daily routine:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“At 7.30 call ‘all hands’; which means that one of -the well trio wakes the other two. This order is obeyed -slowly. The commander confesses for himself that the -breakfast is well-nigh upon table before he gets his stiff -ankles to the floor. Looking around, he sees the usual -mosaic of sleepers as ingeniously dovetailed and crowded -together as the campers-out in a buffalo-bag. He winds -his way through them, and, as he does so, some stereotyped -remarks are interchanged. ‘Thomas!’—our ex-cook, -now side by side with the first officer of the expedition,—‘Thomas, -turn out!’ ‘Eugh-ng, sir.’ ‘Turn out; get -up.’ ‘Ys-sir;’ (sits bolt upright and rubs his eyes.) -‘How d’you feel, Mr. Ohlsen?’ ‘Better, sir.’ ‘How’ve -you passed the night, Mr. Brooks?’ ‘Middlin’, sir.’ -And, after a diversified series of spavined efforts, the -mystical number forms its triangle at the table.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It still stands in its simple dignity, an unclothed -platform of boards, with a pile of plates in the centre. -Near these is a virtuoso collection of cups grouped in a -tumulus or cairn, commencing philosophically at the base -with heavy stoneware, and ending with battered tin: the -absolute pinnacle a debased dredging-box, which makes -a bad goblet, being unpleasantly sharp at its rim. At -one end of this table, partly hid by the beer-barrel, stands -Petersen; at the side, Bonsall; and a limejuice cask -opposite marks my seat. We are all standing: a -momentary hush is made among the sick; and the daily -prayer comes with one heart:—‘Accept our gratitude, -and restore us to our homes.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The act of devotion over, we sit down, and look—not -at the breakfast, but at each other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It may sound absurd to those who cannot understand -the narrowing interest which we three availables feel in -our continued mutual ability, for me to say that we spend -the first five minutes in a detail of symptoms. The state -of each man’s gums and shins and ankles, his elbows, loins, -and kidneys, is canvassed minutely and compared with his -yesterday’s report: the recital might edify a specialist who -was anxious to register the Protean indications of scurvy. -It is sometimes ludicrous, but always sad.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now for the bill of fare. ‘Who cooked?’—I am -describing a gala-day.—‘It was Morton: he felt so much -better that he got up at six; but he caved in soon after’:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“First, coffee, great comforter to hard-worked men; -one part of the genuine berry to three of navy-beans; -next, sugar: what complex memories the word brings -back!—the veritable sugar has been long ago defunct; -but we have its representative molasses twice a week -in our tea. Third, butter; there it is in a mutilated -vegetable-dish; my own invention, melted from salt beef -and washed in many waters: the unskilled might call it -tallow. Fourth, a real delicacy not to be surpassed in -court or camp, for Morton was up to see to it:—a pile -of hot rolls of fine Virginia flour. What else? Nothing -else: the breakfast resolves itself into bean-coffee, tallow, -and hot bread. Yet a cordial meal it is. I am sorry to -hurry over it so uncourteously, for I could dwell with -Charles Lamb’s pensive enthusiasm upon the fleshpots; -but I have been longer in describing the feast than it -takes us to dispose of it. I hurry on with the interesting -detail. Dinner is breakfast, with the beans converted -into soup instead of coffee; and supper boasts of stewed -apples.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Work commences at nine. Petersen is off with his -gun, and the two remaining dearly beloved Rogers arrange -their carte: one makes the round of the sick and deals -out their daily allowance of raw meat; the other goes -to cutting ice. Those who can sit in bed and work, -pick eider-down or cotton, for coverlets to our boat-bedding -on the escape; others sew canvas bags for the -same purpose; and Brooks balls off twine in order to -lay up ‘small stuff.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“At times when the sun comes out very brightly, -Brooks and Wilson get permission to go on deck. One -of us assists them, and, by the aid of creeping and -crawling, these poor cripples manage to sit upon the -combings of the hatch and look around in the glorious -daylight. The sight seldom fails to affect them. There -are emotions among rude, roughly nurtured men which -vent themselves in true poetry. Brooks has about him -sensibilities that shame me.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This afternoon, save to the cook, is a season of rest; -a real lazy, lounging interval, arrested by the call to -supper. The coming night-watch obliges me to take an -evening cat-nap. I state this by way of implying that I -never sleep o’ daytimes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“After supper, we have a better state of things than -two weeks ago. Then the few tired-out workers were -regaled by the groans and tossings of the sick. There -was little conversation, and the physiognomy of our -smoke-blackened little den was truly dismal. Now daylight -pours in from the scuttle, the tea-kettle sings upon -the stove, the convalescents rise up on their elbows and -spin merry yarns. We are not yet sufficiently jolly for -cards; but we are sufficiently thankful to do without -them. At nine, silence almost unbroken prevails throughout -our dormitory, and the watch-officer slips on his -bear-skin, and, full of thoughts of to-morrow, resigns -himself to a round of little routine observances, the most -worthless of which is this unbroken record of the changing -days.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Kane now became convinced that the brig had little -chance of being released from the ice, and he began -preparations for a retreat by boat to the Danish settlement -of Upernavik.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Canvas moccasins had been made for every one of -the party, and three dozen were added as a common -stock to meet emergencies. Three pairs of boots were -allowed each man. These were generally of carpeting, -with soles of walrus and seal-hide; and when the supply -of these gave out, the leather from the chafing-gear of -the brig for a time supplied their place. A much better -substitute was found afterward in the gutta-percha that -had formed the speaking-tube. This was softened by -warm water, cut into lengths, and so made available to -its new uses. Blankets were served out as the material -for body-clothing: every man was his own tailor. -For bedding, the woollen curtains that had formerly -decorated our berths supplied us with a couple of large -coverlets, which were abundantly quilted with eider-down. -Two buffalo-robes of the same size with the coverlets -were arranged so as to button on them, forming sleeping-sacks -for the occasion, but easily detached for the purpose -of drying or airing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Our provision-bags were of assorted sizes, to fit under -the thwarts of the boats. They were of sail-cloth made -water-tight by tar and pitch, which we kept from penetrating -the canvas by first coating it with flour-paste and -plaster of Paris. The bread-bags were double, the inner -saturated with paste and plaster by boiling in the -mixture, and the space between the two filled with -pitch. Every bag was, in sailor-phrase, roped and -becketed; in ordinary parlance, well secured by cordage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“These different manufactures had all of them been -going on through the winter, and more rapidly as the -spring advanced. They had given employment to the -thoughts of our sick men, and in this way had exerted -a wholesome influence on their moral tone and assisted -their convalescence. Other preparations had been begun -more recently. The provisions for the descent were to -be got ready and packed. The ship-bread was powdered -by beating it with a capstan-bar, and pressed down into -the bags which were to carry it. Pork-fat and tallow -were melted down, and poured into other bags to freeze. -A stock of concentrated bean-soup was cooked, and -secured for carriage like the pork-fat; and the flour and -remaining meat-biscuit were to be protected from -moisture in double bags. These were the only provisions -we were to carry with us. I knew I should be able to -subsist the party for some time after their setting out -by the food I could bring from the vessel by occasional -trips with my dog-team. For the rest, we relied upon -our guns.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Besides all this, we had our camp equipage to get in -order, and the vitally important organisation of our -system of boats and sledges.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Our boats were three in number, all of them well -battered by exposure to ice and storm, almost as -destructive of their sea-worthiness as the hot sun of -other regions. Two of them were cypress whale-boats, -26 feet long, with 7 feet beam, and 3 feet deep. -These were strengthened with oak bottom-pieces -and a long string-piece bolted to the keel. A washboard -of light cedar, about 6 inches high, served to -strengthen the gunwale and give increased depth. A -neat housing of light canvas was stretched upon a ridge-line -sustained fore and aft by stanchions, and hung down -over the boat’s sides, where it was fastened (stopped) to -a jack-stay. My last year’s experience on the attempt -to reach Beechy Island determined me to carry but one -mast to each boat. It was stepped into an oaken thwart, -made especially strong, as it was expected to carry sail -over ice as well as water: the mast could be readily -unshipped, and carried, with the oars, boat-hooks, and -ice-poles, alongside the boat. The third boat was my -little <span class='it'>Red Eric</span>. We mounted her on the old sledge, -the <span class='it'>Faith</span>, hardly relying on her for any purposes of -navigation, but with the intention of cutting her up -for firewood in case our guns should fail to give us a -supply of blubber.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Indeed, in spite of all the ingenuity of our carpenter, -Mr. Ohlsen, well seconded by the persevering labours of -McGary and Bonsall, not one of our boats was positively -sea-worthy. The planking of all of them was so dried -up that it could hardly be made tight by caulking.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The three boats were mounted on sledges rigged -with rue-raddies; the provisions stowed snugly under -the thwarts; the chronometers, carefully boxed and -padded, placed in the stern-sheets of the <span class='it'>Hope</span>, in -charge of Mr. Sonntag. With them were such of the -instruments as we could venture to transport. They -consisted of two Gambey sextants with artificial horizon, -our transit-unifilar, and dip-instruments. Our glasses, -with a few of the smaller field-instruments, we carried on -our persons. Our fine theodolite we were forced to -abandon. Our powder and shot, upon which our lives -depended, were carefully distributed in bags and tin -canisters. The percussion caps I took into my own -possession, as more precious than gold. Mr. Bonsall had -a general charge of the arms and ammunition. Places -were arranged for the guns, and hunters appointed for -each boat. Mr. Petersen took charge of the most important -part of our field equipage, our cooking-gear. -Petersen was our best tinker. All the old stove-pipe, now -none the better for two winters of Arctic fires, was called -into requisition. Each boat was provided with two large -iron cylinders, 14 inches in diameter and 18 inches -high. Each of them held an iron saucer or lamp, in -which we could place our melted pork-fat or blubber, -and, with the aid of spun-yarn for a wick, make a roaring -fire. I need not say that the fat and oil always froze -when not ignited. Into these cylinders, which were -used merely to defend our lamp from the wind and our -pots from contact with the cold air, we placed a couple of -large tin vessels, suitable either for melting snow or making -tea or soup. They were made out of cake-canisters cut -down. How many kindly festival associations hung by -these now abused soup-cans! One of them had, before -the fire rubbed off its bright gilding, the wedding-inscription -of a large fruit-cake.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We carried spare tins in case the others should burn -out: it was well we did so. So completely had we -exhausted our household furniture, that we had neither -cups nor plates, except crockery. This, of course, would -not stand the travel, and our spare tin had to be saved -for protecting the boats from ice. At this juncture we -cut plates out of every imaginable and rejected piece of -tinware. Borden’s meat-biscuit canisters furnished us -with a splendid dinner-service; and some rightly feared -tin jars, with ominous labels of Corrosive Sublimate and -Arsenic, which once belonged to our department of -Natural History, were emptied, scoured, and cut down -into tea-cups.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The 17th of May was fixed as the date of setting out, -and each man was to be allowed 8 lb. of personal -effects. Until the boats were hauled a considerable distance -from the brig, the party returned to it at night. -When the last farewell to the brig was made, the entire -ship’s company took part in the ceremonial. It is best -described in Dr. Kane’s own words:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We read prayers and a chapter of the Bible; and -then, all standing silently round, I took Sir John -Franklin’s portrait from its frame and cased it in an india-rubber -scroll. I next read the reports of inspection and -survey which had been made by the several commissions -organised for the purpose, all of them testifying to the -necessities under which I was about to act. I then -addressed the party: I did not affect to disguise the -difficulties that were before us; but I assured them that -they could all be overcome by energy and subordination -to command, and that the 1300 miles of ice and water -that lay between us and North Greenland could be -traversed with safety for most of us, and hope for all. I -added that as men and messmates it was the duty of us -all, enjoined by gallantry as well as religion, to postpone -every consideration of self to the protection of the -wounded and sick; and that this must be regarded by -every man and under all circumstances as a paramount -order. In conclusion, I told them to think over the trials -we had all of us gone through, and to remember each -man for himself how often an unseen Power had rescued -him in peril, and I admonished them still to place reliance -on Him who could not change.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On reaching the boats, the party were regularly -mustered and divided between the two. A rigid inspection -was made of every article of personal equipment. -Each man had a woollen under-dress and an Esquimaux -suit of fur clothing—kapetah, nessak, and nannooke -complete, with boots of their own make. One pair of -boots was made of canvas faced with walrus-hide, and -another inside these made of the cabin Brussels carpet. -In addition to this, each man carried a rue-raddy—a -shoulder-belt to drag by—adjusted to fit him comfortably, -a pair of socks next his skin, and a pair of large goggles -for snow-blindness, made Esquimaux-fashion by cutting a -small slit in a piece of wood. The provision-bags and -other stores were numbered, and each man and officer had -his own bag and a place assigned for it, to prevent confusion -in rapid stowing and unstowing. Excluding four -sick men, who were unable to move, and Dr. Kane, who -had to drive the dog-team and serve as common carrier -and courier, they numbered but twelve men, which would -have given six to a sledge—too few to move it. It was -therefore necessary to concentrate the entire force upon -one sledge at a time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The routine established by Dr. Kane was the most -precise:—“Daily prayers both morning and evening, all -hands gathering round in a circle and standing uncovered -during the short exercise; regulated hours; fixed duties -and positions at the track-lines and on the halt; the -cooking to be taken by turns, the captains of the boats -alone being excused. The charge of the log was confided -to Dr. Hayes, and the running survey to Mr. Sonntag. -The thermometer was observed every three hours.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Kane prepared the hut at Anoatok for the reception -of the sick, and carried a large part of the provisions -there. During the first fortnight after the sledges left -the brig he journeyed between 700 and 800 miles in doing -this work by means of his dog-sledge—a mean travel of -about 57 miles a day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Before reaching open water on the 16th of June, -enormous difficulties had to be overcome, and one man -lost his life through an injury to his back in making an -attempt to keep one of the sledges from going through -the ice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The boats had now to be caulked and swelled to prepare -them for a long and adventurous navigation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nearly the whole Esquimaux settlement followed and -assisted them as far as the open water, and Dr. Kane thus -describes the scene near the time of bidding them -farewell:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Each one has a knife, or a file, or a saw, or some such -treasured keepsake; and the children have a lump of soap, -the greatest of all great medicines. The merry little urchins -break in upon me even now as I am writing:—‘Kuyanake, -kuyanake, Nalegaksoak!’ ‘Thank you, thank you, big -chief!’ while Myouk is crowding fresh presents of raw -birds on me as if I could eat for ever, and poor Aningnah -is crying beside the tent-curtain, wiping her eyes on a -bird-skin!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My heart warms to these poor, dirty, miserable, yet -happy beings, so long our neighbours, and of late so -staunchly our friends. Theirs is no affectation of regret. -There are twenty-two of them around me, all busy in -good offices to the Docto Kayens; and there are only -two women and the old blind patriarch Kresuk, ‘Driftwood,’ -left behind at the settlement.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But see! more of them are coming up,—boys ten -years old are pushing forward babies on their sledges. The -whole nation is gipsying with us upon the icy -meadows.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We cook for them in our big camp-kettle; they sleep -in the <span class='it'>Red Eric</span>; a berg close at hand supplies them -with water; and thus, rich in all that they value,—sleep -and food and drink and companionship,—with their -treasured short-lived summer sun above them, the <span class='it'>beau -ideal</span> and sum of Esquimaux blessings, they seem -supremely happy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Poor creatures! It is only six months ago that -starvation was among them: many of the faces around -me have not yet lost the lines of wasting suspense. The -walrus-season is again of doubtful productiveness, and -they are cut off from their brethren to the south, at -Netelik, and Appah, until winter rebuilds the avenue of -ice. With all this, no thoughts of the future cross them. -Babies squall, and women chatter, and the men weave -their long yarns with peals of rattling hearty laughter -between.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ever since we reached Pekiutlik, these friends of ours -have considered us their guests. They have given us -hand-sledges for our baggage, and taken turn about in -watches to carry us and it to the water’s edge. But for -them our dreary journey would have been prolonged at -least a fortnight, and we are so late even now that hours -may measure our lives. Metek, Myouk, Nessark, Erkee, -and the half-grown boys have been our chief labourers; -but women, children, and dogs are all bearing their part.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Whatever may have been the faults of these -Esquimaux heretofore, stealing was the only grave one. -Treachery they may have conceived; and I have reason -to believe that, under superstitious fears of an evil -influence from our presence, they would at one time have -been glad to destroy us. But the day of all this has -passed away. When trouble came to us and to them, and -we bent ourselves to their habits,—when we looked to -them to procure us fresh meat, and they found at our -poor Oomiak-soak shelter and protection during their -wild bear-hunts,—then we were so blended in our interests -as well as modes of life that every trace of enmity wore -away. God knows that since they professed friendship, -albeit the imaginary powers of the angekok-soak and the -marvellous six-shooter which attested them may have had -their influence, never have friends been more true. -Although, since Ohlsen’s death, numberless articles of -inestimable value to them have been scattered upon the -ice unwatched, they have not stolen a nail. It was only -yesterday that Metek, upon my alluding to the manner -in which property of all sorts was exposed without -pilfering, explained through Petersen, in these two short -sentences, the argument of their morality:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘You have done us good. We are not hungry; we -will not take, (steal)—You have done us good; we want -to help you: we are friends.’ ”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Kane and his men were delayed by a gale till 19th -June, when they embarked in three boats. Of the -original nineteen men, three had died. Another, Hans -Christian the Esquimaux, had fallen in love, and remained -behind. The party now, therefore, consisted of fifteen. -They made first for Hakluyt Island, where the boats had -to undergo further repairs. In the morning of 22nd -June, they pushed forward through a snowstorm for -Northumberland Island, where a number of auks were -secured. Murchison Channel was crossed on 23rd June, -and they encamped for the night near the base of Cape -Parry. Soon after leaving here they encountered a gale -from the north-west, and had great difficulty in escaping -from the drifting ice. By good luck, however, they -landed at the breeding-grounds of a large number of -eider ducks, and were able to gather 1200 eggs a day. -Here they remained three days, until the storm abated. -They now made for Cape Dudley Digges, which they -reached on 11th July. Here they obtained an abundance -of birds, and scurvy grass. The ice ahead barred their -passage, and they were nothing loath to spend a week -where there was plenty of food. On 18th July they -again set out, but in doing so were unfortunate enough -to lose their best shot-gun and their kettle, owing to the -capsizing of one of the boats. Cape York was reached -on 21st July. Here they left the coast-line and entered -the ice-pack. On the 28th the daily allowance of food -was restricted to 5 oz. of bread-dust, 4 oz. of tallow, -and 3 oz. of bird-meat. The <span class='it'>Red Eric</span> was broken up -for fuel, so that the whole party had now to be transported -in two boats. The short rations soon began to -tell on their strength, and the old symptoms of scurvy -came back again. It was at this crisis that a seal was -seen, and the incident is thus described by Dr. Kane:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was an ussuk, and so large that I at first mistook -it for a walrus. Signal was made for the <span class='it'>Hope</span> to follow -astern, and, trembling with anxiety, we prepared to crawl -down upon him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Petersen, with the large English rifle, was stationed -in the bow, and stockings were drawn over the oars as -mufflers. As we neared the animal, our excitement -became so intense that the men could hardly keep stroke. -I had a set of signals for such occasions which spared us -the noise of the voice; and when about 300 yards off, the -oars were taken in, and we moved in deep silence with a -single scull astern.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He was not asleep, for he reared his head when we -were almost within rifle-shot; and to this day I can -remember the hard, careworn, almost despairing expression -of the men’s thin faces as they saw him move: their lives -depended on his capture.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I depressed my hand nervously, as a signal for -Petersen to fire. McGary hung upon his oar, and the -boat, slowly but noiselessly sagging ahead, seemed to me -within certain range. Looking at Petersen, I saw that -the poor fellow was paralysed by his anxiety, trying -vainly to obtain a rest for his gun against the cut-water -of the boat. The seal rose on his fore-flippers, gazed at -us for a moment with frightened curiosity, and coiled -himself for a plunge. At that instant, simultaneously -with the crack of our rifle, he relaxed his long length on -the ice, and, at the very brink of the water, his head fell -helpless to one side.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I would have ordered another shot, but no discipline -could have controlled the men. With a wild yell, each -vociferating according to his own impulse, they urged -both boats upon the floes. A crowd of hands seized the -seal and bore him up to safer ice. The men seemed half -crazy; I had not realised how much we were reduced by -absolute famine. They ran over the floe, crying and -laughing and brandishing their knives. It was not five -minutes before every man was sucking his bloody fingers -or mouthing long strips of raw blubber.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not an ounce of this seal was lost. The intestines -found their way into the soup-kettles without any observance -of the preliminary home-processes. The cartilaginous -parts of the fore-flippers were cut off in the -mêlée, and passed round to be chewed upon; and even -the liver, warm and raw as it was, bade fair to be eaten -before it had seen the pot. That night, on the large -halting-floe, to which, in contempt of the dangers of -drifting, we happy men had hauled our boats, two entire -planks of the <span class='it'>Red Eric</span> were devoted to a grand cooking-fire, -and we enjoyed a rare and savage feast.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This was our last experience of the disagreeable -effects of hunger. In the words of George Stephenson, -‘The charm was broken and the dogs were safe.’ The -dogs I have said little about, for none of us liked to -think of them. The poor creatures Toodla and Whitey -had been taken with us as last resources against starvation. -They were, as McGary worded it, ‘meat on the hoof,’ and -‘able to carry their own fat over the floes.’ Once, near -Weary Man’s Rest, I had been on the point of killing -them; but they had been the leaders of our winter’s -team, and we could not bear the sacrifice.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Within a day or two after killing the large seal, -another was shot, and from that time forward they had a -full supply of food. On the 1st of August they sighted the -Devil’s Thumb, and were soon among the Duck Islands. -A few days after this they met an Upernavik oil-boat, -and received some scanty news of the world. They -learnt that a squadron under Captain Hartstene had left -for the north in search of them a short time before. On the -6th of August they arrived at Upernavik, where they were -well received by the Danes—eighty-three days after leaving -the <span class='it'>Advance</span>. The squadron under Hartstene returned -in time to convey Dr. Kane and his party to America.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>The results of Dr. Kane’s expedition were very important. -Ross had declared that Smith Sound was a -bay, and although Captain Inglefield in 1852 proved that -it was a sound, he reached only 78° 28′. Kane extended -our knowledge up to 81° 22′, and all indications tended -to show that Kennedy Channel led to the Polar Ocean.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No one can read Kane’s book without being impressed -by the noble character of the man. He was a hero in -the highest sense of the word. It is sad to relate that he -died in Havana on the 16th February 1857, when only -thirty-seven years of age.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch3'>CHAPTER III<br/> <span class='sub-head'>EXPEDITION COMMANDED BY DR. HAYES<br/> IN 1860−61</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>The object of Dr. Hayes’ expedition may be given in his -own words:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The plan of the enterprise first suggested itself to me -while acting as surgeon of the expedition commanded by -the late Dr. E. K. Kane, of the United States Navy. -Although its execution did not appear feasible at the -period of my return from that voyage in October 1855, -yet I did not at any time abandon the design. It comprehended -an extensive scheme of discovery. The proposed -route was that by Smith Sound. My object was -to complete the survey of the north coasts of Greenland -and Grinnell Land, and to make such explorations as I -might find practicable in the direction of the North Pole.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My proposed base of operations was Grinnell Land, -which I had discovered on my former voyage, and had -personally traced beyond latitude 80°, far enough to -satisfy me that it was available for my design.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Accepting the deductions of many learned physicists -that the sea about the North Pole cannot be frozen, that -an open area of varying extent must be found within the -Ice-belt which is known to invest it, I desired to add to -the proofs which had already been accumulated by the -early Dutch and English voyagers, and, more recently, by -the researches of Scoresby, Wrangel, and Parry, and still -later by Dr. Kane’s expedition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is well known that the great difficulty which has -been encountered, in the various attempts that have been -made to solve this important physical problem, has been -the inability of the explorer to penetrate the Ice-belt -with his ship, or to travel over it with sledges sufficiently -far to obtain indisputable proof. My former experience -led me to the conclusion that the chances of success were -greater by Smith Sound than by any other route, and -my hopes of success were based upon the expectation -which I entertained of being able to push a vessel into -the Ice-belt, to about the 80th parallel of latitude, and -thence to transport a boat over the ice to the open sea -which I hoped to find beyond. Reaching this open sea, -if such fortune awaited me, I proposed to launch my boat -and to push off northward. For the ice-transportation I -expected to rely, mainly, upon the dog of the Esquimaux.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Hayes had a strong belief in the existence of an -open Polar Sea, but it may here be mentioned that subsequent -exploration proved that his views were not correct. -On the other hand, the view of the old geographers that -for a long distance around the Pole the sea was covered -with immovable ice has also been disproved. Throughout -the whole year the ice is found to be more or less in -motion, except where it is in contact with the land.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Hayes expected to be able to start with two -vessels,—one a small steamer, to be taken out under sails, -and the steam-power only to be used when actually -among the ice; the other a sailing vessel, to be employed -as a tender or store-ship. He found, however, that the -fund which he had raised with great difficulty would only -enable him to fit out and man one small sailing vessel.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A fore-and-aft schooner of 133 tons register, named -<span class='it'>Spring Hill</span>, was purchased, and after some necessary -alterations, was rechristened <span class='it'>United States</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>August Sonntag, the astronomer of Kane’s expedition, -early volunteered to accompany Hayes. On his return -to the United States he was appointed to the Dudley -Observatory, Albany, and to accompany Dr. Hayes he -sacrificed the fine position of Associate Director of that -institution.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Including Dr. Hayes, the party numbered fifteen -persons. They left Boston on 7th July 1860, and after a -rough passage crossed the Arctic Circle on 30th July. -The first iceberg was met on the previous day. Some -rough weather was experienced in Davis’ Strait, and is -thus described by Hayes:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We were running before the wind and fighting a -wretched cross-sea under reefed fore and mainsail and jib, -when the fore fife-rail was carried away;—down came -everything to the deck, and there was left not a stitch of -canvas on the schooner but the lumbering mainsail. It -was a miracle that we did not broach to and go to the -bottom. Nothing saved us but a steady hand at the helm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Notwithstanding all this knocking about, everybody -seemed to take it for granted that this sort of thing is -very natural and proper, and a part of the engagement -for the cruise. It is at least gratifying to see that they -take kindly to discomfort, and receive every freak of -fortune with manly good-nature. I really believe that -were affairs otherwise ordered they would be sadly disappointed. -They are ‘the small band of brave and -spirited men’ they read about in the newspapers, and -they mean to show it. The sailors are sometimes literally -drowned out of the forecastle. The cabin is flooded at -least a dozen times a day. The skylight has been knocked -to pieces by the head of a sea, and the table, standing -directly under it, has been more than once cleared of -crockery and eatables without the aid of the steward. -My own cabin gets washed out at irregular intervals, and -my books are half of them spoiled by tumbling from their -shelves in spite of all I can do to the contrary. Once I -caught the whole library tacking about the deck after an -unusually ambitious dive of the schooner, and the advent -of a more than ordinarily heavy rush of water through -the ‘companion-way.’ ”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Land was first sighted on the 31st July, and proved to -be the southern extremity of Disco Island. Owing to a -calm, Proven was not reached till 6th August. The -entry into the harbour is thus described by Dr. Hayes:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We were escorted into the harbour of Proven by the -strangest fleet of boats and the strangest-looking boatmen -that ever convoyed a ship. They were the far-famed -Kayakers of Greenland, and they deserve a passing notice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The Kayak of the Greenlander is the frailest specimen -of marine architecture that ever carried human freight. -It is 18 feet long and as many inches wide at its middle, -and tapers, with an upward curving line, to a point at -either end. The skeleton of the boat is made of light -wood; the covering is of tanned seal-skin, sewed together -by the native women with sinew thread, and with a -strength and dexterity quite astonishing. Not a drop of -water finds its way through their seams, and the skin -itself is perfectly waterproof. The boat is about 9 inches -deep, and the top is covered like the bottom. There is -no opening into it except a round hole in the centre, -which admits the hunter as far as his hips. This hole is -surrounded with a wooden rim, over which the Kayaker -laces the lower edge of his water-tight jacket, and thus -fastens himself in and keeps the water out. He propels -himself with a single oar about 6 feet long, which -terminates in a blade or paddle at either end. This -instrument of locomotion is grasped in the centre, and is -dipped in the water alternately to right and left. The -boat is graceful as a duck and light as a feather. It has -no ballast and no keel, and it rides almost on the surface -of the water. It is therefore necessarily top-heavy. -Long practice is required to manage it, and no tight-rope -dancer ever needed more steady nerve and skill of balance -than this same savage Kayaker. Yet, in this frail craft, -he does not hesitate to ride seas which would swamp an -ordinary boat, or to break through surf which may sweep -completely over him. But he is used to hard battles, -and, in spite of every fortune, he keeps himself upright.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hayes expected to obtain a supply of dogs at Proven, -but he found that a disease which had prevailed among -the teams during the previous year had diminished the -stock to less than half of what was required by the people -themselves, and he had to be satisfied with a few dogs of -inferior quality. The Danish officials, however, rendered -Hayes all the assistance in their power, and gave him -hope of being more successful at Upernavik, for which -settlement he left on 12th August.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the night, before reaching Upernavik, the -carpenter of the expedition, Gibson Caruthers, died -suddenly. Besides Mr. Sonntag and Dr. Hayes, he was -the only member of the party who had been in the Arctic -seas, having served in the First Grinnell Expedition in -search of Franklin. He was buried at Upernavik.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Having obtained about two dozen dogs, and a supply -of reindeer, seal, and dog-skins, Upernavik was left after -four days’ delay. Three Esquimaux, an interpreter, and -two Danish sailors were engaged at Upernavik. At -Tessuissak, a place about 60 miles from Upernavik, a team -of dogs, the property of the interpreter, was obtained.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Melville Bay was reached, Hayes was delighted -to find open water with only an iceberg here and there. -This was crossed in the short space of fifty-five hours. -Near the northern part of the bay a loose pack about -15 miles wide was encountered, but under a full pressure -of canvas, little difficulty was experienced in “boring” it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Standing close in under Cape York, Hayes kept a -careful look-out for natives. He wished if possible to -ascertain whether Hans of the Kane expedition was there. -In this he was successful. Hayes writes:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Six years’ experience among the wild men of this -barren coast had brought him to their level of filthy -ugliness. His companions were his wife, who carried her -first-born in a hood upon her back; her brother, a bright-eyed -boy of twelve years, and ‘an ancient dame with -voluble and flippant tongue,’ her mother. They were -all dressed in skins, and, being the first Esquimaux we -had seen whose habits remained wholly uninfluenced by -contact with civilisation, they were, naturally, objects of -much interest to us all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hans led us up the hillside, over rough rocks and -through deep snow-drifts, to his tent. It was pitched -about 200 feet above the level of the sea, in a most -inconvenient position for a hunter; but it was his ‘look-out.’ -Wearily he had watched, year after year, for the -hoped-for vessel; but summer after summer passed and -the vessel came not, and he still sighed for his southern -home and the friends of his youth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“His tent was a sorry habitation. It was made after -the Esquimaux-fashion, of seal-skins, and was barely large -enough to hold the little family who were grouped -about us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I asked Hans if he would go with us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘Yes!’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Would he take his wife and baby?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘Yes!’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Would he go without them?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘Yes!’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Having no leisure to examine critically into the state -of his mind, and having an impression that the permanent -separation of husband and wife is regarded as a painful -event, I gave the Esquimaux mother the benefit of this -conventional suspicion, and brought them both aboard, -with their baby and their tent and all their household -goods. The old woman and bright-eyed boy cried to be -taken along; but I had no further room, and we had to -leave them to the care of the remainder of the tribe, who, -about twenty in number, had discovered the vessel, and -came shouting gleefully over the hill. After distributing -to them some useful presents, we pushed off for the -schooner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hans was the only unconcerned person in the party. -I subsequently thought that he would have been quite -as well pleased had I left his wife and child to the protection -of their savage kin; and had I known him as well -then as, with good reason, I knew him afterwards, I would -not have gone out of my way to disturb his barbarous -existence.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cape Alexander, at the entrance to Smith Sound, was -reached without any special difficulty. Standing over -towards Cape Isabella on the opposite side of the sound, -there seemed a good prospect of being able to reach it, -but soon a heavy pack was met with, and a furious gale -coming on compelled Hayes to run back to the coast -for shelter. On the 31st August, during this gale, the -schooner dragged its anchors. What followed is thus -described by Hayes: “McCormick managed to save the -bower, but the kedge was lost. It caught a rock at a -critical moment, and, the hawser parting, we were driven -upon the bergs, which, as before stated, had grounded -astern of us. The collision was a perfect crash. The -stern boat flew into splinters, the bulwarks over the starboard-quarter -were stove in, and, the schooner’s head -swinging round with great violence, the jib-boom was -carried away, and the bowsprit and foretopmast were -both sprung. In this crippled condition we at length -escaped most miraculously, and under bare poles scudded -before the wind. A vast number of icebergs and the -‘pack’ coming in view, we were forced to make sail. The -mainsail went to pieces as soon as it was set, and we were -once more in great jeopardy; but fortunately the storm -abated, and we have since been threshing to windward, -and are once more within Smith Sound.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hayes again attempted to reach Cape Isabella, but -the pack was again met. He then attempted to pass up -the Greenland coast so as to try to cross farther north. -However, another gale set in, and he was forced to take -shelter behind Cape Alexander. When the gale subsided -he again entered the sound, but was soon beset in the -ice, and the schooner was seriously damaged. Even after -this, another attempt was made to pass up the coast, but -it ended in failure, and Hayes was forced to put into -Hartstene Bay for the winter. The harbour was named -Port Foulke, in honour of William Parker Foulke, of -Philadelphia, who was one of the earliest, and continued -to be throughout one of the most constant advocates -of the expedition. Port Foulke is situated about -8 nautical miles in a north-easterly direction from Cape -Alexander. An abundance of game was found in the -neighbourhood, and consisted of deer, hares, foxes, and -birds.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During October, Hayes made a journey inland, ascending -a glacier, named by Kane after his brother John, with -five men, and taking with him a sledge loaded with eight -days’ provisions, a small canvas tent, two buffalo-skins for -bedding, and a cooking-lamp. The party reached a point -70 miles from the coast, at an elevation of 5000 feet. -Hayes describes it as a vast frozen Sahara, immeasurable -to the human eye. He goes on to compare the river -systems of the Temperate and Equatorial Zones with the -glacier systems of the Arctic and Antarctic, and draws a -delightful picture of the great law of Circulation and -Change:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The dewdrop, distilled upon the tropic palm-leaf, -falling to the earth, has reappeared in the gurgling spring -of the primeval forest, has flown with the rivulet to the -river, and with the river to the ocean; has then vanished -into the air, and, wafted northward by the unseen wind, -has fallen as a downy snowflake upon the lofty mountain, -where, penetrated by a solar ray, it has become again a -little globule of water, and the chilly wind, following the -sun, has converted this globule into a crystal; and the -crystal takes up its wandering course again, seeking -the ocean.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But where its movement was once rapid, it is now -slow; where it then flowed with the river miles in an -hour, it will now flow with the glacier not more in -centuries; and where it once entered calmly into the sea, -it will now join the world of waters in the midst of a -violent convulsion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We have thus seen that the iceberg is the discharge -of the Arctic river, that the Arctic river is the glacier, -and that the glacier is the accumulation of the frozen -vapours of the air. We have watched this river, moving -on its slow and steady course from the distant hills, until -at length it has reached the sea; and we have seen the -sea tear from the slothful stream a monstrous fragment, -and take back to itself its own again. Freed from the -shackles which it has borne in silence through unnumbered -centuries, this new-born child of the ocean rushes with -a wild bound into the arms of the parent water, where it -is caressed by the surf and nursed into life again; and -the crystal drops receive their long-lost freedom, and fly -away on the laughing waves to catch once more the sunbeam, -and to run again their course through the long -cycle of the ages.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And this iceberg has more significance than the great -flood which the glacier’s southern sister, the broad Amazon, -pours into the ocean from the slopes of the Andes and -the mountains of Brazil. Solemn, stately, and erect, in -tempest and in calm, it rides the deep. The restless -waves resound through its broken archways and thunder -against its adamantean walls. Clouds, impenetrable as -those which shielded the graceful form of Arethusa, clothe -it in the morning; under the bright blaze of the noonday -sun it is armoured in glittering silver; it robes itself in -the gorgeous colours of evening; and in the silent night -the heavenly orbs are mirrored in its glassy surface. -Drifting snows whirl over it in the winter, and the sea-gulls -swarm round it in the summer. The last rays of -departing day linger upon its lofty spires; and when the -long darkness is past it catches the first gleam of the -returning light, and its gilded dome heralds the coming -morn. The elements combine to render tribute to its -matchless beauty. Its loud voice is wafted to the shore, -and the earth rolls it from crag to crag among the -echoing hills. The sun steals through the veil of radiant -fountains which flutter over it in the summer winds, and -the rainbow on its pallid cheek betrays the warm kiss. -The air crowns it with wreaths of soft vapour, and the -waters around it take the hues of the emerald and the -sapphire. In fulfilment of its destiny it moves steadily -onward in its blue pathway through the varying seasons -and under the changeful skies. Slowly, as in ages long -gone by it arose from the broad waters, so does it sink -back into them. It is indeed a noble symbol of the Law,—a -monument of Time’s slow changes, more ancient than -the Egyptian Pyramids or the obelisk of Heliopolis. Its -crystals were dewdrops and snowflakes long before the -human race was born in Eden.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By the 28th October, 74 reindeer, 21 foxes, 12 hares, -1 seal, 14 eider ducks, 8 dovekies, 6 auks, and 1 ptarmigan -had been shot and brought on board. In addition to -these, some 20 to 30 reindeer had been cached in various -places. Hayes naturally came to the conclusion that -men might live indefinitely at Port Foulke without being -troubled with scurvy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 19th November, one of the Esquimaux, Peter, -disappeared. For some time Hayes had observed a -rivalry between Hans and Peter, and he took the side -of the latter. Hans was jealous of every act of favour -towards Peter, and Hayes was inclined to believe that Hans -had been the means of frightening Peter and of making -him run off. No news was received as to his whereabouts -until months afterwards, when some Esquimaux -found his dead body in a hut a long distance from the ship.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Early in December a serious disease attacked the dogs, -similar to what Kane had to deal with. Hayes had at this -time thirty-six, and the first attacked by the disease was -shot. However, seven died within four days, and during -the first two weeks of December eighteen died. At the -end of the following week only nine dogs were left. This -was a serious blow to Hayes, as he relied chiefly on the -dogs for transport across the ice. It was now necessary -to devise means for remedying the loss, or to arrange new -plans in conformity with the changed circumstances. -The first expedient which suggested itself was to open -communication with the Esquimaux of Whale Sound, -from whom some animals might be obtained. From -Hans it was learned that there was a family living on -Northumberland Island, several families on the south side -of Whale Sound, and possibly one or more on the north -side. Northumberland Island was about 100 miles -distant, and the south side of the Sound about 150. It -was decided that if a sufficient number of dogs remained -alive when the moon came in December, Sonntag -should make the journey at that period, taking a single -sledge, and Hans for a driver. They set out on the -21st December, and nothing was heard of them until -the 29th January, when two Esquimaux arrived with the -news that Sonntag had died. Hans appeared two days -afterwards, and told his story:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The travellers rounded Cape Alexander without -difficulty, finding the ice solid; and they did not halt -until they had reached Sutherland Island, where they -built a snow-hut and rested for a few hours. Continuing -thence down the coast, they sought the Esquimaux at -Sorfalik without success. The native hut at that place -being in ruins, they made for their shelter another house -of snow; and after being well rested, they set out directly -for Northumberland Island, having concluded that it was -useless to seek longer for natives on the north side of the -sound. They had proceeded on their course about 4 or -5 miles, as nearly as I can judge from Hans’s description, -when Sonntag, growing a little chilled, sprang off the -sledge and ran ahead of the dogs to warm himself with -the exercise. The tangling of a trace obliging Hans to -halt the team for a few minutes, he fell some distance -behind, and was hurrying on to catch up, when he -suddenly observed Sonntag sinking. He had come upon -the thin ice, covering a recently open tide-crack, and, -probably not observing his footing, he slipped upon it -unawares. Hans hastened to his rescue, aided him -out of the water, and then turned back for the shelter -which they had recently abandoned. A light wind was -blowing at the time from the north-east, and this, -according to Hans, caused Sonntag to seek the hut -without stopping to change his wet clothing. At first he -ran beside the sledge, and thus guarded against danger; -but after a while he rode, and when they halted at -Sorfalik, Hans discovered that his companion was stiff -and speechless. Assisting him into the hut with all -possible dispatch, Hans states that he removed the wet -and frozen clothing, and placed Sonntag in the sleeping-bag. -He next gave him some brandy which he found -in a flask on the sledge; and, having tightly closed the -hut, he lighted the alcohol-lamp, for the double purpose -of elevating the temperature and making some coffee; -but all his efforts were unavailing, and, after remaining -for nearly a day unconscious, Sonntag died. He did -not speak after reaching the hut, and left no message of -any kind.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hayes was not altogether satisfied with the explanation -given by Hans. He wrote; “Although I have no good -reason for doubting the truth of his narrative, yet I -cannot quite reconcile my mind to the fact that Sonntag, -with so much experience to govern him, should have -undertaken to travel 5 miles in wet clothing, especially -as he was accompanied by a native hunter who was -familiar with all of the expedients for safety upon the -ice-fields, and to whom falling in the water is no unusual -circumstance. The sledge and the canvas apron which -enclosed the cargo furnished the means for constructing -a temporary shelter from the wind, and the sleeping-bag -would have insured against freezing while Hans got -ready the dry clothing, of which Sonntag carried a complete -change. Nor can I understand how he should have -lived so long and have given Hans no message for me, -nor have spoken a word after coming out of the water, -further than to have ordered his driver to hasten back to -the snow-hut. However, it is idle to speculate about -the matter; and since Hans’s interests were concerned in -proving faithful to the officer who, of all those in the -ship, cared most for him, it would be unreasonable as well -as unjust to suspect him of desertion.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Towards spring, Hayes had the body of Sonntag -brought to Port Foulke and buried. “And here,” writes -Hayes, “in the drear solitude of the Arctic desert, our -comrade sleeps the sleep that knows no waking in this -troubled world,—where no loving hands can ever come -to strew his grave with flowers, nor eyes grow dim with -sorrowing; but the gentle stars, which in life he loved so -well, will keep over him eternal vigil, and the winds will -wail over him, and Nature, his mistress, will drop upon -his tomb her frozen tears for evermore.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Hans returned from his visit to the Esquimaux, -he brought with him his wife’s father and mother. -Hayes gives the following description of them:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The personal appearance of this interesting couple -was not peculiarly attractive. Their faces were broad, -jaws heavy, cheek-bones projecting like other carnivorous -animals, foreheads narrow, eyes small and very black, -noses flat, lips long and thin, and when opened, there -were disclosed two narrow, white, well-preserved rows of -polished ivory,—well worn, however, with long use and -hard service, for the teeth of the Esquimaux serve a great -variety of purposes, such as softening skins, pulling and -tightening cords, besides masticating food, which I may -here mention is wholly animal. Their hair was jet black, -though not abundant, and the man had the largest growth -of beard which I have seen upon an Esquimaux face, but -it was confined to the upper lip and the tip of the chin. -The face of the Esquimaux is indeed quite Mongolian -in its type, and is usually beardless. In stature they are -short, though well built, and bear, in every movement, -evidence of strength and endurance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The dress of the male and female differed but little -one from the other. It consisted of nine pieces—a pair -of boots, stockings, mittens, pantaloons, an under-dress, -and a coat. The man wore boots of bear-skin, reaching -to the top of the calf, where they met the pantaloons, -which were composed of the same materials. The boots -of the woman reached nearly to the middle of the thigh, -and were made of tanned seal-skins. Her pantaloons, like -her husband’s, were of bear-skin. The stockings were -of dog-skin, and the mittens of seal-skin. The under-dress -was made of bird-skins, feathers turned inwards; -and the coat, which did not open in front, but was drawn -on over the head like a shirt, was of blue fox-skins. This -coat terminates in a hood which envelops the head as -completely as an Albanian capote or a monk’s cowl. -This hood gives the chief distinction to the dresses of the -sexes. In the costume of the man it is round, closely -fitting the scalp, while in the woman it is pointed at the -top to receive the hair which is gathered up on the crown -of the head, and tied into a hard, horn-like tuft with a -piece of raw seal-hide,—a style of coiffure which, whatever -may be its other advantages, cannot be regarded as -peculiarly picturesque.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Their ages could not be determined; for, since the -Esquimaux cannot enumerate beyond their ten fingers, -it is quite impossible for them to refer to a past event by -any process of notation. Having no written language -whatever, not even the picture-writing and hieroglyphics -of the rudest Indian tribes of North America, the race -possesses no records, and such traditions as may come -down from generation to generation are not fixed by any -means which will furnish even an approximate estimate of -their periods of growth, prosperity, and decay, or even of -their own ages.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Towards the end of February three other Esquimaux -appeared from the south, and from them Hayes obtained -some dogs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About the middle of March, Hayes made a preliminary -journey in order to explore the track for his -extended journey to the north, and cached some provisions -at Cairn Point. He visited Rensselaer Harbour, -where the <span class='it'>Advance</span> had been left, but no vestige of the -ship remained, except a small bit of a deck-plank which -Hayes picked up near the site of the old observatory.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The long sledge-journey began on the 3rd of April 1861. -A quantity of provisions had previously been taken to -Cairn Point, which Hayes had decided to make the -starting-place for crossing the Sound. On one sledge -was mounted a 20-foot metallic lifeboat with which -Hayes hoped to navigate the Polar Sea. When Cairn -Point was reached, Hayes decided to leave the boat there, -as he saw that it was impossible to take the boat and -cargo across the Sound in one journey. A storm delayed -the party several days at Cairn Point, and soon after -encountering the ice-hummocks, Hayes wrote:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I need hardly say that I soon gave up all thought of -trying to get the boat across the Sound. A hundred -men could not have accomplished the task. My only -purpose now was to get to the coast of Grinnell Land -with as large a stock of provisions as possible, and to -retain the men as long as they could be of use; but it -soon became a question whether the men themselves -could carry over their own provisions independent of the -surplus which I should require in order that the severe -labour should result to advantage. In spite, however, -of everything, the men kept steadfastly to their duty, -through sunshine and through storm, through cold, and -danger, and fatigue.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hayes tried to make for Cape Sabine, but found the -hummocks quite impassable, and he had to bear more -to the northward. On the 25th of April he reported: -“My party are in a very sorry condition. One of the -men has sprained his back from lifting; another has a -sprained ankle; another has gastritis; another a frosted -toe; and all are thoroughly overwhelmed with fatigue.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 27th April he determined to send back the -men, with the exception of Knorr, Jensen, and McDonald. -Only about half of the Sound had been crossed, but -Hayes decided to struggle on. Jensen became partially -snow-blind, and on the 3rd of May, when stumbling along, -his leg received a severe wrench in a crack in the ice. The -land, at Cape Hawks, was not reached until the 11th of -May. Thirty-one days had been occupied in crossing -the Sound. Hayes writes:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The journey across the Sound from Cairn Point was -unexampled in Arctic travelling. The distance from -land to land, as the crow flies, did not exceed 80 miles; -and yet, as hitherto observed, the journey consumed -thirty-one days—but little more than 2 miles daily. The -track, however, which we were forced to choose, was -often at least three times that of a straight line; and -since almost every mile of that tortuous route was -travelled over three and five times, in bringing up the -separate portions of our cargo, our actual distance did -not probably average less than 16 miles daily, or about -500 miles in all, between Cairn Point and Cape Hawks. -The last 40 miles, made with dog-sledges alone, occupied -fourteen days—a circumstance which will of itself exhibit -the difficult nature of the undertaking, especially when -it is borne in mind that 40 miles to an ordinary team -of dogs, over usually fair ice, is a trifling matter for five -hours, and would not fatigue the team half so much as -a single hour’s pulling of the same load over such -hummocks as confronted us throughout this entire journey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In order to obtain the best results which the -Esquimaux dog is capable of yielding, it is essential -that he shall be able to trot away with his load. To -walk at a dead drag is as distressing to his spirits and -energies as the hauling of a dray would be to a blooded -horse; and he will much more readily run away with a -100 pounds over good ice than to pull one-fourth of that -weight over a track which admits only of a slow pace.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The failure to get the boat, or even a foot-party, over -the Sound disarranged Hayes’ original plans. Of the -800 lb. of dog-food which he had when he sent back -the men, only about 300 lb. remained. Small dépôts -had, however, been made for the return journey. The -most that Hayes now hoped to do was to explore the -route to the shores of the Polar Sea, as a basis for -further exploration to follow the event of his reaching the -west side of Smith Sound with his vessel late in the summer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The first day’s march from Cape Hawks carried the -party across the wide bay to Cape Napoleon, and they -were pleased to find that the whole load could be carried -at one time, although the travelling was far from good. -Deep snow was met, and in wading through it Jensen’s -leg gave way, and he had to be carried on the sledge. -From Cape Napoleon to Cape Frazer the travelling was -good, and camp was made near the farthest point -reached by Hayes in 1854. The little flag-staff, which -Hayes had planted, was discovered, still standing erect -among the rocks; but not a vestige of the flag remained. -The winds had whipped it entirely away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 16th of May, Jensen’s injured leg was so painful that -Hayes decided to leave him behind in charge of McDonald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From Cape Frazer northward the description given by -Hayes of his route is extremely meagre and vague. He -states that when Jensen was left behind he was about -60 miles to the northward and westward of Cape Constitution, -reached by Morton. About two days after -leaving Jensen, Hayes reached the southern cape of a -bay which was so deep that, as in other cases of like -obstruction, he determined to cross over it rather than -to follow the shore-line. He writes: “We had gone -only a few miles when we found our progress suddenly -arrested. Our course was made directly for a conspicuous -headland bounding the bay to the northward, -over a strip of old ice lining the shore. This headland -seemed to be about 20 miles from us, or near latitude -82°, and I was very desirous of reaching it; but, unhappily, -the old ice came suddenly to an end, and after -scrambling over the fringe of hummocks which margined -it, we found ourselves upon ice of the late winter. The -unerring instinct of the dogs warned us of approaching -danger. They were observed for some time to be -moving with unusual caution, and finally they scattered -to right and left, and refused to proceed farther. This -behaviour of the dogs was too familiar to me to leave -any doubt as to its meaning; and moving forward in -advance, I quickly perceived that the ice was rotten and -unsafe. Thinking that this might be merely a local -circumstance, resulting from some peculiarity of the -current, we doubled back upon the old floe and made -another trial farther to the eastward. Walking now in -advance of the dogs, they were inspired with greater -courage. I had not proceeded far when I found the ice -again giving way under the staff with which I sounded -its strength, and again we turned back and sought a -more eastern passage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Two hours consumed in efforts of this kind, during -which we had worked about 4 miles out to sea, convinced -me that the ice outside the bay was wholly impassable.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>An attempt to cross farther up the bay also proved -a failure, and by walking a few miles along the shore -Hayes believed he saw the head of the bay about 20 miles -distant. Next day he climbed to the top of a cliff supposed -to be about 800 feet above the level of the sea.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The view which I had from this elevation furnished -a solution of the cause of my progress being arrested on -the previous day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The ice was everywhere in the same condition as in -the mouth of the bay, across which I had endeavoured -to pass. A broad crack, starting from the middle of -the bay, stretched over the sea, and uniting with other -cracks as it meandered to the eastward, it expanded as -the delta of some mighty river discharging into the -ocean, and under a water-sky, which hung upon the -northern and eastern horizon, it was lost in the open sea.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Standing against the dark sky at the north, there -was seen in dim outline the white sloping summit of a -noble headland—the most northern known land upon -the globe. I judged it to be in latitude 82° 30′, or -450 miles from the North Pole. Nearer, another bold -cape stood forth; and nearer still the headland, for -which I had been steering my course the day before, -rose majestically from the sea, as if pushing up into the -very skies a lofty mountain peak, upon which the -winter had dropped its diadem of snows. There was no -land visible except the coast upon which I stood.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The large bay which Hayes here refers to was named -Lady Franklin Bay. The place from which his observations -were made, Hayes gives as in latitude 81° 35′, -longitude 70° 30′ W. Finding his way to the north -impassable, he decided to return. Hayes at this point -came to the conclusion that he was near the shores of the -Polar Basin, and that Kennedy Channel expanded into it. -After building a cairn and leaving a record in a small -glass vial, he started on his return journey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A storm came on soon after Hayes and his companion -set out. They at first tried to shelter in the lee of a -huge ice-cliff, but as they had now given the dogs the last -of their food, they decided to face the snowstorm and -make for the camp where Jensen had been left. This -was reached in twenty-two hours under great difficulties. -Hayes and Knorr had fasted thirty-four hours, and were -completely exhausted. On the return journey to the -ship they had to depend entirely on the small caches -which had been left on the outward journey. Fortunately, -all of these, with one exception, were undisturbed. By -the time they reached Cape Hawks and were about -to cross the Sound, Jensen’s leg had so far improved -that he was able to walk. Near the Greenland coast -the ice was beginning to give way, and it was with -difficulty that they reached land. Part of the journey -to the ship had then to be made on foot across the -mountains.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the absence of Hayes, McCormick the sailing-master -had examined the ship, and found that the damage -sustained in the ice was serious. He repaired it as well -as he could, but it was not now in a condition to stand -any further collision with the ice. This was a great -disappointment to Hayes, as he intended, as soon as the -ice broke up, to make another attempt with the ship to -cross the Sound, and pass up the west coast.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 3rd of July, Hayes describes a walrus-hunt:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have had a walrus-hunt and a most exciting day’s -sport. Much ice has broken adrift and come down the -Sound during the past few days; and, when the sun is -out bright and hot, the walrus come up out of the water -to sleep and bask in the warmth on the pack. Being -upon the hilltop this morning to select a place for -building a cairn, my ear caught the hoarse bellowing of -numerous walrus; and, upon looking over the sea, I -observed that the tide was carrying the pack across the -outer limit of the bay, and that it was alive with the -beasts, which were filling the air with such uncouth noises. -Their number appeared to be even beyond conjecture, for -they extended as far as the eye could reach, almost every -piece of ice being covered. There must have been, indeed, -many hundreds, or even thousands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hurrying from the hill, I called for volunteers, and -quickly had a boat’s crew ready for some sport. Putting -three rifles, a harpoon, and a line into one of the whale-boats, -we dragged it over the ice to the open water, into -which it was speedily launched.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We had about 2 miles to pull before the margin of -the pack was reached. On the cake of ice to which we -first came, there were perched about two dozen animals; -and these we selected for the attack. They covered the -raft almost completely, lying huddled together, lounging -in the sun or lazily rolling and twisting themselves about, -as if to expose some fresh part of their unwieldy bodies -to the warmth,—great, ugly, wallowing sea-hogs, they -were evidently enjoying themselves, and were without -apprehension of approaching danger. We neared them -slowly, with muffled oars.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As the distance between us and the game steadily -narrowed, we began to realise that we were likely to meet -with rather formidable antagonists. Their aspect was -forbidding in the extreme, and our sensations were -perhaps not unlike those which the young soldier experiences -who hears for the first time the order to charge the -enemy. We should all, very possibly, have been quite -willing to retreat had we dared own it. Their tough, -nearly hairless hides, which are about an inch thick, had -a singularly iron-plated look about them, peculiarly -suggestive of defence; while their huge tusks, which they -brandished with an appearance of strength that their -awkwardness did not diminish, looked like very formidable -weapons of offence if applied to a boat’s planking or to -the human ribs, if one should happen to find himself -floundering in the sea among the thick-skinned brutes. -To complete the hideousness of a facial expression which -the tusks rendered formidable enough in appearance, -Nature had endowed them with broad flat noses, which -were covered all over with stiff whiskers, looking much -like porcupine quills, and extending up to the edge of a -pair of gaping nostrils. The use of these whiskers is as -obscure as that of the tusks; though it is probable that -the latter may be as well weapons of offence and defence -as for the more useful purpose of grubbing up from the -bottom of the sea the mollusks which constitute their -principal food. There were two old bulls in the herd who -appeared to be dividing their time between sleeping and -jamming their tusks into each other’s faces, although they -appeared to treat the matter with perfect indifference, -as they did not seem to make any impression on each -other’s thick hides. As we approached, these old fellows—neither -of which could have been less than 16 feet long, -nor smaller in girth than a hogshead—raised up their -heads, and, after taking a leisurely survey of us, seemed -to think us unworthy of further notice; and then, punching -each other again in the face, fell once more asleep. -This was exhibiting a degree of coolness rather alarming. -If they had showed the least timidity we should -have found some excitement in extra caution; but they -seemed to make so light of our approach that it was -not easy to keep up the bold front with which we had -commenced the adventure. But we had come quite too -far to think of backing out; so we pulled in and made -ready for the fray.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Beside the old bulls, the group contained several -cows and a few calves of various sizes,—some evidently -yearlings, others but recently born, and others half or -three-quarters grown. Some were without tusks, while -on others they were just sprouting; and above this they -were of all sizes up to those of the big bulls, which had -great curved cones of ivory, nearly 3 feet long. At -length we were within a few boats’ lengths of the ice-raft, -and the game had not taken alarm. They had probably -never seen a boat before. Our preparations were made -as we approached. The walrus will always sink when -dead, unless held up by a harpoon-line; and there was -therefore but two chances for us to secure our game—either -to shoot the beast dead on the raft, or to get a -harpoon well into him after he was wounded, and hold on -to him until he was killed. As to killing the animal -where he lay, that was not likely to happen, for the thick -skin destroys the force of the ball before it can reach any -vital part, and indeed, at a distance, actually flattens it; -and the skull is so heavy that it is hard to penetrate with -an ordinary bullet, unless the ball happens to strike -through the eye.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To Miller, a cool and spirited fellow, who had been -after whales on the ‘nor’-west coast,’ was given the -harpoon, and he took his station in the bows; while -Knorr, Jensen, and myself kept our places in the stern-sheets, -and held our rifles in readiness. Each selected his -animal, and we fired in concert over the heads of the oarsmen. -As soon as the rifles were discharged, I ordered the -men to ‘give way,’ and the boat shot right among the -startled animals as they rolled off pell-mell into the sea. -Jensen had fired at the head of one of the bulls, and hit -him in the neck; Knorr killed a young one, which was -pushed off in the hasty scramble and sank; while I -planted a minie-bullet somewhere in the head of the other -bull and drew from him a most frightful bellow—louder, -I venture to say, than ever came from wild bull -of Bashan. When he rolled over into the water, which he -did with a splash that sent the spray flying all over us, -he almost touched the bows of the boat, and gave Miller -a good opportunity to get in his harpoon, which he did -in capital style.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The alarmed herd seemed to make straight for the -bottom, and the line spun out over the gunwale at a -fearful pace; but having several coils in the boat, the end -was not reached before the animals began to rise, and we -took in the slack and got ready for what was to follow. -The strain of the line whipped the boat around among -some loose fragments of ice, and the line having fouled -among it, we should have been in great jeopardy had not -one of the sailors promptly sprung out, cleared the line, -and defended the boat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In a few minutes the whole herd appeared at the -surface, about 50 yards away from us, the harpooned -animal being among them. Miller held fast to his line, and -the boat was started with a rush. The coming up of the -herd was the signal for a scene which baffles description. -They uttered one wild concerted shriek, as if an agonised -call for help; and then the air was filled with answering -shrieks. The ‘huk! huk! huk!’ of the wounded bulls -seemed to find an echo everywhere, as the cry was taken -up and passed along from floe to floe, like the bugle-blast -passed from squadron to squadron along a line of battle; -and down from every piece of ice plunged the startled -beasts, as quickly as the sailor drops from his hammock -when the long-roll beats to quarters. With their ugly -heads just above the water, and with mouths wide open, -belching forth the dismal ‘huk! huk! huk!’ they came -tearing toward the boat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In a few moments we were completely surrounded, -and the numbers kept multiplying with astonishing -rapidity. The water soon became alive and black with -them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They seemed at first to be frightened and irresolute, -and for a time it did not seem that they meditated -mischief; but this pleasing prospect was soon dissipated, -and we were forced to look well to our safety.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That they meditated an attack there could no longer -be a doubt. To escape the onslaught was impossible. -We had raised a hornet’s nest about our ears in a most -astonishingly short space of time, and we must do the -best we could. Even the wounded animal to which we -were fast turned upon us, and we became the focus of at -least a thousand gaping, bellowing mouths.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It seemed to be the purpose of the walrus to get -their tusks over the gunwale of the boat, and it was -evident that, in the event of one such monster hooking -on to us, the boat would be torn in pieces, and we would -be left floating in the sea helpless. We had good motive, -therefore, to be active. Miller plied his lance from the -bows, and gave many a serious wound. The men pushed -back the onset with their oars, while Knorr, Jensen, and -myself loaded and fired our rifles as rapidly as we could. -Several times we were in great jeopardy, but the timely -thrust of an oar, or the lance, or a bullet saved us. -Once I thought we were surely gone. I had fired, and -was hastening to load; a wicked-looking brute was -making at us, and it seemed probable that he would be -upon us. I stopped loading, and was preparing to cram -my rifle down his throat, when Knorr, who had got -ready his weapon, sent a fatal shot into his head. -Again, an immense animal, the largest that I had ever -seen, and with tusks apparently 3 feet long, was -observed to be making his way through the herd with -mouth wide open, bellowing dreadfully. I was now as -before busy loading; Knorr and Jensen had just discharged -their pieces, and the men were well engaged -with their oars. It was a critical moment, but happily -I was in time. The monster, his head high above the -boat, was within 2 feet of the gunwale, when I raised -my piece and fired into his mouth. The discharge killed -him instantly, and he went down like a stone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This ended the fray. I know not why, but the -whole herd seemed suddenly to take alarm, and all dove -down with a tremendous splash almost at the same -instant. When they came up again, still shrieking as -before, they were some distance from us, their heads all -now pointed seaward, making from us as fast as they -could go, their cries growing more and more faint as they -retreated in the distance. We must have killed at least -a dozen, and mortally wounded as many more. The -water was in places red with blood, and several half-dead -and dying animals lay floating about us. The bull -to which we were made fast pulled away with all his -might after the retreating herd, but his strength soon -became exhausted; and, as his speed slackened, we -managed to haul in the line, and finally approached him -so nearly that our rifle-balls took effect, and Miller at -length gave him the <span class='it'>coup de grâce</span> with his lance. We -then drew him to the nearest piece of ice, and I had -soon a fine specimen to add to my Natural History -collections. Of the others we secured only one; the -rest had died and sunk before we reached them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have never before regarded the walrus as a really -formidable animal; but this contest convinces me that -I have done their courage great injustice. They are full -of fight; and had we not been very active and self-possessed, -our boat would have been torn to pieces, and we -either drowned or killed. A more fierce attack than that -which they made upon us could hardly be imagined, and -a more formidable-looking enemy than one of these huge -monsters, with his immense tusks and bellowing throat, -would be difficult to find. Next time I try them I will -arm my boat’s crew with lances. The rifle is a poor -reliance, and but for the oars, the herd would have -been on top of us at any time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Upon the top of the hill on the north side of the -harbour a cairn was constructed, and under it Hayes -deposited a brief record of the voyage. On the 11th July -1861, the ice broke up in the harbour, and the schooner -was once more afloat, after ten months’ imprisonment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 13th July, Hayes took leave of the Esquimaux, -who were sorry to see him depart.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hayes, although doubtful as to the prospect ahead, -was determined not to quit the field without making -another attempt to reach the west coast and endeavour -to obtain some further information that might be of -service in the future. He still had a vague hope that, -even with his crippled vessel, some such good prospect -might open before him as would justify him in remaining. -He therefore held once more for Cape Isabella, but met -the pack about 10 miles from the Greenland shore. He -turned back and anchored between Littleton and McGary -Islands. After a few days’ delay, another attempt was -made, and in two days the west coast was reached near -Gale Point, about 10 miles below Cape Isabella. Hayes -then took a whale-boat to the cape, but found it impassable.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His opinion of the situation was thus recorded at the -time:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am fully persuaded, if there still remained a lingering -doubt, of the correctness of my decision to return -home, and come out next year strengthened and refitted -with steam. If my impulses lead me to try conclusions -once more with the ice, my judgment convinces me that -it would be at the risk of everything. As well use a -Hudson River steamboat for a battering-ram as this -schooner, with her weakened bows, to encounter the -Smith Sound ice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have secured the following important advantages -for the future, and with these I must, perforce, rest -satisfied, for the present:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“(1) I have brought my party through without sickness, -and have thus shown that the Arctic winter of itself -breeds neither scurvy nor discontent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“(2) I have shown that men may subsist themselves -in Smith Sound independent of support from home.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“(3) That a self-sustaining colony may be established -at Port Foulke, and be made the basis of an extended -exploration.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“(4) That the exploration of this entire region is -practicable from Port Foulke—having from that starting-point -pushed my discoveries much beyond those of my -predecessors, without any second party in the field to -co-operate with me, and under the most adverse circumstances.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“(5) That, with a reasonable degree of certainty, it is -shown that, with a strong vessel, Smith Sound may be -navigated and the open sea reached beyond it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“(6) I have shown that the open sea exists.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In returning home, Hayes visited Whale Sound and -explored it as far as he could, and named Inglefield Gulf.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Upernavik news was received of trouble in the -United States, but it was not till they put in to Halifax, -Nova Scotia, that they learnt that civil war had broken -out. This was terrible news to Hayes. He had intended -to return to the Arctic regions with a ship fitted with -steam-power, and to continue his explorations. The war -altered everything. As soon as he reached Boston he -wrote to the President, asking for immediate employment -in the public service, and offering his schooner to the -Government as a gun-boat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hayes’ book is written in delightful language, but grave -doubts have been cast upon the extent of his discoveries. -It was afterwards found that Lady Franklin -Bay was 6 degrees farther east than Hayes placed it, -and the description given by Hayes of his farthest north -does not agree with what is seen in the neighbourhood -of Lady Franklin Bay.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/map-3.jpg' alt='' id='map-3' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/> -<p class='caption'>CHART of the Northern Portion of EAST-GREENLAND.</p> -</div> - -<div><h1 id='ch4'>CHAPTER IV<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE GERMAN EXPEDITION (1869−70)</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>The German Expedition left Bremerhaven on 15th June -1869. There were two boats—the <span class='it'>Germania</span> and the <span class='it'>Hansa</span>. -The expedition was to make the east coast of Greenland -and then penetrate to the north as far as possible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ice was reached on 15th July. On the 20th of July -the two ships were separated through a misunderstanding, -and they never met again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the 20th of July till the end of August the <span class='it'>Hansa</span> -struggled through the pack-ice which drifts along the -coast of Greenland. According to instructions, it was to -attempt to reach Sabine Island, but that was found -impossible. At the end of August it became fast in the -ice, and drifted south.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 27th September the crew of the <span class='it'>Hansa</span> began -building a house with coal-tiles on the floe. It was -20 feet long, 14 feet broad, and 6½ feet in the gable, -while the side walls were 4 feet 8 inches high. For -cement, powdered snow was used, and over this water was -poured, which soon froze the whole into a compact mass.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About the middle of October the <span class='it'>Hansa</span> was wrecked -by the pressure of the ice. It sprang a leak and slowly -sank, and the crew had sufficient time to save a good -many necessary articles which were stacked round the -house on the floe.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ice-field slowly but steadily drifted to the south. -By the 3rd of November it had passed the Liverpool -coast, and had reached Scoresby’s Sound. A walrus and -several bears were shot, and supplied the party with fresh -meat. November and December passed, and nothing -particular happened. Christmas was spent in quite an -enjoyable manner, after the German fashion. On the -2nd of January 1870 a storm arose, and when it was over -it was discovered that half of the floe had been destroyed. -On the 11th another storm did great damage, and greatly -reduced the size of the floe. A huge gap opened in the -ice near to the house, and all the firewood drifted into -the raging sea. The floe was now only 150 feet in -diameter, but during the night the masses of ice became -closely packed again. On the 14th another frightful -storm was experienced: a fissure opened in the ice under -the house and the roof fell in, but fortunately the -inmates all escaped. Some shelter was obtained in the -boats during the next five nights, until a new house half -the size of the old one was built. This house had sleeping-room -for only six men, so that from this time the -remainder had to sleep in the boats. It was not until -the 7th of May that the opportunity came to leave the -floe in their boats. They had spent 200 days on the ice. -On the 4th of June they succeeded in reaching the island of -Illuidlek. They left the island on the 6th and made for -Friedrichsthal, the nearest colony on the south-west coast -of Greenland, which was reached on the 13th of June, and -where they received a hearty welcome. After a few days -here, they journeyed to Julianashaab, about 80 miles -distant, from which they obtained a boat for Europe.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>After parting with the <span class='it'>Hansa</span> on the 20th of July, the -<span class='it'>Germania</span> battled with the ice in various latitudes, and -after great difficulties succeeded in reaching Sabine Island -on the 5th of August.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sabine Island is one of the Pendulum Islands discovered -by Clavering in 1823. The <span class='it'>Germania</span> finally -wintered in a little bay in the south-east corner of the -island, after making a trip to the north of Shannon -Island.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Several short sledging expeditions were made before -winter set in, but the main expedition to the north was -made in the following spring. Musk-oxen were plentiful, -and several bears were shot. Deserted Esquimaux huts -were found, but no natives were seen by the Expedition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The party had several serious adventures with bears. -One of them is thus described:—“Theodor Klentzer -climbed the Germaniaberg to view the landscape in the -increasing midday light. Reaching the top, he seated -himself on a rock, and sang a song in the still air. As -he looked behind him, however, he saw, not many steps -off, a huge bear, which with great gravity was watching -the stranger. Now, to our ‘Theodor,’ who was as quiet -and decided a man as he was powerful, this would, under -other circumstances, have been nothing; for the bear -stood wonderfully well for a shot, and could not easily -be missed; but Klentzer was totally unarmed, not having -even a knife. Incredible! is it not? But, as Lieutenant -Payer writes, ‘the bears always come when one has -forgotten all about them.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thus Klentzer saw himself unarmed and alone, far -from his companions, and close to the bear. Flight was -the only, though a doubtful, chance of safety, and the -audacious thought struck him of plunging down the -steep side of the glacier; but he chose the softer side-slope, -and began to hurry down the mountain. Upon -looking back, after a time, he perceived the great bear -trotting behind him at a little distance, like a great dog. -Thus they descended the mountain for some time. If -Klentzer halted, so did the bear; when he went on, the -bear followed slowly; if he began to run, the bear did -the same. Thus the two had gone some distance, and -Klentzer thought seriously of saving himself, as the bear, -finding the chase somewhat wearisome, might press close -upon his heels. He therefore uttered a loud shout, but -the bear, only disconcerted for a moment, seemed to get -more angry and approached quicker, so that he seemed -to feel the hot breath of the monster. At this dreadful -moment—and it was most likely his preservation—he -remembered the stories he had heard, and while running, -pulled off his jacket, throwing it behind him. And see! -the trick answers: the bear stops and begins to examine -the jacket. Klentzer gains courage, rushes on down the -mountain, sending out a shout for help, which resounds -through the silent region. But soon the bear is again -at his heels, and he must throw away cap and waistcoat, -by which he gains a little. Now Klentzer sees help -approaching—several friends hurrying over the ice. -Collecting his last strength, he shouts and runs on. But -help seems in vain, for the pursuer hurries too, and he is -obliged to take the last thing he has, his shawl, which -he throws exactly over the monster’s snout, who, more -excited still by renewed shouting, throws it back again -contemptuously with a toss of the head, and presses -forward upon the defenceless man, who feels his cold black -snout touch his hand. Klentzer now gave himself up -for lost; he could do no more; but the wonderful thought -struck him of fastening up the bear’s throat with the -leather belt which he wore round his body. Fixedly he -stared into the merciless eyes of the beast—one short -moment of doubt—the bear was startled, his attention -seemed drawn aside, and the next moment he was off at -a gallop.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Another bear incident had a more serious ending:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We were sitting (writes Lieutenant Payer) fortunately -silent in the cabin, when Koldewey suddenly heard a faint -cry for help. We all hurriedly tumbled up the companion-ladder -to the deck, when an exclamation from -Börgen, ‘A bear is carrying me off!’ struck painfully on -our ears.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was quite dark; we could scarcely see anything, -but we made directly for the quarter whence the cry -proceeded, armed with poles, weapons, etc., over hummocks -and drifts, when an alarm-shot, which we fired in -the air, seemed to make some little impression, as the -bear dropped his prey and ran forward a few paces. -He turned again, however, dragging his victim over the -broken shore-ice, close to a field which stretched in a -southerly direction. All depended upon our coming up -with him before he could reach this field, as he would -carry his prey over the open plain with the speed of a -horse, and thus escape. We succeeded. The bear turned -upon us for a moment, and then, scared by our continuous -fire, let fall his prey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We lifted our poor comrade up on to the ice, to bear -him to his cabin—a task which was rendered somewhat -difficult by the slippery and uneven surface of the ice. -But after we had gone a little way, Börgen implored us -to make as much haste as possible. On procuring a light, -the coldest nature would have been shocked at the -spectacle which poor Börgen presented. The bear had -torn his scalp in several places, and he had received several -injuries in other parts of his body. His clothes and hair -were saturated with blood. We improvised a couch for -him in the rear of our own cabin, as his own was not -large enough.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The first operation was performed upon him on the -cabin table. And here we may briefly notice the singular -fact that, although he had been carried more than 100 -paces with his skull almost laid bare, at a temperature of -−13° F., his scalp healed so perfectly that not a single -portion was missing.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Börgen’s narrative was as follows:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About a quarter before 9 p.m. I had gone out to -observe the occupation of a star, which was to take place -about that time, and also to take the meteorological -readings. As I was in the act of getting on shore, -Captain Koldewey came on to the ice. We spoke for a -few moments, when I went on shore, while he returned to -the cabin. On my return from the observatory, about -50 steps from the vessel, I heard a rustling noise to the -left, and became aware of the proximity of a bear. There -was no time to think, or to use my gun. The grip was so -sudden and rapid that I am unable to say how it was -done; whether the bear rose and struck me down with his -fore-paws, or whether he ran me down. But from the -character of the injuries I have sustained (contusions and -a deep cut of the left ear), I conclude that the former -must have been the case. The next thing I felt was the -tearing of my scalp, which was only protected by a skull-cap. -This is their mode of attacking seals, but, owing -to the slipperiness of their skulls, the teeth glide off. -The cry of help which I uttered frightened the animal for -a moment; but he turned again and bit me several times -on the head. The alarm had meanwhile been heard by -the captain, who had not yet reached the cabin. He -hurried on deck, convinced himself that it was really an -alarm, roused up the crew and hastened on to the ice, -bringing assistance to his struggling comrade. The noise -evidently frightened the bear, and he trotted off with his -prey, which he dragged by the head. A shot fired to -frighten the creature effected its purpose, inasmuch as -he dropped me, and sprang a few steps aside; but he -immediately seized me by the arm, and, his hold proving -insufficient, he seized me by the right hand, on which was -a fur glove, and this gave the pursuers time to come up -with the brute, which had by its great speed left them -far behind. He was now making for the shore, and would -certainly have escaped with his prey, had he succeeded in -climbing the bank. However, as he came to the edge -of the ice, he turned along the coast-side, continuing on -the rough and broken ice, which greatly retarded his -speed, and thus allowed his pursuers upon the ice to gain -rapidly upon him. After being dragged in this way for -about 300 paces, almost strangled by my shawl, which -the bear had seized at the same time, he dropped me, and -immediately afterwards Koldewey was bending over me -with the words, ‘Thank God! he is still alive!’ The -bear stood a few paces on one side, evidently undecided -what course to pursue, until a bullet gave him a hint that -it was high time to take himself off.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No one thought of pursuing him, for their first care -was to carry the wounded man on board, whither the -doctor and Herr Tranmitz had gone in order to prepare -the requisites for binding up the wounds. The main -injuries were in the head, where, amongst numerous other -wounds from the bites, two especially from 4 to 6 inches -long ran along the scalp, the edges of which hung loose, -leaving the skull bare for one-third to two-fifths of an inch. -The other wounds, about twenty in number, were in part -caused by striking against the fragments and rough broken -edges of the ice. It is worth while mentioning that, -neither during the act of receiving the wounds nor during -the process of healing, which progressed favourably, did I -experience the smallest pain.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sledge-journey to the north left on the 8th March -1870. The party consisted of ten men, and they had two -sledges. The smaller sledge had four men who were to -accompany the expedition for a week, and then return -after laying a dépôt. A storm and the low temperature -forced them to return to the ship a few days after -leaving.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 24th March they started again. During the -first day one of the men had the whole of his right foot -frost-bitten, and the convoy-sledge had to return to the -ship. A herd of musk-oxen was seen on Hochstetter’s -Promontory, but none was shot. A bear was killed on the -4th of April, and supplied the party with meat, and his -fat served as fuel four days. On the 6th of April they -crossed the 76° of latitude, and on the south side of Cape -Karl Ritter discovered traces of Esquimaux summer tents. -On the 11th April, Cape Bismarck in 76° 47′ was reached, -and this was the end of the actual sledge-journey. -Leaving their tent here, they journeyed to a mountain -in 77° 1′ north latitude, and 18° 50′ west longitude, where -a cairn was erected. Provisions were now running short, -and they were compelled to return. Two musk-oxen were -shot at Cape Bismarck. Like many of the other expeditions -about this period, they suffered greatly from -want of snow-shoes, and frequently had to wade through -snow up to the thighs. The difficulties of such a sledge-journey -are well described by Lieutenant Payer:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Amongst other disagreeables of an Arctic sledge-journey -is its monotony. The ideas and wishes contained -within the limited horizon of life in the Arctic world pass -as quickly away as the eye is wearied by the monotony of -the landscape.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Conversation carried on by men straining at the -traces can certainly not be very animated. The frost -prevents smoking, for the pipes freeze. There is a continued -conflict against the loss of warmth; and the cold -penetrates in a hundred different ways. Now the chin is -numbed, a painful straining of the forehead sets in, or a -violent pricking of the nostrils, which are exposed to the -wind. Sometimes one stands in danger of the heels, the -toes, or the hands being frost-bitten. The hair of the -face, and even the eyelashes, get hoar with frost,—indeed, -the eyes are often completely closed,—and every frozen -spot on the body must at once be rubbed with lumps of -snow resembling pumice-stone, until a warm, pricking -glow succeeds. When, as in the case of many of our -party, the frozen hands or feet were not rubbed with -snow until too late, it led to numerous blisters. The -fingers swelled up into lumps, and became quite numbed; -but the noses (the whole eight of which were frozen) were -more fortunate: they emerged from a white into a red -stage of enlarged dimensions, were eventually covered with -a parchment-like skin, remaining for some time most -sensitive, and by slow degrees regained their normal -condition, so that by the time we landed in Europe they -were all right again. The heat of our bodies, which we -did our best to retain by warm woollen clothes, was carried -away in a moment by the slightest wind; and if it increased, -the cold crept between every button of our seal-skin -clothing; the penetrating icy wind was felt at every -stitch; the arms hung down like lead, deadly cold, and no -one dared to walk about without a mask. If the wind -rose still more, curtains of penetrating snow-crystals rose -with it from the ground; then a snowstorm, which always -comes from the north, might be expected, announcing -itself by a lofty white appearance in the south, the violet -colour and close proximity of the mountains, and low-hanging -clouds. But still we risk the march forward -against the thickening snow, until painful breathing and -stiffening limbs warn us to pitch our tent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Under ordinary circumstances this was done about -6 or 7 p.m., on a smooth surface. A hole was quickly dug -with shovels, on which the tent was erected, and the dug-out -blocks of snow laid round it for safety against the -storm, and the sledge placed as a shield to the north. -The tent was kept upright by means of four long poles, -each crossed at the top, stretched by ropes fastened to -axes or piles driven into the ground. When the sleeping-sack -had been laid down in the tent, our personal baggage -settled, the kettle filled with blocks of snow by the cook, -the lamp lit, and the rations given out, our comrades, -who, owing to the increased cold since the setting of the -sun, had meanwhile been running and jumping to keep -themselves warm, were allowed to enter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“During our last half-hour’s march, each man had been -busy thawing his beard with his hands, for it had been -changed into a lump of ice, so that it might not melt -whilst the cooking was going on, and so wet their clothes -and coverings. As soon as all were in their places in the -tent, the aperture was closed, and preparations made for -passing the night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The stiff sail-cloth boots, fast frozen to the stockings -which were to form our pillows, were thawed between the -hands, and with difficulty taken off; the stockings, thick -with rimy snow, were scraped, then wrung and laid upon -the breast, to dry by our only available means—our bodily -heat—so as to prepare them for the following day’s work.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“At last all have wriggled themselves into the sleeping−sack, -each one lying partly on his neighbour, and in this -modest space waiting for the evening meal.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The first hour is spent in melting the snow, the second -in preparing the meal, which is devoured eagerly, and as -cool as possible. The development of steam during the -cooking (which in the very cold weather consumed one -bottle of spirit, or 1 lb.) put us into such a vapour-bath -that we could not even see our next neighbour; the tent -walls were completely wet through; and the temperature -rose rapidly. The dampness of the coverings and clothes, -from the condensation of the steam on the rime, of course -increased, and the opening of the tent door occasioned a -fall of snow within, so that by the time the cooking was -over, all was covered with a thick coating of ice or crust -of snow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is about eight or nine o’clock: the small rations -of boiled beef, soup, and vegetables are no longer enough -to allay the daily increasing hunger; but sleep buries -that, as well as our burning thirst, in oblivion. Only -occasionally did our sparing supply of spirits allow us to -prepare an extra quantity of water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“During the march each one carried an india-rubber -or tin bottle full of snow, on his bare body, turned as -much as possible to the sun, and often after many hours -only a few spare spoonfuls (and sometimes nothing) could -be obtained from it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Last of all, the cook, after cleaning out the kettle, -also fights his way into the sleeping-sack, which thus -attains its proper complement. A side position is the -only one possible—to-night all lie to the left, to-morrow -all to the right. Comfortable positions, such as stretching -on one’s back for example, meet with a miserable protest, -as well as any other after-movement; and when at length -silence falls upon all, the eight men form one single lump.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The nose acts no longer merely as a condenser, as -on the spring journey; it now becomes a cold-pole, and -leaving it outside the rimy and icy covering is preferable -to burying it in the questionable atmosphere of the sack. -The mouth, as the only outlet of exhalation, must remain -open, but the teeth get so cold that they feel like icicles, -and the mask, which it is necessary to wear in the night, -freezes to the long beard.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Happy were those who, during the lowest temperature -within the first fourteen days of our journey, could really -lose themselves during the hours of rest, if only for a short -time, for they were generally passed in a painful waiting -for a happy release, by—dragging!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This general wakefulness made it unnecessary to set -a special watch for bears and foxes, which occasionally -made a bold raid upon the stores in the sledge, for -they had never yet succeeded in approaching us quite -noiselessly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In spite of all efforts to the contrary, the cutting cold -too soon penetrated the sleeping-sack; within the tent the -temperature sinks from 60° or 65° to below zero, and the -body has to be again refreshed with artificial warmth, by -motion and hot food.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The natural consequences of this state of temperature -is a continually increasing sensation of freezing until the -morning. During the day the sack has got thoroughly -cold on the sledge, and must again be warmed by bodily -heat, being frozen into thick folds as hard as iron. Whoever -lies upon these seems to be lying on laths, which -towards morning begin to lose their sharpness. One or -the other, we keep a bottle of snow about us. All are -shivering, scarcely any sleep. For hours together we are -in a state of suffocation, the pressure on either side causing -a feeling as though the collar-bone was being forced into -the chest and the shoulders crushed. Each lies upon his -arm (which of course goes to sleep), and is often prevented -from breathing by the smell of train-oil proceeding from -his neighbour’s seal-skin. The breath condenses over the -face and upon the sloping tent-side, in long snow-webs, -which fall at the slightest movement.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The misery of tent-life reaches its maximum during an -uninterrupted snowstorm of sometimes three days’ duration. -So long as this assumes the form of a hurricane, no one can -leave the tent without danger of either being suffocated or -blown away. These Greenland snowstorms, which carry -small stones with them, greatly resemble West Indian -hurricanes, only that the sun is completely darkened by -the rush of snow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Of course our tents would soon have been blown over, -if some precautions had not been taken. Great distress -reigned within. The wind greatly lessened the already -small space by pressing in the walls. Through the canvas, -through every stitch or smallest opening, spurts a small -flood of the finest snow, like flour out of a flour-mill, or -collects itself on the inner surface, where its ever-increasing -weight at length brings it down like small avalanches. -As long as the storm rages the cold is alleviated from the -equalisation of warm air over the sea, though it seldom -allows any heat to remain in the tent, so that we were -still in a cold of from 14° to 5° F.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“By degrees a covering of snow at least an inch thick -lies on the sack, under which we must patiently wait till -the storm ceases. We scrape it away with the knife, but -it soon returns again. On some occasions this snow began -to melt, and penetrate the clothes, making us look like -seals coming up out of the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In a steadily rising temperature, too, the snow on -which we lay would melt, and the sack get wet underneath, -not to dry again till the summer, but freeze on -the sledge in those hard folds we dreaded so much. We -repeatedly felt the want of india-rubber coverings.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This state of things often lasted from two to three -days, and we waited with an indifference bordering on -stupidity, sitting squeezed, with numbed hands, mending -the gloves or stockings, almost freezing, masked; beards -full of ice, stuffed up with a chaos of frozen clothes and -boots, and, worst of all, fasting. The duration of the -journey, as well as the extent of country to be explored, -depended upon the use of the provisions. If, therefore, -some part of the time was lost through storms, this loss, -in spite of hunger, thirst, and loss of strength, could only -be regained by reduced rations, which often only consisted -of a thin soup.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The saucepan has become leaky, a small sea has -formed on the sack, the spirit-lamp runs, and repeatedly -threatens to destroy the tent by fire, which, during the -storm, would be the work of a moment. The cook -grumbles, burns his fingers to-day which were frozen -yesterday;—urged on by hunger, his cooking is subject -to sharp criticism, as each is waiting for the eventful -moment when the meal shall be ready.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All food was frozen—even brandy began to freeze one -night—meat in the tins or ham had to be chopped with -the axe; butter could, without any fear, be carried in the -waistcoat-pocket, to be enjoyed on the march.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Woe to the unfortunate man who, in a lull of the -storm, goes into the open air. He is almost torn to -pieces, stifled by the snow-filled air, betrayed into snow-drifts, -and yet not daring to open his eyes. Numbed -with cold, white as a miller, he returns to the tent. -Here he is a subject of horror to his neighbours in the -sack, whom he intends robbing of their warmth to thaw -himself. The snow-powder blown in upon the opening -of the tent door has penetrated through all the clothes, -and the skin has to be scraped and any frost-bites that -may have set in have to be dispersed by rubbing. Indeed, -the disturbance and excitement consequent upon a walk -in the open air does not subside for some hours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But the snow-blind suffer the most from such a state of -things. Out of consideration to them, smoking was dropped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The irritation caused by the white snowflakes, which -with us are easily beaten aside, cause great suffering in -Greenland, from the inflamed state of the eyes and the -thick heavy atmosphere, to those who may have been -unfortunate enough to break their snow-spectacles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Beating them off while on the march is impossible, -for the damp cloth freezes at once to a lump of ice, making -the eyes insupportably cold. The simple bandage, on the -other hand, does not save one from the steady burning -pain, which acts like needle-pricks. Opening the eye for -a moment is not to be thought of. The blind are obliged -to pull with the others, as the laden sledge cannot be -moved but by our united strength.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As a rule, we break up about 5 a.m. The thin black -coffee is taken with some ice-cold bread-dust, which -effectually destroys all its warming properties, mixed -into it like a mash, and then follows laborious packing -up of the clothes, in order to be prepared for all weathers. -The frozen boots must first be thawed with the hands, -and the folds taken out, the tent freed from snow, and -beaten until pliable. The sleeping-sack receives the same -treatment, which, as a sign of our disgust and its daily -increasing weight from the ice, we named ‘the Walrus.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The soaked seal-skin clothing freezes at once in the -air, and damp condenses on the hair in frost-blossoms. -One or the other rubs his face with scraped snow to -refresh his eyes—a novel kind of washing, in default -of water, though with the slightest breath of wind his -hands are in danger of freezing. After every snowstorm, -tent and sledge have to be dug out, and the contents -cleaned with difficulty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All this business occupies about two hours, when the -traces are taken up with great satisfaction, as a long-looked-for -release from the pain of the nightly couch. -The sledge is loosened from its frozen position, and the -journey continued, which, after twenty-three days, brought -us to 77° of latitude, the most northerly point ever -reached on the east coast of Greenland.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The coast along which this sledge-journey was made -was found to be much broken up, and the opinion was -formed that the land might possibly resolve itself into a -group of islands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ice having broken up, the <span class='it'>Germania</span> left its winter -harbour on 22nd July, and steamed northwards. In -75° 29′ it was stopped by ice, and had to return to the -south. Kaiser Franz-Joseph’s Fjord was afterwards explored; -and on the 17th of August the return home to -Germany was begun. By the 25th of August they were -clear of the ice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“On the 10th of September we were a few miles from -Heligoland. A heavy storm blew from the south-west, but -in the evening shifted to the north-west, enabling us to run -in to shore. At daybreak, though we had seen no pilot, -we recognised Langerooge, and steered along the Southwall -to the mouth of the Weser. No sign of a ship! -The Weser seemed to have died out. Where are the -pilots hidden? Are they lying <span class='it'>perdu</span> on account of -yesterday’s storm? Well, then, we must run into the -Weser without them; the wind is favourable, the weather -clear, the outer buoy will be easy to find; there is the -church-tower of Wangerooge. Suspecting nothing, we -steered on; the tower bears S.S.W., south-west by south, -south-west, but no buoy in sight. The captain and -steersman look at each other in astonishment. Can we -have been so mistaken and out of our reckoning? But -no! That is certainly Wangerooge; the depth of water -agrees, our compass is correct. No doubt about it, we -are in the Weser; something unusual must have happened! -Still no sail in sight! But what is that? -Yonder are the roads. There are several large vessels -under steam; they at least can give us some information. -So we make for them. We saluted the German flag, -and soon the cry was heard, ‘War, war with France; -Napoleon is prisoner! France has declared a Republic; -our armies are before Paris!’ And then, ‘<span class='it'>Hansa</span> destroyed -in the ice, crew saved.’ ”</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch5'>CHAPTER V<br/> <span class='sub-head'>VOYAGE OF THE <span class='it'>POLARIS</span> (1871−73)</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>Captain Charles Francis Hall, after having dwelt with -the Esquimaux about eight years, during which he lived -like one of them and acquired their language, returned -to America in 1869.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He had a great ambition to reach the spot “where -there is no North, no East, no West.” Early in 1870 he -began his agitation for an expedition to the North Pole. -He lectured in various parts of the United States, and -received encouragement from the Hon. George M. -Robeson, Secretary of the United States Navy. Ultimately -a wooden river gun-boat of 387 tons, called the -<span class='it'>Periwinkle</span>, was given to Hall, and was afterwards -rechristened <span class='it'>Polaris</span>. Congress also granted 50,000 -dollars.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hall, who was not himself a seaman, engaged Captain -S. O. Budington as sailing-master. Captain Budington -had made thirteen whaling voyages to Baffin’s Bay, and -was therefore an experienced ice-navigator. Dr. Bessels -was naturalist, and Mr. Meyer meteorologist. Morton, -of Kane’s expedition, also accompanied Hall. Mr. -Grinnell, the munificent promoter of expeditions for the -search of Franklin, presented Hall with the flag which, -in 1838, had been with Wilkes to the Antarctic regions, -and which had since been in the northern Polar seas with -De Haven, Kane, and Hayes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hall’s first intention was to proceed up Jones Sound, -but his opinion regarding this route changed before he -left the States. He trusted chiefly to dogs for his sledge-travelling, -and did not expect to reach a higher latitude -than 80° during the first year.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Polaris</span> left New London on 3rd July 1871, and -St. John’s on 19th July. The coast of Greenland was -first seen on 27th July, and Upernavik was reached on -19th August. Here Hans, of Kane’s and Hayes’ expedition, -was engaged as dog-driver and servant, and -received a salary of 300 dollars per annum. His wife -and three children, who were dressed in ragged and filthy -skin clothing, accompanied him. Their luggage consisted -of tents, tools, cooking utensils, implements of the chase, -and three or four puppies whose eyes could scarcely bear -the light.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Polaris</span> was first stopped by the ice off the western -shore of Hakluyt Island, about 5 a.m. on the 27th August, -but by forcing ahead, open water was reached the same -day. At 3 p.m. on that day the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> was opposite -Cape Alexander; at 5 p.m. it was off Littleton Island; -Cairn Point was passed at 6.30; and at 8 p.m. the -parallel of Rensselaer Harbour was reached.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Smith Sound was found quite open. At midnight a -heavy pack was seen, but in about two hours its south-western -point was rounded. At 3.30 a.m. on the 28th, -Cape Hawks was on the port beam, about 15 miles -distant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The width of the southern entrance of Kennedy Channel -was estimated to be about 35 miles, and it was found to -narrow towards the north to about 25 miles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The highest latitude, estimated by Hall to be 82° 26′, -but afterwards corrected to 82° 11′, was reached at 6 a.m. -on the 30th August. Hall had therefore passed from Cape -Alexander, at the entrance of Smith Sound, to his highest -point in Robeson Channel, in about two and a half days. -He had carried his ship much farther north than any -ship had ever reached before.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The barrier of ice had now been reached, and it became -necessary to search for a harbour. Steaming southwards, -a little bay was seen, but after two attempts to enter it, -Hall had to acknowledge defeat. He named it “Repulse -Harbour.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Budington wished the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> to take winter quarters -in Newman Bay, but Hall decided to try and reach the -west coast. After boring for a distance of 12 miles, -the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> was beset, and was not released until the 4th -September, when a course was made for the eastern shore. -On the 5th September the anchor was dropped about -300 yards from shore, in latitude 81° 37′, and about -4 miles south of Cape Lupton.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hall named Robeson Channel after the Secretary to -the Navy, and the Harbour was named “Thank-God -Harbour.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A large quantity of provisions and stores was now -landed, and preparations were at once made to explore -the surrounding neighbourhood.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Traces of Esquimaux were soon found; and on the 6th -September, Hall and some of his companions ascended -Cape Lupton, from which Robeson Channel could be seen -as far as Cape Union. The bay extending from Cape -Lupton to Cape Budington was named “Polaris Bay.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A hunting-party was sent out on 18th September. It -returned on the 23rd, and reported having killed a musk-ox. -This was very interesting news, as it was the first -musk-ox ever seen on the west coast of Greenland.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 10th October, Captain Hall, Mr. Chester, and the -Esquimaux Joe and Hans started on a sledge-journey -towards the north. On the 15th, Hall camped in sight -of a bay which he named “Newman Bay.” On the 18th, -Hall and Mr. Chester ascended to the top of Cape -Brevoort, situated on the north side of this bay. The -return journey was made from this point.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During this journey the party slept in snow-houses. -They returned to the ship on 24th October. All were -well with the exception of Captain Hall. He complained -of not having his usual amount of energy. Soon after -his return he became sick and vomited a good deal. -Dr. Bessels announced that same evening that Hall’s left -side was paralysed and that he had had an apoplectic attack. -On the 29th he had marked symptoms of insanity, and -believed that an attempt was being made to poison him. -However, by the 6th November he had largely recovered, -but at night he again became alarmingly ill. On the 7th -he became comatose, and died on the morning of the 8th -November. On the 10th November he was buried on the -shore of Polaris Bay, and a wooden monument was erected -over his grave.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was a sad and unexpected ending to a life full of -high hope.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the death of Captain Hall, the command devolved -upon Captain Budington.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 18th November a severe gale began. It increased -in violence on the 19th, until the wind reached -52 miles per hour. It continued on the 20th and 21st, -and on the latter date the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> was found to be afloat. -With great difficulty the ship was secured to a large -grounded iceberg which was named “Providence Berg.” -The <span class='it'>Polaris</span> was thus saved from being carried into the -pack.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nothing of special interest occurred during the -remainder of the winter. In March 1872, Joe the -Eskimo, in one of his hunting expeditions, discovered -Petermann’s Fiord.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 27th March a sledge-party in charge of Dr. Bessels -set out with the object of reaching Cape Constitution, -Morton’s farthest, and ascertaining its correct position. -The party reached within 30 miles of the cape, but had -then to return.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The whole expedition were anxious to explore the -region to the north, but the strange conclusion was -arrived at that it was necessary to proceed in boats. The -idea of the “open sea” had evidently some influence with -them. When a small channel formed it gave rise to -high hopes that a start with the boats would be made, -but these hopes were soon dashed when the channel closed -again. Instead of setting out with sledge-parties along -the coast, the spring and part of the summer were -allowed to slip away while they waited for open water. -Yet they were in a more favourable position for making -an advance towards the north of Greenland than any -party before or since.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 8th June a start was made from Cape Lupton -with a boat, which had previously been taken there, but -it was crushed in the ice next day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Another start was made on the 10th with two boats, -and the party succeeded in reaching Newman Bay -without much difficulty, but found it impossible to proceed -farther north with the boats.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the month of June the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> leaked badly, -and the pumps had to be kept frequently at work. On -the 26th of this month the ship was liberated from the -ice by means of saws, and Budington at once determined -to start for the north. On approaching Cape Sumner, -however, the pack was found to be impenetrable. After -crossing to Cape Lieber without finding an opening, the -<span class='it'>Polaris</span> returned to “Thank-God Harbour.” On the -28th June, Budington received the news that the boat-party -was at Newman Bay, and he attempted to take -the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> north so as to pick up the boats, but the -pack was again met at Cape Sumner. He then sent -instructions for the boat-party to return. The boats -were abandoned at Newman Bay, and the last of the -party returned to the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> on 22nd July.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the beginning of August, Budington determined to -start towards the south as soon as an opportunity presented -itself. This occurred on the 12th August at 4.30 p.m. -Next day a close pack was met, and the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> was -fastened to a large floe and allowed to drift slowly down -the channel. Cape Constitution was passed on the 14th. -During the rest of the month, and throughout the whole -of September, the drift southward was very slow. On the -12th October the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> was within 2 miles of Cairn -Point, and on the 14th Northumberland Island was -visible. During September and October a house was -built on the floe.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 15th October a severe gale sprang up, and -preparations had to be made in case it was found necessary -to abandon the ship. During her drift southwards the -<span class='it'>Polaris</span> had been nipped several times, and was leaking -badly. During this gale she was again nipped so severely -that Budington ordered provisions and stores to be thrown -upon the ice. The Esquimaux women and children took -refuge on the floe. While some of the crew were carrying -articles to a safe place on the floe, the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> was -suddenly drifted away from the ice. So quickly did this -catastrophe take place that the floe-party soon disappeared -from view.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Budington now called all hands to muster, and found -that fourteen men remained on board. The <span class='it'>Polaris</span> drifted -rapidly until toward midnight, when she ran into some -young ice, and her progress was stayed. Next morning -the ship’s position was found to be half-way between -Littleton Island and Cairn Point. No trace of the -missing party could be seen. Later in the day the -<span class='it'>Polaris</span> reached the coast, and was secured with heavy -hawsers to large grounded hummocks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 19th October two Esquimaux appeared at the -ship, and on this date it was decided to build a house on -shore. More Esquimaux arrived on the 21st, and they -gave great assistance in sledging articles to the shore. -The house was soon erected, and was used by the party -throughout the winter. Large numbers of Esquimaux -made frequent visits, and were very friendly with the party -during the whole time of their stay.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Towards the end of February 1873 it was decided to -begin the construction of two boats in which the party -intended to make a retreat to the Danish settlements.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 30th May almost all the land-ice broke away, -and with it the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> went adrift. She was carried -about 200 yards towards the south, when she again -grounded. At high tide her upper deck was 2 feet -under water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 3rd June 1873 the party set out for the south -in their two boats. On the 23rd of this month, in -Melville Bay, not far from Cape York, they were -gladdened by the sight of a whaler. It turned out to be -the <span class='it'>Ravenscraig</span> of Kirkcaldy, Scotland, owned by Ninian -Lockhart, and commanded by Captain William Allen. -The <span class='it'>Polaris</span> party were enthusiastically received, and were -treated with the greatest kindness. They were ultimately -taken to Dundee.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We must now return to the party on the floe. It -consisted of ten Americans and nine Esquimaux. The -Americans were Tyson, Meyer, Herron, Jackson, Kruger, -Jamka, Nindemann, Aunting, Lindqvist, and Johnson. -They had two boats, two kayaks, a canvas boat, and some -navigation instruments, besides a moderate quantity of -provisions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Next day, after their separation from the <span class='it'>Polaris</span>, the -floe on which they were was found to be near Littleton -Island. The party took to their boats, intending to make -for the land and to look for the <span class='it'>Polaris</span>, but a breeze -sprang up and obliged them to haul the boats on the ice. -Soon after this, the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> was seen rounding a point -8 or 10 miles away. Signals were made, but were -not noticed by those on the vessel. After this, the floe -drifted away from land towards the west coast, then -across to the neighbourhood of Northumberland Island, -and finally southwards to the east of the Carey Islands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Esquimaux during this time were successful in -capturing a number of seals. The provisions were served -out by weight, 11 oz. being a day’s allowance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During October three snow-houses were built. By -November the temperature became very low, and the -effects of exposure and want of food began to tell on the -party. Some of the men trembled when they tried to -walk, and the Esquimaux children often cried with hunger, -although all was given them that could possibly be spared. -The services of Joe and Hans were invaluable: without -them, the chances of life would have been very much -diminished. So keen had the appetites of the party -become that the seal-meat was eaten uncooked, with the -skin and hair on.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 7th December the latitude of 74° 4′ was reached. -During this month the allowance of food was 16 oz. -Christmas was celebrated by an extra meal. At breakfast, -an additional ounce of bread made the soup a -little thicker than usual. New Year’s Day did not pass -so well. One of the party described the dinner as -“mouldy bread and short allowance.” Captain Tyson -stated that he had dined “on about 2 feet of frozen entrails -and a little blubber.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 6th January 1873 the latitude was -approximately 72° 7′. On the 15th of this month the -temperature went down to 40° below zero. On the 19th, -the sun reappeared after an absence of eighty-three days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 21st February the rations were reduced to -7 oz., so that they might last till April. At the -beginning of March the temperature was over 30° below -zero, and food was scarce. On the 2nd of the month -Joe was fortunate in shooting a large seal, an “ookgook,” -and it can be imagined with what delight the starving -party received it. They feasted on it till most of them -became ill. Soon after this seal was captured a storm -came on, and it was feared that the floe would break up: -the noise of the ice was like that of artillery. All the -party remained dressed and ready in case of sudden -disaster. After the gale began to moderate, it was found -that the ice all around had been broken up, and that the -piece on which they were was now only about 175 yards -in size.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 12th March the latitude was found to be 64° -32′. On the 27th of this month a bear was shot. This -was very much appreciated: the flesh was compared to pork. -On the last day of March the latitude was about the same -as Cape Farewell—the most southern point of Greenland.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 1st April it was found necessary to abandon -the floe and take to the boat. When all the party -entered, the boat was found to be overloaded, and 100 lb. -of meat and nearly all the clothing had to be thrown -overboard. During the next few days the party were -kept continually launching and then hauling up the boat -on the ice. On the 7th April the ice split across the -tent; the party managed to save themselves, but lost -their breakfast. Next day the ice split between the tent -and the boat, and it was only with great difficulty that -the latter was secured.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the next eight days they were imprisoned on -the ice, and the amount of food ran very low. On the -18th April a seal was shot by Joe and was eaten raw. -Next day a sea struck the floe on which they were camped -and washed away the tent, skins, and most of the bed-clothing. -It was with the utmost difficulty that the men -prevented the boat from being lost. They held on to -the boat from 9 p.m. till 7 next morning. During this -time many of them were frequently struck by blocks of -ice and severely bruised. On the 22nd April they were -saved from starvation by the capture of a bear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At 4.30 p.m. on the 28th April a steamer hove in -sight, but failed to see them. Next day another steamer -was seen, but after the party believed they were observed, -it changed its course and disappeared. On the 30th April, -on some fog clearing away, they were overjoyed to see a -steamer close at hand. Shots and shouting soon attracted -attention, and in a few minutes it was alongside. The -vessel was the sealer <span class='it'>Tigress</span>, Captain Bartlett of Newfoundland. -The party were picked up in latitude 53° 35′, -off Grady Harbour, Labrador.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The return to civilised life and its food and comforts -was attended with swollen legs and feet, diarrhœa, and -severe headache. The <span class='it'>Tigress</span> landed the party at St. -John’s on 12th May.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The voyage of the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> extended considerably our -knowledge of the Smith Sound route towards the Pole. -It also did much to explode the theory of an open Polar -Sea. The <span class='it'>Polaris</span> was carried to a more northern point -than a vessel had ever before reached, and it prepared the -way for the British Expedition of 1875.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One might naturally suppose that the Arctic regions -would offer no further attractions to those who suffered -the terrible experience on the drifting ice, but it will be -afterwards seen that at least one of the party played a -noble rôle in another American Expedition which met -with disaster.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/map-4.jpg' alt='' id='map-4' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/> -<p class='caption'>KAISER FRANZ JOSEF LAND AS KNOWN IN 1874.</p> -</div> - -<div><h1 id='ch6'>CHAPTER VI<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EXPEDITION (1872−74)</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>The failure of the second German Arctic Expedition to -reach a high latitude on the east coast of Greenland -directed attention to the seas of Novaya Zemlya. In -order, however, that large sums of money might not be -spent on a plan which might be unfeasible, it was decided -to dispatch a pioneer expedition under the joint command -of Lieutenant Weyprecht and Julius Payer. The latter -had greatly distinguished himself in the German Expedition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In order to diminish expenses, a small sailing ship, the -<span class='it'>Isbjorn</span>, of 55 tons, was chartered at Tromsoe. She was -new and strong, and this was her first voyage. Her bows -were protected with sheet iron, 2 feet above, and 2 feet -under water. The crew consisted of eight Norwegians.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tromsoe was left on the 20th June 1871. They were -detained two days at Sandoe by contrary winds, and on -the 28th the first ice was met in 73° 40′ south-east -of Bear Island. Here they passed through 40 miles of -loose drift-ice, and then met the pack in 74° 30′. Calms -set in, and the <span class='it'>Isbjorn</span> was beset for ten days. On the -10th July it escaped and sailed eastward. They reached -longitude 40° E., and then were forced to return westward. -Hope Island was reached, and the course was then directed -north, but ice was met with in 76° 30′. Three attempts -were made to reach Stor-Fiord from the western side of -Cape Lookout, but each time the <span class='it'>Isbjorn</span> was driven back -by the current.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Towards the middle of August the ice to the east of -Hope Island had cleared away, and on the 22nd August -76° 45′ was reached, but contrary winds prevented a -higher latitude being attained. The course was again -set eastwards along the margin of the ice, and on the 31st -of August the latitude was 78° 30′.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They had now arrived at the conclusion that the -Novaya Zemlya Sea was not filled with impenetrable ice, -as was generally supposed, but that it was probably open -every year up to 78°, and that the most favourable time -for navigation was towards the end of August.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Isbjorn</span> returned to Tromsoe on 4th October.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was now considered desirable that a well-equipped -expedition should be dispatched to the Novaya Zemlya -seas, either to penetrate towards the north, or to attempt -the North-East Passage—hence the Austro-Hungarian -Expedition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Tegetthoff</span>, a vessel of 220 tons burden, was -fitted out for two and a half years. The engine was -of 100 horse-power, and the ship carried 130 tons of coal. -The officers and crew numbered twenty-four. Some spoke -German, some Italian, and others either Slavonic or -Hungarian. The command was twofold: Weyprecht -had charge of the ship, and Payer had command of the -sledge-expeditions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Tegetthoff</span> left Bremerhaven on the 13th of June -1872, and Tromsoe was reached on the 3rd of July. Here -they remained a week while the ship was overhauled and -repaired and the supply of coal replenished. Captain -Olaf Carlsen joined the ship as ice-master and harpooner. -He had deservedly gained fame through having circumnavigated -Spitzbergen and Novaya Zemlya. Tromsoe -was left on 13th July.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ice was first seen on 25th July in latitude 74°. On the -29th they were able to continue their course only under -steam, and the vessel encountered heavy shocks in charging -the ice. Next day they were beset, and did not escape -from the ice until 3rd August, when they broke through -into the open coast-water of Novaya Zemlya. A belt of -ice 105 miles broad lay behind them, and they steered -due north in view of the mountainous coasts.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Great was their astonishment and joy when on 12th -August they met the <span class='it'>Isbjorn</span> and found on board Count -Wilczek, who had given a large donation towards the -expense of the expedition, and who was about to -establish a dépôt of provisions at Cape Nassau. The -two ships now proceeded north in company to the -Barentz Isles, where a dépôt of provisions was established. -Here they parted from the <span class='it'>Isbjorn</span>, and steamed towards -the north on the 20th August. Within a few hours the -<span class='it'>Tegetthoff</span> became beset, and was destined never to be -again released. The position was now 76° 22′ N. latitude, -63° 3′ E. longitude. Well might Payer write: “Happy -is it for men, that inextinguishable hope enables them to -endure all the vicissitudes of fate, which are to test their -powers of endurance, and that they can never see, as at a -glance, the long series of disappointments in store for -them!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From day to day they hoped they would be able to -escape from the ice; then they hoped from week to week, -then from season to season, and lastly in the chances of -new years!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ship drifted slowly towards the north, and had -passed the 77° on 2nd October. On the 6th October the -first bear was killed and was divided among the dogs. -They had on board eight dogs, six of which had been -brought from Vienna, and the other two from Lapland.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 12th October only a line of heights some -30 miles away to the south could be seen, and soon -afterwards every trace of land disappeared. As winter -approached, the ice pressures began, and during the next -few months the crew were kept in a state of terror. -Preparations were made to abandon the ship if necessary, -and for long periods the crew did not undress. Nightly -they rushed on deck, more than once believing that at -last the ship was doomed. Floes were crushed and piled -around the ship high above the level of the deck, and -noise and confusion reigned supreme. They lived as if -they constantly expected an earthquake. This condition -of affairs continued in greater or lesser measure for -130 days. Some of the crew must have been very -superstitious, as indicated by the fact that the antlers of -a reindeer which were on board were suspected of having -something to do with the ice pressure, and were thrown -overboard. This not having the desired effect, the skull -of a bear was treated likewise. It may be mentioned -here that during this expedition no fewer than sixty-seven -polar bears were killed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Tegetthoff</span> still slowly drifted to the north, and on the -19th February 1873 had reached latitude 78° 15′. Payer -formed the opinion that wind was the main cause of the -drifting, and that sea-currents were only of secondary -importance. De Long and Nansen in later years were to -prove that Payer’s opinion was true.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Life on board the <span class='it'>Tegetthoff</span> was extremely monotonous, -especially during the darkness of winter. With the arrival -of summer in 1873, they had great hope of deliverance -from the ice, but this hope was not realised.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The second summer was drawing to a close when the -most remarkable event of the voyage occurred. It was on -the 30th August, in latitude 79° 43′ and longitude 59° 33′ E., -that the startling discovery was made that land could be -seen in the distance. This discovery, totally unexpected, -infused new life into the whole expedition. The new land -received its name from that of the Austrian Emperor, and -was christened Kaiser Franz-Josef’s Land. By the end of -September the <span class='it'>Tegetthoff</span> had drifted to 79° 58′, which was -the highest latitude it attained. An attempt was now -made to reach the land, but a fog compelled the party -to return to the ship.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the beginning of November the ship had drifted to -a point not far from land, and a second attempt to reach -it proved successful. The sun, however, had now disappeared, -and the twilight did not enable them to make -any extended exploration. There was also a danger of -the ship drifting away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The second winter passed much more pleasantly than -the first. The ice pressures were not very severe, and the -crew had become much more accustomed to them. The -exploration of the new land which was to take place in -the spring of 1874 gave food for much speculation, and -tended to relieve the monotony.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In February 1874, Payer, as commander of the expedition -on shore, held a council to whom he explained his -plan for the projected sledge-journeys. As there was a -possibility of the ship drifting away from the land, it was -decided that provisions for three months should be -deposited on land, and that in the event of the sledge-party -being cut off from the ship they should attempt to -reach Europe. The sledge-expeditions were to begin in -March and be continued for six or seven weeks. It was -also agreed that after the termination of the sledge-expeditions -the <span class='it'>Tegetthoff</span> should be abandoned, and that -the whole expedition should attempt to reach Europe in -their boats.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The greatest activity now reigned in the ship, in order -to be prepared for the sledge-journey. Some of the crew -had suffered from scurvy, but with the exception of the -engineer, who was suffering from consumption, there was -no dangerous case of sickness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sledges used had runners 6, 8, and 11 feet long, and -1½, 2, and 2¾ inches broad, respectively, and were gently -curved at each end. The height of the sledges above the -snow was about 1 foot, and they were constructed of the -best ash. They carried loads amounting to 7, 12, and -20 cwt. The two runners were fastened together by two -strong front boards, and by four cross-pieces of wood firmly -lashed to the upright standards of the sledge, which were -themselves dovetailed into the runners.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As regards the cooking apparatus, Payer points out -that it should be made of sheet iron, each of its parts of -one piece, and there should be no soldering, in order to -diminish the risk of breakage and the setting fire to the -tent by the escape of the spirit in a state of combustion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The covering for the feet consisted of sail-cloth boots, -lined with flannel, and soled with stout felt. They were -made wide so that they could be put easily over three -pairs of strong woollen stockings.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The first sledge-party left the ship on 11th March 1874. -It was equipped for one week, and its object was to reconnoitre -a route for an extended journey towards the north. -Payer took six men and three dogs. In about two hours -after leaving the ship they had passed the south-west cape -of Wilczek Island, on which they had previously landed. -During this journey Payer began the determination of -the localities of Franz-Josef Land, by a triangulation of -elevated points, to which the measurement of a base was -afterwards to be added. The ascent of high mountains -therefore formed part of the programme.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hall Island at Cape Tegetthoff was reached on the -12th March. Part of the journey had to be made against -driving snow with a temperature about 26° F. below zero. -In the afternoon of the 12th, Payer with two Tyrolese -ascended the plateau of Cape Tegetthoff. Those who -remained behind spent their time in rubbing their feet -with snow. The summit was reached in two hours, and -the height was ascertained to be 2600 feet. The weather -conditions were not favourable, and the view in consequence -was limited. Next morning they entered Nordenskjöld -Fiord, and at noon reached the high, precipitous -termination of Sonklar Glacier. In the afternoon, Payer -with the Tyrolese ascended Cape Littrow, 2500 feet in -height, and early on the morning of the 14th they -ascended to the summit of the precipitous face of the -Sonklar Glacier. Here the temperature went down to the -lowest ever experienced by Payer, about 59° F. below zero. -They had taken some rum with them, and as each took -his share, he knelt down and allowed another to shake -it into his mouth, without bringing the metal cup in contact -with the lips. The rum seemed to have lost all its -strength and fluidity. It tasted like milk, and its consistence -was that of oil. The bread was frozen so hard -that they feared to break their teeth in biting it, and it -brought blood as they ate it. They attempted to smoke -cigars, but the icicles on their beards always put them -out. The instruments used in surveying seemed to burn -when they were touched. Payer found that this extreme -cold was depressing in its influence, and enfeebled the -powers of the will. At first, cold stimulates to action, -but when extreme, this vigour is quickly followed by -torpidity; exertion is soon followed by the desire to rest. -Persons exposed to these extremely low temperatures feel -as if they were intoxicated: from the stiffness and -trembling of their jaws they speak with great effort. -When dragging a sledge, their breath streams forth like -smoke, which is soon transformed into a mass of needles -of ice, almost hiding their mouths from view. Ice becomes -so hard that it emits a ringing sound; wood is as difficult -to cut as bone; butter becomes like stone; meat must be -split, and mercury may be fired as a bullet from a gun. -Snow of a temperature of 30° below zero feels in the mouth -like hot iron, and does not quench but increases thirst by -its inflammatory action on the mucous membrane.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After descending from the Sonklar Glacier, they decided -to return to the ship, which was reached on the 15th -March. Two of the party had frost-bitten feet, one had -his face frost-bitten, and a fourth had both his hands -severely affected. Next day, Krisch, the engineer, died -from consumption. He was buried on Wilczek Island.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The second sledge-journey began on the 26th March. -Payer again took six men and three dogs. The provisions -consisted of boiled beef, bread, pemmican, bacon, extract -of meat, condensed milk, coffee, chocolate, rice, grits, salt, -pepper, peas-sausage, and sugar. The total weight carried, -including two sledges, amounted to about 14 cwt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They had not gone more than 1000 yards from the -ship when driving snow compelled them to pass twenty-four -hours in the tent. A start was again made on the -27th March, but when near Wilczek Island they had -to halt for an hour in order to rub the frost-bitten -hands of one of the men. On the 29th, Payer ascended -the rocky heights of Koldewey Island. On the shore of -this island the winter retreat of a family of bears was -discovered. It was a cavity hollowed out in a mass of -snow lying under a rocky wall. As they proceeded north -they went round Schönau Island, named after Payer’s -birthplace. Here a dépôt of provisions was placed in a -cleft of the rocks and covered with 4 feet of snow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When nearing Cape Frankfurt, which is a promontory -of Hall Island, they could not make out whether the -opening between this and the Wullersdorf Mountains -would be the proper route to the north. In order to -settle this question, Payer and Haller left the sledge and -made a forced march to Cape Frankfurt, which they -ascended, and from a height of 2000 feet were able to -ascertain the route. From here the coasts of Wilczek -Land appeared to run in a northerly direction, and then -to trend gradually to the north-east. A broad inlet, to -which the name “Austria Sound” was given, was seen -to run far towards the north. A great many icebergs -were met here, indicating the presence of large glaciers. -On the day that they entered this sound, a bear was -killed, from which they took 50 lb. of flesh for their own -use, and gave the rest of the carcass to the dogs. At the -same time they deposited 50 lb. of boiled beef on an -iceberg close by.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 4th April they passed Cape Tyrol in driving -snow, and on this day one of the dogs was lost. A gull -flew past and the dog burst away from the sledge, and in -hot pursuit of the bird disappeared from sight, and was -never seen again. On the 5th April the 81st degree was -reached. Before setting out on this journey, Payer -guaranteed to give the men 1000 florins if the 81st degree -was reached, and 2500 florins if they reached the 82nd -degree. Two bears were killed on this day, and their -flesh formed the principal food. It was not, however, -much appreciated. Payer describes it as tolerable food for -sea-gulls, but hardly fit even for devils on the fast-days of -the infernal regions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When approaching Becker Island the atmospheric conditions -were such that it could not be seen until it was -only about 100 yards away. Instead of rounding this -island, it was decided to cross it. When the highest point -was reached, Austria Sound was seen to still stretch -towards the north, but the sea presented the appearance -of a chaos of ice-hills and icebergs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 7th April, in latitude 81° 23′, could be seen -the faint outlines of mountains in Crown-Prince Rudolf’s -Land. Here Payer writes: “At this latitude it seemed -as if Wilczek Land suddenly terminated, but when the -sun scattered the driving mist we saw the glittering -ranges of its enormous glaciers—the Dove Glaciers—shining -down on us. Towards the north-east we could -trace land trending to a cape lying in the grey distance—Cape -Buda-Pesth, as it was afterwards called.” This -passage was destined to form a great puzzle to Nansen -in later years. It is evident, however, that the atmospheric -conditions were not favourable for accurate observations, -and on his map Payer shows that this part of the coast-line -was considered doubtful.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As it appeared to Payer that Crown-Prince Rudolf’s -Land and Karl Alexander’s Land formed a continuous -whole, and therefore barred the way to the north, he -diverged into Rawlinson Sound. The track lay between -countless hummocks, some of which Payer estimated to -be 40 feet high. The advance now became one continual -zigzag. On the 9th April an iceberg was ascended from -which it was seen that the hummocks in Rawlinson Sound -appeared to stretch on without end. The course was -therefore altered to a north-westerly direction in order -to come under Crown-Prince Rudolf’s Land, but the -character of the ice still remained unchanged, and Payer -was compelled to make for Hohenlohe Island in the -west, where he decided to divide the expedition into two -parties.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Payer determined that he, with Orel, Zaninovich, and -Klotz, should push on with the dog-sledge, and that the -other three men should remain behind at Cape Schrötter. -Payer explained the plan he meant to follow, and stated -that he should be absent from five to eight days, but -that if he should not return within fifteen days they -were to march back to the ship with the sledge. A -pocket-compass, a watch, an aneroid barometer, and a -thermometer were left with the remaining party. The -tent was divided in two, each party receiving a half. -The advance party took provisions for eight days, and -the two remaining dogs had to drag the sledge with a -weight of about 4 cwt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As they approached the promontory on the south of -Crown-Prince Rudolf’s Land, numerous icebergs were met, -which according to Payer were from 100 to 200 feet high. -The Middendorf Glacier was now reached, and an attempt -was made to cross it. Towards its lower part many -crevasses were bridged over with snow. Farther on, the -glacier appeared smooth and free from crevasses, and it -was anticipated that it could be crossed without difficulty. -Here, Klotz confessed to Payer that one of his feet was -swollen and ulcerated. Payer decided at once that it -would be necessary to send Klotz back to the other party -at Hohenlohe Island. Laden with a sack and carrying -a revolver, he set off, and soon disappeared.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile Payer and the other two men had again -packed the sledge and harnessed the dogs, and were -setting out, when, without the slightest warning, the snow -gave way beneath the sledge, and Zaninovich, the dogs, -and the sledge disappeared in a crevasse. Payer, who -was attached to the rope, was dragged backwards to the -edge of the crevasse, and expected to be precipitated into -it, but at this moment the sledge stuck fast between the -sides of the crevasse. Orel now advanced to the edge -and stated that he could see Zaninovich lying on a ledge -of snow in the crevasse, with precipices all round him, -and the dogs attached to the traces of the sledge. -Payer, who was lying on his stomach near the edge of -the crevasse, had still one of the traces fastened round -his waist. This he decided to cut, although Zaninovich -cried up that he was afraid that the sledge would then -fall on him. When the trace was cut, the sledge made -a short run and then stuck fast again. Payer now jumped -the crevasse and shouted to Zaninovich that he would -require to run back to Hohenlohe Island to fetch men -and ropes for his rescue; that if he could contrive for -four hours to keep himself from freezing, all would -yet be well. Payer at once started to run down the -glacier back to Cape Schrötter, 6 miles off. Bathed in -perspiration, he threw off his bird-skin garments, his boots, -and his shawl, and ran in his stockings through the deep -snow. On the way he passed Klotz, who at first feared -that Payer had lost his senses. On reaching Cape Schrötter -a rope was detached from the large sledge, and the whole -party, with the exception of Klotz, set off for the -glacier. Reaching the glacier, they tied themselves together, -Payer leading. On arrival at the crevasse, Payer -shouted, but at first could hear no reply. At last he -heard the whining of a dog, and then an unintelligible -answer from Zaninovich. Haller, who was immediately -let down by a rope, found Zaninovich still living, but -almost frozen, on a ledge of snow 40 feet down the -crevasse. He fastened himself and Zaninovich to the -rope, and they were drawn up after great exertion. Haller -again descended, and fastened the dogs to the rope. They -had managed to free themselves from their traces and -had sprung to a ledge near where Zaninovich had lain. -After they were drawn up, they gave expression to their -joy, first by rolling themselves vigorously in the snow, -and then by licking the hands of the party. Haller was -next raised to the level of the sledge, so that he might -cut the ropes which fastened the loading. The articles -were brought up one by one. Nothing of any importance -had been lost. The party now descended the glacier, and -the three men from Cape Schrötter returned there, while -Payer and his companions camped at Cape Habermann.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A route along the west coast of Crown-Prince Rudolf’s -Land was now followed. When Cape Brorok was reached, -the latitude was found to be 81° 45′. Payer here writes: -“To the north-west we saw at first nothing but ice up to -the horizon; even with the telescope of the theodolite I -could not decide for the existence of land, which Orel’s -sharp eye discovered in the far distance.” Payer also -remarks that, in the Arctic regions, it often happens that -banks of fog on the horizon assume the character of -distant ranges, for the small height to which these banks -rise in the cold air causes them to be very sharply defined. -It is also very common, he says, to make the same mistake -in the case of mists arising from the waste water of -enormous glaciers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Cape Auk was reached, a dark water-sky -appeared in the north, and great numbers of birds were -seen. Seals lay on the ice, and traces of bears and foxes -were numerous. Had Payer been inclined to believe, like -Hayes, in the existence of an open Polar Sea, these signs -of a richer animal-life would have gone far to support the -belief. Payer, however, called this belief an “antiquated -hypothesis.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ice was now so thin that they thought it expedient -to tie themselves together with a long rope. Ascending -an iceberg in Teplitz Bay, the open sea was seen stretching -far to the west; and at Cape Säulen the open water -reached the coast. Here Payer ascended a height to -reconnoitre the track for next day. Land was no longer -visible towards the north. The 12th April was the last -day of advance in a northerly direction. The march lay -over snowy slopes to the summits of the coast-range, -from 1000 to 3000 feet high. At noon the latitude was -taken at Cape Germania, and found to be 81° 57′. They -reached Cape Fligely in five hours, and here decided to -turn back. Payer estimated the latitude of this point -to be 82° 5′. Rudolf’s Land still stretched in a north-easterly -direction towards a cape named after Sherard -Osborne. From Cape Fligely it could be seen that the -open water was simply a “Polynia” surrounded by old -ice. Blue mountain-ranges were believed to be visible in -the distant north, and were named “King Oscar Land” -and “Petermann Land.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After enclosing a brief account of the journey in a -bottle and depositing it in a cleft of rock, the return -journey was begun. Cape Schrötter was reached on the -evening of the 13th April. It was well for those left -there that nothing serious happened to Payer’s party, for -although all the means of ascertaining their position had -been given to them, when asked what direction they -would have taken to return to the ship, they pointed -north-east up Rawlinson Sound!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cape Schrötter was left on the 14th April, and the -party made for the Coburg Islands, in very bad weather. -Klotz’s foot had become much worse, and all those who -had been left behind were more or less snow-blind. It -struck Payer as peculiar that the dogs did not suffer from -this affection, close as they were to the glare of the snow -and without any protection against it. Coburg Islands -were reached in the evening. Next day, after a severe -march, they got clear of the region of ice-hummocks, and -were able to use their sledge-sail. On the return journey -Payer ascended Cape Hellwald, 2200 feet, and Cape -Tyrol, 3000 feet, above sea-level.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 19th April, south of Cape Tyrol, they came -on open water, and had to take to the coast of Wilczek -Land. The iceberg on which one of the dépôts had been -placed was afloat, and could not be reached. Their -provisions were now running short, and they were still -55 miles from the ship. During the next two days they -struggled on in terrible weather. Their last dépôt, -fortunately, was discovered, and also the remains of a bear -killed on the way north. The open water was now found -to have retreated to the west, and this enabled them to -reach Cape Frankfurt, on Hall Island. From here the -ice could be seen stretching away to the south. When -Cape Orgel was reached, it was with anxious feelings that -Payer began its ascent. It was from here he would be -able to ascertain whether the <span class='it'>Tegetthoff</span> had been drifted -away from its former position. He was overjoyed to find -the ship about 3 miles off. The whole party reached it -on 23rd April.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The weather towards the end of April was good, and -favoured the carrying out of the third and last sledge-expedition. -Payer was anxious to ascertain, if possible, -how far Franz-Josef Land extended towards Spitzbergen. -On the 29th April he again left the ship, with Haller, -Lieutenant Brosch, and the two dogs. Provisions for a -week were carried. Cape Brünn, on McClintock Island, -was to be their objective. This was ascended on the -2nd May, and was found to be 2500 feet high, but the -boundaries of the land towards Spitzbergen could not be -determined. On the night of the 2nd May they began -a forced march of twenty-two hours back to the ship. -The total distance of the sledge-journeys was estimated -to be about 450 miles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Preparations were now made to abandon the <span class='it'>Tegetthoff</span>, -and to make an attempt to reach Europe. Three -boats were selected for the return: two of these were -Norwegian whale-boats, 20 feet long. Each of the boats -was placed on a sledge, and the weight to be dragged, -including everything, amounted to the formidable total -of 90 cwt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The plan was to reach the dépôt of provisions on the -Barentz Islands, which lay almost directly south. After -replenishing stores there, they proposed to follow the -coast of Novaya Zemlya with the hope of reaching one -of those ships which go there for the salmon fishery. -They also had the hope that they might come across a -Norwegian seal-hunter farther north.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Tegetthoff</span> was left on 20th May 1874. The -first day’s advance amounted to 1 mile. They had -to pass three times heavily laden, and twice empty, -over every bit of the road. The snow was deep, and -more than half of the expedition was required to move a -boat. During the first week Payer and two men returned -daily to the ship with the dog-sledge in order to replenish -the store the party had consumed. A bear was -shot on the 23rd, another on the 26th, and a third on -the 31st May. At the end of May, when only 5 miles -from the ship, they approached a water-space, but found -the margins so surrounded with broad barriers of broken -ice that the boats could not be launched. They therefore -decided to camp, and wait for more favourable conditions. -It was not until the 17th June that the ice opened near -to them, and the boats were launched on the 18th. -They had not proceeded more than 3 miles when they -were stopped by ice, and the boats had to be drawn on -to it. Next morning there was no water to be seen. -On the 20th they crossed a “lead,” and then were detained -in the same position two days. During the rest of June -they had continually to cross “leads” and water-holes. -At noon on the 1st July they had only reached 79° 38′. -On the 4th the latitude was found to be 79° 43′, so that -they had drifted north. From the 9th to the 15th July -they rested and waited for the ice to open. On the -20th July the latitude was 79° 11′, so that during two -calendar months they had advanced only 47 geographical -miles. The water-spaces now became larger, and more -satisfactory progress was made.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 7th August they believed they had reached the -open sea, as they observed the ice alternately rising and -falling. Next day they were again shut in the ice, and -there was now no appearance of open water. From the -10th to the 13th they waited on the ice opening, and -employed part of the time in caulking their boats. On -the 13th the latitude was 77° 58′, so that they were now -exactly 2 degrees south of the starting-point. On the -15th August the open water was at last reached, in -77° 40′.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sledges were now left behind, but although the -boats were much crowded, the two remaining dogs were -at first taken on board. Later, however, it was found -that they would put the crew to great inconvenience, and -with reluctance they had to be killed. The course was -now shaped towards the Barentz Islands. On the 16th, -the snowy summits near Cape Nassau were sighted. -Next day a fog came on, and before it cleared they -found they were far beyond the Barentz Islands. Instead -of returning to the dépôt, they preferred to take the risk -and push on.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 18th August they first landed on Novaya -Zemlya, where they found coltsfoot (<span class='it'>Tussilago farfara</span>), -the leaves of which were dried and used as tobacco. -They were greatly disappointed in not finding a vessel -in Matoschkin Bay. On the 23rd August, only ten days’ -provisions remained. In the evening on the 24th they -passed Cape Britwin, and suddenly they beheld a small -boat with two men in it. There was a great cry of joy -from the Austrian boats, and as the two men pulled -towards them, and before either party could explain, a -corner of rock was turned, and now in full view lay two -ships. These were two Russian vessels from Archangel, -and were engaged in the salmon fishery. The Austrians -were received by the Russians with the greatest friendliness. -It was the intention of the latter to remain where -they were for fourteen days longer, and to spend about -the same number in fishing and hunting at the southern -extremity of Novaya Zemlya. This programme did not -suit the Austrians. It was therefore arranged that one -of the vessels should take the expedition to Vardo, in -Norway, without delay, and that in return for this service -the Russians should receive three of the Austrian boats, -two rifles, and be guaranteed a sum of 1200 silver -roubles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Nikolai</span> sailed on the 26th August, and reached -Vardo on 3rd September. Two days later the mail -steamer from Vardo to Hamburg took the expedition -on board, and stopping at Tromsoe, put ashore Captain -Carlsen.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>The discovery of Franz-Josef Land was an important -one, and stimulated further Arctic exploration. It also -served as a new point from which to attack the Pole.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch7'>CHAPTER VII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE BRITISH EXPEDITION OF 1875−76</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>The Government of Queen Victoria having determined -that an expedition of Arctic exploration should be undertaken, -the ships <span class='it'>Alert</span> and <span class='it'>Discovery</span> were specially fitted -out for this service, and the command given to Captain -George S. Nares. The ship <span class='it'>Valorous</span> was also to accompany -the expedition to Disco with stores and then -return. The primary object was to attain the highest -northern latitude, and, if possible, to reach the North -Pole. The expedition was fitted out regardless of expense. -According to the Admiralty instructions, the second ship -was not to be carried northward of the 82nd parallel, so -that the crew of the advance ship might fall back on it -in case of emergency.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The two ships left Portsmouth on 29th May 1875, and -arrived at the island of Disco without special incident. -Here the services of Frederick the Eskimo were obtained, -and at Proven, Hans Hendrick was also engaged. This -was the same Hans who had previously accompanied three -American expeditions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A dépôt of 3600 rations was landed on the most south-eastern -of the Carey Islands, and also a boat. On the -27th July the two ships passed between Northumberland -and Hakluyt Islands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the south-west brow of Littleton Island a cairn -was erected, in which was placed a notice containing a -short account of the movements and prospects of the -expedition up to that time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nares formed the opinion that “Hartstene Bay is the -best winter-station on the North Greenland coast; its -shores are washed by a warm current coming from the -southward, whilst the projecting promontories of Cape -Hatherton and Cape Ohlsen deflect the Polar current to -the other side of the Sound. Owing to the narrowing of -the channel at the entrance of Smith Sound the velocity -of the tidal currents is greatly augmented, and even in -winter large water-spaces are kept open. The moisture -and warmth imparted to the atmosphere by the uncovered -water moderates the climate in its vicinity to -some extent, and consequently we find in the neighbourhood -of Hartstene Bay a land comparatively well vegetated -and a great abundance of animal-life. As Port Foulke -can be visited yearly from the southward in all but very -exceptional seasons, it can be recommended as an important -base if further explorations by Smith Sound are -hereafter undertaken.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 29th July the two ships crossed Smith Sound, -steering direct for Cape Isabella. The snow-clad coast -of Ellesmere Land was very clearly defined, the black -headlands, separated by glacier-filled valleys, standing out -prominently from the white background.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A cairn was erected on the outer spur of Cape Isabella, -700 feet above the water-line; a cask for letters and a -few cases of preserved meat being hidden away on a lower -point, about 300 feet high, magnetic west of the cairn.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Proceeding northward, shelter had to be taken in a -harbour, named after Payer, beside Brevoort Island. -Nares mentions this as a most convenient waiting-place -for vessels attempting to proceed northward by Smith -Sound. A dépôt of 240 rations was placed on the -peninsula that forms the southern protection of the -harbour. A cairn was built on the summit of Brevoort -Island, in which a record paper was subsequently placed. -These provisions were not afterwards touched.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The second large dépôt of 3000 rations, for use in the -event of a compulsory retreat, was landed at a small protected -bay 2 miles north of Cape Hawks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cape Frazer, where the Polar and Baffin’s Bay tides -meet, was passed on the 19th of August. During the -previous three weeks they had advanced 90 miles, or about -4¼ miles a day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Cape Collinson a dépôt of 240 rations was landed -about 100 yards inshore and 30 feet above the water-line. -These provisions were not afterwards disturbed by -the expedition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On reaching Kennedy Channel it was decided to make -for open water, which was seen in the middle of the strait. -This was reached after some difficulty, and the ships were -soon advancing up the channel, which was comparatively -free of ice, and was therefore in much the same condition -as when seen by Morton. They steered for Cape Morton, -at the north-east extremity of Kennedy Channel. Here -a dépôt of 240 rations was landed for the use of -travelling parties which were to be afterwards dispatched -for the purpose of exploring Petermann Fiord.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hall Basin being filled with ice, the two ships crossed -to the western coast, and entered Lady Franklin Sound, -where the <span class='it'>Discovery</span> was left in a bay named “Discovery -Bay.” This point was reached on the 25th of August.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Alert</span> had to wait until the 28th before an opportunity -offered to proceed northwards. A dépôt of 1000 -rations was placed on a hillside 30 feet above the sea, on -the northern shore of Lincoln Bay. A cairn, which could -be seen from the ice a mile from land, was built a few -yards inshore of where these provisions were deposited. -They were not afterwards disturbed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Floeberg Beach was reached on the 1st of September, -and here the <span class='it'>Alert</span> was fated to remain eleven months. -The ice was occasionally driven offshore by gales, but -after September 16th the ice never left the shore to the -westward of the <span class='it'>Alert</span>, although to the eastward a large -space of clear water remained between the <span class='it'>Alert</span> and -Robeson Channel whenever the wind prevailed from the -westward.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 18th of September the thermometer rose to -36° F.; on the 19th it had fallen to 15° F. The first star -was seen on the night of the 20th September.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With the object of exploring the land about Cape -Joseph Henry, Lieutenant Aldrich, with Frederick and -two seamen, Ayles and Simmons, started on the 22nd, -with fourteen dogs dragging two sledges laden with -fourteen days provisions. The dogs were allowanced at -the rate of 2 lb. of preserved meat daily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 26th a large party started with the object of -establishing a dépôt of provisions as far in advance to the -north-west as possible. This party consisted of two -seven-man sledges and one eleven-man sledge; they were -provisioned for twenty days. The sledges were weighted -to 200 lb. a man. The eleven-man sledge proved too -heavy for the young ice, and another seven-man sledge had -to be taken instead. The temperature during the first -night fell to 1 degree below zero.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 5th of October, Lieutenant Aldrich returned -with eleven dogs harnessed to one sledge on which his -light gear was secured. Everything else had been left a -few miles behind to enable him to reach the ship that -night. The dogs, sinking as they frequently did in the -soft snow up to their muzzles, had proved to be nearly -useless, and but for the help of the men the sledge would -have had to be abandoned. Aldrich had succeeded in -reaching Cape Joseph Henry, and had spent three days in -exploring the neighbourhood. The floebergs and rugged -ice piled directly against the precipitous face of the cliffs, -with an extremely rough pack in constant motion, effectually -prevented sledges being dragged round the cape; but -fortunately there was a fair prospect of finding a level -road overland to the sea on the other side of the cape -in the spring. On the 27th September, Aldrich had -succeeded in reaching latitude 82° 48′ N., a higher latitude -than had ever before been attained, Parry’s 82° 45′ reached -in 1827 having now been beaten.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As regards the use of dogs, Aldrich on this journey -formed the opinion that when the snow becomes more -than a foot deep, they are not of much value.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The large sledge-party which succeeded in establishing -a dépôt of provisions at Cape Joseph Henry returned on -September 14th. Out of the party of twenty-one men -and three officers, seven men and one officer returned to -the ship badly frost-bitten, three of them so severely as -to render amputation necessary, the patients being confined -to their beds for the greater part of the winter. -The frost-bites were attributable entirely to the wet -sludgy state of some of the ice that had to be crossed. -The temperature ranged between 15° above and 22° below -zero. On this journey attention was drawn to the fact -that the barrels of the breech-loading fowling-pieces -became contracted by the cold to such an extent that the -paper cartridges which at a higher temperature fitted well -could not be inserted until the outside paper had been -stripped off.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sun disappeared on the 11th October, but for some -time afterwards there was twilight during five or six hours -of the day. The first sign of an aurora was seen on the -26th October; on the 27th stars were visible at noon. -On the 8th November, with a perfectly clear sky, the -noon twilight was insufficient to enable one to make out -the words in a <span class='it'>Times</span> leading article, when the paper was -held up facing the south. On the 9th November, Nares -writes:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To-day the moon reappeared above the southern -horizon. Her movements are so important to us that a -monthly bulletin is published giving the precise account -of when she will appear and when depart. She is truly -the ‘presiding goddess’ of the long Arctic night; reflecting -to us, during each of her visits, the light of the -totally absent sun for ten successive days and nights -as she circles round the heavens without ever setting. -During some period of her stay full moon occurs, and she -displays her greatest beauty. At the time of new moon, -when her light would be of the least value, she is absent -in southern latitudes. Thanks to her we can never -realise what existence would be if totally deprived of -light.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 23rd of November mercury became frozen for -the first time, at −45° F. The mean temperature of -February was −38° F. The mean for the 3rd and -4th March was −69.6°. On the 3rd March two reliable -thermometers registered below −73° F., or 105° below the -freezing-point of fresh water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nothing of special importance occurred during the -winter. Christmas was spent cheerfully; a school was -started, and a course of lectures and entertainments was -given every Thursday evening. There was little but the -weather to chronicle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 12th of March, Mr. Egerton and Lieutenant -Rawson, accompanied by Petersen and nine dogs, started -for the <span class='it'>Discovery</span>, the sledge being weighted to 51 lb. -per dog. This party had to return on the 15th owing to -the illness of Petersen. “He was taken ill on the 2nd -March with cramp, and afterwards, being unable to retain -any food whatever, nothing could keep him warm, and he -became badly frost-bitten. By depriving themselves of -their own warm clothing and at great personal risk, the -two officers, his only companions, succeeded in restoring -circulation. The following day, Petersen being no -better, they wisely determined to return with him to the -ship. But the gale of the 14th rendering it impossible to -travel, and the tent being very cold, they burrowed out a -hole in a snow-bank, and with the aid of a spirit-lamp -raised the temperature inside to 7°. With a noble disregard -of themselves, they succeeded in retaining some -slight heat in the man’s body by alternately lying one -at a time alongside of him while the other was recovering -his warmth by exercise. On the morning of the 15th, the -patient being slightly better, and the weather permitting, -they started to return to the ship with the sledge lightened -to the utmost.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“During the journey of 16 miles over a very rough -ground, although frequently very seriously frost-bitten -themselves, they succeeded in keeping life in the invalid -until they arrived on board. He was badly frost-bitten -in the face and feet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Notwithstanding the professional ability and incessant -care of Dr. Colan, Petersen never recovered from the -severe shock which he had received, and eventually expired -from exhaustion three months afterwards.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 20th March, Mr. Egerton, with Lieutenant -Rawson, accompanied by John Simmons and Michael -Regan, one of the crew of the <span class='it'>Discovery</span>, started with a -sledge drawn by seven dogs for Discovery Bay, the dogs -dragging 78 lb. each.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They returned on the 4th April. They arrived at Discovery -Bay on the 25th of March, and left again on the 30th. -The temperature was very low during this journey, and -great difficulties as regards snow and ice had to be overcome.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The great sledge-party to the west and north left the -ship on the 3rd of April. It consisted of fifty-three officers -and men. Each man in the northern division dragged -230 lb., and those of the western division 242 lb.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The programme was as follows: Lieutenant Aldrich, -assisted by a sledge-crew under the command of Lieutenant -Giffard, was to explore the shores of Grant Land -towards the north and west, along the coast-line he had -discovered the previous autumn. Commander Markham, -seconded by Lieutenant Parr, with two boats, and equipped -for an absence of seventy days, was to force his way to -the northward over the ice, starting off from the land -near Cape Joseph Henry; three sledge-crews, under the -commands of Dr. Moss and Mr. George White, accompanying -them as far as their provisions would allow.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 20th April, Lieutenants Beaumont and Rawson, -and Dr. Coppinger, with twenty-one men dragging -four sledges weighted to 218 lb. a man, started for the -north coast of Greenland.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 25th of May, Captain Nares decided to go to Cape -Joseph Henry to obtain a view of the northern ice from -the lofty mountains in the locality. He arrived there on -the 29th, and ascended Mount Julia, the highest peak -near the sea, which rises to an elevation of not less than -2000 feet. The atmosphere being very clear, an extensive -view was obtained. The hills of Greenland, 120 -miles distant, were plainly seen in the neighbourhood of -Cape Britannia. He was satisfied that no land exists to -the north within 50 miles of Cape Joseph Henry, and no -high land within 80 miles. In his narrative of this -journey he writes:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Whether or not land exists within the 360 miles -which stretch from the limit of our view to the northern -axis of the globe is, so far as sledge-travelling is concerned, -immaterial. Sixty miles of such pack as we now -know to extend north of Cape Joseph Henry is an insuperable -obstacle to travelling in that direction with -our present appliances; and I unhesitatingly affirm that -it is impracticable to reach the North Pole by the Smith -Sound route.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Let us now follow the northern sledge-party which -left the <span class='it'>Alert</span> on 3rd April 1876. The dépôt of provisions -at Cape Joseph Henry was reached on 10th April, -and the remainder of that day was employed in bringing -the provisions off to the sledges, which were left on the -ice. Up to this point the northern and western parties -had travelled together. Next day they separated, and -the two supporting sledges returned to the ship.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ice over which the northern party had to travel -was of an extremely rugged character. Roads had frequently -to be made before the sledges could be dragged -forwards. To make matters worse, the snow in many -places had drifted to such a depth that the men were -frequently floundering in it up to their waists. Little -mention is made of snow-shoes throughout the expedition, -and here undoubtedly they would have been of great -service. At first they attempted to console themselves -with the idea that the irregular and broken sea of ice was -only caused by the proximity to the land, and that they -should afterwards meet with smooth level floes, on which -they should advance rapidly. The belts of hummocks -that separated the floes varied from 20 yards to half a -mile in breadth, and were from 15 to 50 feet in height. -In order to keep the sun as much as possible at their -backs, they travelled between noon and midnight. -During the first week the temperature was usually about -30° below zero, and little sleep could be obtained. On -the 14th one of the crew complained of pains in his ankles -and knees. Although ignorant of the fact, this was the -first appearance of the dreaded scurvy. During the 15th -and 16th they were confined to tent by a gale, with -a temperature of 67° below freezing-point. On the 17th -another of the crew was found suffering from swollen and -puffy knee-joints.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 19th, Markham decided to abandon the larger -boat. This boat had always been regarded as an incubus -by the party, and every one was well pleased to get rid of -it. Even then, in order to advance the three sledges, the -road had to be frequently walked over five times. On -this day, the 19th, a third man fell ill. On the 24th -the 83rd parallel of latitude was crossed. Other two -of the party exhibited symptoms of scurvy on the 27th. -The temperature on the 28th rose to 2°, the first day the -thermometer registered above zero. On the 2nd of May -Markham became convinced that his invalids were suffering -from scurvy. Great as were the natural difficulties -which surrounded him, this was rightly regarded as the -most formidable of all obstacles to their advance that -could possibly be imagined. On the 7th May three of the -invalids had to be carried on the sledge, and the other -two could scarcely walk. On the 10th, Markham arrived -at the determination of dragging the sledges no farther -in a northerly direction. He decided to give the invalids -two days’ rest. In order to insure being within 400 miles -of the North Pole, the whole of the party, with the exception -of the invalids and two men to look after them, -started on the 12th to the northward, carrying with them -the sextant, artificial horizon, and all their colours and -banners. Shortly before noon, the artificial horizon was -set up, and the flags and sledge-standards displayed. -The latitude was found to be 83° 20′ 26″ N., or 399½ -miles from the North Pole. The announcement of the -position was received with three cheers, with one more for -Captain Nares; then all sang the “Union Jack of Old -England,” winding up, like loyal subjects, with “God -Save the Queen.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The return journey was then commenced. Day by -day their strength diminished. Gradually, but surely, the -men, one after the other, began to feel the cruel grasp of -the scurvy, as they struggled manfully on, dragging their -helpless companions. Towards the end of May, although -the temperature of the outside air was below the freezing-point, -the sun was so powerful that it would raise the -temperature inside the tent to as much as 70° or 80°. -Snow fell heavily during the greater part of the return -journey, and fogs were very prevalent. On the 19th of May -ominous symptoms of a disruption of the pack were seen. -A crack in some ice had opened considerably. On the -25th the 83rd parallel of latitude was recrossed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The condition of the party was so critical on the 27th -that it became only too painfully evident that, to insure -their reaching the land alive, the sledge must be considerably -lightened in order to admit of a more rapid advance. -The state of the party was on that day as follows: five -men were in a very precarious condition, utterly unable -to move, and consequently had to be carried on the -sledges; five others nearly as bad, but who nobly persisted -in hobbling after the sledges, which they could -just manage to accomplish, for, as the sledges had to be -advanced one by one, it gave them plenty of time to -perform the distance; whilst three others exhibited all -the premonitory scorbutic symptoms. Thus only the -two officers and two men could be considered as -effective!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I therefore,” writes Markham, “decided to abandon -the remaining boat, which would materially lessen the -load to be dragged.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 29th May the tents were pitched close to the -boat that they abandoned on their outward journey. It -was exactly in the same condition as when left.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 31st, whilst crossing some young ice between -two heavy floes, one of the sledges broke through, and it -was with difficulty that it was dragged out again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 5th of June they reached land. Two days later, -Lieutenant Parr started on an arduous march to the ship, -in order to obtain assistance. Next day one of the invalids, -George Porter, died. On the 9th a dog-sledge arrived -from the ship, and on the following day a larger party, -headed by Captain Nares, arrived. The ship was reached -at 1.30 a.m. on the 14th of June. Out of the original party -of fifteen men, three only were capable of dragging the -sledge, the remaining eleven having to be carried alongside -the ship on the relief-sledges.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Commander Markham on his return reported: “I feel -it impossible for my pen to depict with accuracy, and -yet be not accused of exaggeration, the numerous drawbacks -that impeded our progress. One point, however, -in my opinion is most definitely settled, and that is, the -utter impracticability of reaching the North Pole over the -floe in this locality; and in this opinion my able colleague, -Lieutenant Parr, entirely concurs. I am convinced that -with the very lightest equipped sledges, carrying no boats, -and with all the resources of the ship concentrated in the -one direction, and also supposing that perfect health -might be maintained, the latitude attained by the party -I had the honour and pleasure of commanding would not -be exceeded by many miles, certainly not by a degree.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To this Nares added: “In this I most fully concur. -Markham’s journey, coupled with the experience gained -by Sir Edward Parry in the summer of 1827, and more -recently the memorable retreat of Lieutenant Weyprecht -and his companions after having abandoned the <span class='it'>Tegetthoff</span> -off the coast of Franz-Josef Land, proves that a -lengthened journey over the Polar pack-ice with a sledge-party -equipped with a boat fit for navigable purposes is -impracticable at any season of the year.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was left for Nansen and Peary to prove that Nares -and Markham were wrong.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We will now follow the sledge-party to the west. -After parting company with Markham on the 11th of -April, Aldrich and Giffard with their two sledges crossed -Feilden Peninsula—the watershed of which was estimated -to be 500 feet above the sea-level. They reached the -shore of James Ross Bay on the 15th. Four hares were -shot and traces of ptarmigan seen. These hares were the -only game obtained. Crossing the bay, Crozier Island -was visited on the 17th. On the 19th, the Parry Peninsula, -2½ miles in breadth, was crossed, and the shore of -Clements Markham Inlet reached. On the 22nd, Cape -Colan, the west point of the inlet, was arrived at, and a -dépôt of provisions left for the return journey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 25th, Giffard and his crew, after completing -the other sledge to forty-four days’ provisions, parted -company, to return to the <span class='it'>Alert</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For the next seven days, when Cape Columbia was -reached, Aldrich’s sledge being fully laden, the daily -advance was extremely slow, as usual in similar journeys, -and the soft snow entailed very severe labour. On the -30th April, Aldrich wrote: “The Sergeant-Major has just -shown me a very ugly-looking red patch or blotch just -above the ankle; the limb is slightly swollen.” This was -a sign of scurvy, which was not suspected for some time -afterwards. Cape Aldrich, where a dépôt of provisions -was left, was reached on 1st May. Cape Columbia, -the most northern point attained, was also reached on -1st May. The latitude was found to be 83° 7′ N. On -the 8th of May another dépôt was formed; and on the -10th, Aldrich writes: “The men are nearly all suffering -a great deal with their unfortunate legs, which appear to -get worse every day. This we all feel to be very disappointing, -as it affects the journey, and although stiff limbs -were expected, every one thought the stiffness would wear -off in time.” Milne Bay was crossed on the 14th, and the -camp was pitched in Yelverton Bay on the 15th. On the -18th May, Aldrich decided to return. Provisions were -running short, and the condition of his crew was becoming -worse. He had then reached longitude 85° 33′ W. On -the homeward journey the attack of scurvy gradually -became more pronounced, and the fast-increasing weakness -of the men rendered the daily distance accomplished so -short that the provisions placed in dépôt on the passage -out were insufficient to last them, on full allowance, while -travelling from one dépôt to another.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 5th of June they passed Cape Columbia on -their return; and on the 7th the dreaded word “scurvy” -was used for the first time. The dépôt at Cape Colan -was reached on the 11th. On the 13th, Aldrich writes: -“Got on very fairly till eight o’clock, when Good nearly -fainted. There appears to be utter inability to get -breath, no pain, and no difficulty to speak of in breathing -when at rest. The least exertion brings it on.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 20th, when it was becoming evident that they -could not reach the ship without assistance, they met a -party of three who had been sent to their relief. On the -23rd other two came to their assistance; and on the 25th -a party of officers with Captain Nares hurried them to -the ship.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The only other sledge-journey of importance was -that along the Greenland coast, in charge of Lieutenant -Beaumont. Accompanied by Dr. Coppinger and sixteen -men dragging two sledges, he started from the <span class='it'>Discovery</span> -on the 6th of April for Floeberg Beach, intending -to make the <span class='it'>Alert</span> his base for the exploration. The -<span class='it'>Alert</span> was reached on the 16th, and after four days’ rest, -Beaumont with Rawson, Coppinger, and twenty-one men, -dragging four sledges weighted to 218 lb. per man, -started for Repulse Harbour, Greenland. Robeson -Channel was crossed without much difficulty, but a great -mass of hummocks had to be cut through at the entrance -to Repulse Harbour. Here the provisions were redistributed -on three sledges, a cairn built, and a site selected -for the dépôt to be left for the return journey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They started northward on the 27th April, and as it had -been impressed upon Beaumont that it was necessary to -keep to the land so as to prevent leaving an impassable -barrier in the rear in the event of the ice breaking up, he -struggled on along steep snow-slopes where roads had to -be cut, rather than take to the comparatively level floes. -At Black Horn Cliffs, however, it was found impossible to -keep to the land; they therefore took to the ice, but -again returned to the land a short distance beyond the -cliffs. On the 4th of May a dépôt was formed for the -return journey, and Coppinger left on this date. On -the 6th of May one of the crew complained of stiffness in -the legs, and next day when he was examined by Beaumont -the latter suspected scurvy. On the 10th he -decided that Lieutenant Rawson, with his party, should -take this man back, and on arrival at Repulse Harbour -either cross over to the <span class='it'>Alert</span> or go on to Polaris Bay.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 10th of May, Beaumont ascended Mount Wyatt, -2050 feet, from which he saw that the line of hummocks -stretched for 10 or 12 miles in the direction of Mount -Hooker, and then turned to the northward, and ran -straight for the west end of the distant land. All to the -eastward of this boundary was smooth and level, while to -the westward lay the Polar pack, with its floes and chains -of hummocks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A dépôt was left at Cape Bryant, and then Beaumont -made for Cape Fulford, which is the north extremity of -the line of cliffs on the west side of St. George’s Fiord. -The road across the mouth of the fiord was very good, -and, arrived at Dragon Point, they opened out another -wide reach of bays and fiords. Beaumont was anxious to -reach Mount Hooker, from which he expected to see not -only the islands to the north, but get the best idea of the -trend of the mainland; he encountered, however, soft -snow which varied from 2 to 4½ feet in depth: they had -“literally to climb out of the holes made by each foot -in succession.” Why snow-shoes were not used seems beyond -comprehension. Beaumont writes: “The shore for -which we were making did not seem more than 2 miles -off, so I went ahead to see if the travelling was better -under the cliffs. I got about a mile and a half ahead of the -sledge in three hours, and then gave it up. I was nearly -done; so I hailed them to go to lunch, but would rather -have missed three meals than gone back all that distance.” -The men struggled on, sometimes dragging the sledge -on their hands and knees to relieve their aching legs, -or hauling her ahead with a long rope and standing -pulls.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 19th of May, Beaumont writes: “Nobody -will ever believe what hard work this becomes on the -fourth day; but this may give them some idea of it. -When halted for lunch, two of the men crawled for 200 -yards on their hands and knees, rather than walk unnecessarily -through this awful snow.” This snow was too much -for them: on the 22nd May they started on the return -journey without having reached Mount Hooker. A record -was left in a cairn on the north end of Reef Island. At -Dragon Point a chart and another record were left in a -cairn, and Beaumont and Alexander Gray set off to ascend -the highest mountain in the neighbourhood. The elevation -was 3700 feet and the view was magnificent, but -Beaumont did not see what he wanted:—“The Mount -Hooker Land hid the islands, and the Cape Buttress channel -was shut in. Mount Albert I could see was a separate -island. Cape Britannia, as far as could be seen, had -very high land far back. Stephenson Land was quite -hidden behind Mount Hooker Land, which latter towards -Cape Buttress extended very far back to the eastward. -Cape Buttress overlapped it, but inside and above the cape -could be seen either a hummocky floe or a <span class='it'>mer de glace</span>; it -looked like a floe, but its skyline had a perceptible curve -in it—a haze hung over this part. By the look of the -land and shore, a passage seemed to connect St. George’s -Fiord with St. Andrew’s Bay. St. George’s Fiord could -be traced continuing to the south, after making a slight -bend to the west. The view inland in that direction -stretched away without a break as far as the eye could -reach, all much about the same elevation. Mount Punch -stood out from most of the other mountains, and Grant’s -Land was distinctly visible, the United States’ range -being very conspicuous.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After a short rest, they once more started, making for -Cape Fulford. Heavy snowfalls with thick fogs retarded -their advance, and on the 28th of May a dépôt was formed -with 200 lb. of articles which they could dispense with. -With the exception of Beaumont and Gray, all the party -were suffering from scurvy, and steadily getting worse. -Soon after this, Paul fell down quite powerless, and had to -be carried on the sledge; and on the 7th June another -man had to be placed beside him. Repulse Harbour was -reached on the 10th of June. It was decided to cross -over to the <span class='it'>Alert</span>, but after travelling about 1 mile over -the ice they came to water, and had to return and make -their way to Polaris Bay, 40 miles off. Next march -Dobing broke down, and Jones felt so bad he did not -think he could walk much longer. They toiled painfully -through McCormick Pass, and reached Newman Bay. On -the 22nd, Craig and Dobing almost dragged themselves -along, their breath failing entirely at every 10 yards. -On the 23rd it became necessary to carry both Dobing -and Craig. The last journey under such terrible conditions -may be described in Beaumont’s words: “On the -evening of the 24th we started for our last journey with -the sledge, as I thought; for finding that Jones and Gray -were scarcely able to pull, I had determined to reach the -shore at the plain, pitch the tent, and walk over by myself -to Polaris Bay to see if there was any one there to -help us; if not, come back, and sending Jones and Gray, -who could still walk, to the dépôt, remain with the sick -and get them on as best I could. But I thank God -it did not come to this, for as we were plodding along -the now water-sodden floe towards the shore, I saw what -turned out to be a dog-sledge and three men, and soon -after had the pleasure of shaking hands with Lieutenant -Rawson and Dr. Coppinger. Words cannot express the -pleasure, relief, and gratitude we all felt at this timely -meeting.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Newman Bay dépôt was reached next day. Hans, -who arrived with Rawson and Coppinger, made good -use of his skill as a driver. Both Paul and Jenkins -were now in a critical condition, so it was decided on -the 28th that Dr. Coppinger and Hans, with the two -men on the eight-man sledge drawn by the dogs, should -start for the Polaris Bay dépôt. Paul, however, gradually -grew weaker, and died on the afternoon of the -29th.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It will be convenient here to go back to Rawson’s -journey to Polaris Bay after leaving Beaumont. Owing -to two more of his crew breaking down, leaving only -himself and one man, E. Rayner, strong enough to drag the -sledge, they did not succeed in reaching Polaris Bay till -the 3rd of June, after a most arduous journey on reduced -rations, and during several days of which Rawson was -himself so badly affected with snow-blindness that he had -to pull the sledge while blindfold. James Hand expired -a few hours after their arrival at Polaris Bay.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 8th August, Beaumont with his companions -started on their perilous journey across Hall’s Basin to -Discovery Bay. After two hours on the ice, they came -to a large space of water 3 miles broad, and launched -their boat, which had previously been taken across from -the <span class='it'>Discovery</span>. They had repeatedly to draw the boat -on the ice, haul it on their sledge till water was again -met, and then launch. While crossing they found themselves -drifting south, and were in the greatest danger of -being swept into Kennedy Channel; fortunately, a wind -from the south-east set in, and they eventually reached -land between Cape Lieber and Cape Baird on the 12th, -and arrived at Discovery Bay on 14th August.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After the return of the northern and western sledge-parties -so completely broken down, Captain Nares -determined to give up all further exploration, and to -proceed to the southward with both ships as soon as -the ice should break up and release them. On the -31st July the <span class='it'>Alert</span> succeeded in escaping from the ice -at Floeberg Beach, and after meeting many difficulties -reached Discovery Bay on 12th August.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nares writes: “On the 16th, the weather still remaining -distressingly fine and calm, an excursion was -made to the coal-beds near Cape Murchison. This -deposit of coal, or, more correctly, lignite, is exposed -in a ravine near Watercourse Bay, for a distance of over -200 yards. At its greatest exposure the thickness of the -seam is 25 feet, but we had no means of ascertaining -how much deeper it descended below the level of the -stream. Above the coal are beds of shale and sandstones. -The coal was pronounced after trial by our -engineers to be equal to the best Welsh. The seam -where exposed is at an elevation of about 200 feet above -the sea-level, and at a distance of about a mile from the -shore of Watercourse Bay, in Robeson Channel. Unfortunately, -very little shelter is obtainable for a large -vessel among the small floebergs stranded in this indentation. -The distance between the coal-seam and Discovery -Bay is about 4 miles, and the track leads over the brow -of a hill about 800 feet high.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A short distance above the quarry, in a narrow -part of the ravine where a large quantity of snow, -collected in a shaded part, remains unmelted during the -summer, the mountain torrent has melted away a watercourse -for itself through the snow-bank. In winter -this ice grotto, with a trifling expense of labour, could -be readily formed into a convenient Arctic residence.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 18th August, Captain Stephenson deposited -an account of their proceedings in a cairn which had -been constructed out of the empty preserved meat-tins, -refilled with gravel. A post-office box was placed in the -centre of the pile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 20th August the ice opened sufficiently to -allow the two ships to leave for the south. At Cape -Isabella they found a package of letters and newspapers -left there by Sir Allen Young a few weeks previously.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nares writes: “After our long sojourn within the -Polar ice it was a strange transition to feel the ship rise -and fall once more on the ‘north water’ of Baffin’s Bay, -and to look astern and see Cape Isabella, one of the -massive portals of Smith Sound, fading away in an -obscurity of snow and midnight darkness; whilst an ice-blink -stretching across the northern horizon reminded -us forcibly of the perils, dangers, and anxieties that we -had contended against for so many months.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In comparing the voyage of the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> and that -of the <span class='it'>Alert</span> and <span class='it'>Discovery</span>, it is evident that the navigation -of the ice which is to be met with every year in -Kane Sea is entirely dependent on the westerly winds. -Both in 1875 and 1876 we met navigable water off -Cape Victoria in latitude 79° 12′ with only a narrow -pack 15 miles in breadth between it and Grinnell -Land, which a westerly wind of a few hours’ duration -would certainly have driven to the eastward. The same -wind would have opened a channel along the shore, and -any vessel waiting her opportunity at Payer Harbour -could under those circumstances have passed up the -channel with as little difficulty as the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> experienced -in 1871.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The quantity of one season’s ice met with in the -bays on the south-east coast of Grinnell Land in 1876 -proves that on the final setting in of the frost, after we -passed north in 1875, the pack had been driven from -the shore, leaving a navigable channel along the land. -Nevertheless, I do not recommend future navigators who -wish to obtain a high northern latitude by this route -to wait for such a favourable occurrence. Certainly no -one could have made a passage through the ice in 1876 -before the 10th September by doing so. At that date -the season had advanced so far that the attainment of -sheltered winter-quarters would have been extremely -problematical.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The two ships arrived at Portsmouth Harbour on the -2nd November.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This expedition, sent out regardless of expense, -achieved very much less than had been anticipated. The -chief cause of failure was the outbreak of scurvy, which -completely paralysed the undertaking. The real cause of -the outbreak was never discovered, but it was probably -due to the want of fresh meat. The methods adopted -to reach a high latitude were practically identical with -those of Parry used half a century before. After all -their experience, both Markham and Nares emphatically -declared their conviction that it was impossible under -any circumstances for a sledge-party, even without boats, -and with all possible resources, to reach 1 degree -beyond that reached by the expedition. It was an -American naval officer, Commander Peary, who proved -in 1906 that a point nearly 4 degrees farther north could -be attained over the same sea; and in 1909, starting from -the coast a little to the west of his previous route, he -succeeded in reaching the Pole itself.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch8'>CHAPTER VIII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE VOYAGE OF THE <span class='it'>JEANNETTE</span> (1879−81)</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> was the new name given to Sir Allen -Young’s <span class='it'>Pandora</span> after it was purchased by James -Gordon Bennett, who had decided to equip a North Polar -expedition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The commander of the expedition, Lieutenant George -W. De Long, had taken an active and distinguished part -in the search for the <span class='it'>Polaris</span>. In making an attempt to -reach the Pole, he favoured the route by Behring Strait, -and he was supported by Bennett himself, who had been -influenced by the views of Dr. Petermann, the German -geographer. One of the chief reasons for choosing the -Behring Strait route was the supposed existence of a -Japan current, which, it was hoped, would open a way -towards the Pole. Another reason was the view held -as to the extent of Wrangel Land. Petermann actually -believed that it extended right across the Pole and was -the continuation of Greenland. It was afterwards proved -to be only a small island.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Lieutenant Chipp, the second in command, acted with -De Long in the search for the <span class='it'>Polaris</span>. George W. -Melville, chief engineer, had been a comrade of De Long’s -in the navy. The ice-pilot was William Dunbar, who -had been master of whale-ships in and north of Behring -Strait. Nindemann, the ice-quartermaster, was one of -the crew of the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> who underwent the terrible -winter-drift on the ice-floe.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> left San Francisco on the 8th July -1879. A schooner, laden with 100 tons coal and such -provisions as the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> could not conveniently carry, -followed on the same date.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ounalaska Island was reached on the 2nd August, and -left on the 6th. Here, coal, dog-food, and furs were -obtained. De Long mentions that there was not a white -woman in the place. The native women evidently do -not expect a long courtship. A number of men had -been brought from St. Paul’s Island on the Thursday; -they made their selections on the Friday and Saturday, -and were married on the Sunday.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>St. Michael’s was reached on 12th August, but the -schooner did not arrive until the 18th. Here, forty dogs, -five sledges, snow-shoes, boots, and a large quantity of -skin-garments were obtained. Two natives, named -Alexey and Aneguin, were hired as interpreters and dog-drivers. -The total number of persons on board the -<span class='it'>Jeannette</span> was now thirty-three.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>De Long had been instructed to make inquiries concerning -Professor Nordenskjöld, who had nearly reached -Behring Strait in making his famous north-east passage -during the previous year. For this purpose he left -St. Michael’s on 21st August, and made for St. Lawrence -Bay, Siberia, which he reached on the 25th, after a stormy -passage. Here he ascertained that a ship which had been -frozen in during the previous winter in Koliutchin Bay, -had left St. Lawrence Bay some time before. De Long -believed that this must have been Nordenskjöld’s ship, -but to make certain he decided to make inquiries near -where the Professor wintered. He visited Koliutchin Bay, -and found satisfactory proof that Nordenskjöld had -wintered there, and had left in safety. It was now the -31st August, and De Long was free to continue his -voyage to the north, but unfortunately the navigation -season was drawing to a close. The lateness of the date -when the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> left San Francisco, her want of speed, -and the delay caused by her search for Nordenskjöld -placed De Long at a great disadvantage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Pack-ice was met as early as the 2nd September. -Herald Island was sighted on the 4th, and on the same -date land was seen away to the south-west.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 6th September the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> was beset, within -a week after leaving the Siberian coast, and was never -afterwards released. On the 9th September the position -by observation was found to be 71° 35′ N., 175° 5′ 48″ W.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 13th September, De Long sent four men with a -sledge to make an attempt to reach Herald Island. They -returned next day and reported that they had been forced -to return when about 5 miles from the island. Broad -leads and rotten ice had been met, and it was evidently -impossible to sledge to the island.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By this time it was observed that the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> was -being slowly drifted in the ice towards the north-west. -On the 15th September the position was 71° 46′ N., -175° 36′ W., or about 15 miles to the north-west of the -position on the 9th. All hope of getting out of the ice -before next summer was now almost given up, and the -best that could be expected was that the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> might -drift to Wrangel Land before spring. However, after -drifting some distance to the north-west, the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> -was drifted to the east, and then to the south-west, thus -forming a triangle, and after a month’s drift she reached -a point near where she began.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 21st October the thermometer fell to zero for -the first time. Preparations were made for the winter, -and De Long took great precautions to see that everything -possible was done to insure the health of the party. -Special attention was paid to the proper ventilation of -the ship and the avoidance of damp. The surgeon, -Dr. Ambler, frequently tested the amount of carbonic acid -gas in the air; and a thorough examination of the whole -party was made monthly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During October the land to the south-west of Herald -Island was frequently seen, and De Long came to the -conclusion that it was Wrangel Land, and must either be -an island or an archipelago.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Before the sun disappeared on the 16th November -a considerable number of seals, several bears, and some -walruses had been shot, and served as an important -addition to the stock of food for both men and -dogs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During November ice pressures became severe. On -the 24th, the floe in which the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> had been fixed -was split, and the ship was once more afloat, but in a -most dangerous position. On the 25th, it was driven by -the ice about a mile from its previous position, until it held -fast in some young ice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At this time considerable difficulty was experienced in -obtaining water of proper purity. There was little snow -on the ice, and what there was contained a large quantity -of salt, due to the wind drifting it and mixing it with the -salt on the surface of the ice. It was therefore necessary -to commence distilling.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ice pressure was much less severe during December. -From the 2nd to the 18th the change of position was -only 8 miles towards the west. Christmas was passed -merrily. About the end of December, Danenhower, the -navigator of the ship, began to suffer from an inflammatory -trouble in one of his eyes, from which he did not -recover during the remainder of the cruise.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The year 1880 was ushered in by a minstrel entertainment -given by the crew. On the 19th January the -disagreeable discovery was made that the ship was leaking -seriously. The ice pressure had evidently caused serious -injury. On examination it was found that the water -already stood 3 ft. in the forehold.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The deck-pumps were at once manned, and fortunately -were able to keep the water in check until steam could be -raised to work the steam-pump. This was a serious drain -on the small supply of coal, but Melville was equal to -every emergency. He ultimately succeeded in pumping -by means of a windmill. Every effort was made to stop -the leak, and although partly successful, pumping had to -be resorted to more or less continuously throughout the -remainder of the cruise. Nindemann and Sweetman -took turns about in standing in the water in the forepeak -building a bulkhead across it. For this work they -received high commendation from De Long.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 26th January they had the pleasure of welcoming -the reappearance of the sun. On the 1st of February -a bear was killed, and as no fresh meat had been available -for some time, this was a welcome addition to the stock -of food. Another bear was killed on the 2nd, and when -the stomach was examined it was found to contain only a -few small stones.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 6th March 1880 the position of the ship was -72° 12′ N., 175° 30′ W., which was only 26′ north and -6′ east of the position on the 15th September 1879. This -proves the absence of a definite current. The depth of -water varied from 30 to 40 fathoms, and the bottom -usually consisted of blue mud. On the 20th March, -De Long stated that he was now convinced that the -drifting during the winter had been entirely caused by -the winds, and not by any current. During March the -north side of Wrangel Land was frequently visible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 1st of May the sun could be seen at midnight. -On the 5th May the position was found to be 73° 11′ -24″ N., 179° 37′ 30″ E., indicating a considerable drift -since the beginning of March. It also showed that the -180th meridian had been crossed. On the 20th May the -stock of coal amounted to only 60 tons, and De Long -became impatient to get out of the ice. The total drift -towards the north-west during the month of May was very -good, amounting to 82 miles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The drift during June was nearly the reverse of what -it was during May, the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> at the end of the -month being 50 miles south of where she was at the -beginning of it. There was still no sign of release from -the ice, and the consequent disappointment was very -great.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During July the temperature was usually near freezing-point, -and yet De Long felt the cold much more than -when the temperature was 30° below zero. The latter was -what he described as a hard, dry cold, whereas the former -was a soft, wet cold that penetrated at once. At the end -of the month they were back again to the 180th meridian; -the summer had nearly gone, and still there were no signs -of a change. The monotony of waiting for “something -to turn up” was found extremely trying.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 1st of August one of the dogs died, and on a -post-mortem being made it was discovered that the dog’s -death was caused by his swallowing a sharp bone, which -cut through his intestines. Several other dogs were lost -from the same cause.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Throughout the cruise, De Long took the strictest -precautions to see that the water used for drinking and -cooking was as free as possible from salt. After very -thorough investigation, he arrived at the conclusion that -sea-water ice, under whatever circumstances it may be -found, is a treacherous and unsafe element to use.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The drift during August amounted to about 50 miles -towards the north-east. The navigable season was now -nearly at an end, and another monotonous winter in the -pack awaited them. At the end of twelve months the -<span class='it'>Jeannette</span> was only 150 miles from the point where she -was first beset.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Preparations for winter had again to be made: a deck-house -was erected, a porch was built around the cook-house, -snow was banked against the ship’s side, and -various alterations were made for the greater comfort of -the crew. On the 29th September, when fresh meat was -nearly gone, a bear weighing 943½ lb. before skinning -was killed, and another was obtained next day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sun disappeared on the 6th November, and on this -day the temperature was 30° below zero at noon. Severe -ice pressures were again experienced, but did not excite so -much alarm as did those of the first winter. On the -30th November the 74th degree of latitude had been -reached for the second time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A bear weighing 800 lb. was killed on the 2nd -December. On the 11th December the temperature was -39° below zero, and the ice gave loud reports like the -discharges of heavy guns. De Long believed that the -noise was due to the splitting of the ice under contraction -caused by the intense cold. At midnight on the 15th -December the temperature was −48°. On the 21st a post-mortem -was made on another dog, and the cause of death -was ascertained to be the presence in the intestines of -several mutton-bones, two pieces of a tin can, a piece of -cloth, and the fag end of a rope. Christmas Eve was -spent in the enjoyment of a minstrel entertainment, and -Christmas had a more than usually elaborate dinner, -consisting of soup, roast seal, apple jelly, tongue, -macaroni, tomatoes, mince pies, plum pudding, figs, -raisins, dates, nuts, candy, chocolate, and coffee.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The year 1881 was welcomed by another entertainment -by the “Jeannette Minstrels.” The ship was now 220 -miles north-west of where it was first beset, and the whole -party, with the exception of Danenhower, were in good -health. No serious case of frost-bite had occurred, -although both officers and men were frequently out on -the ice when the temperature was more than 40° below -zero. On the 27th January the latitude was 74° 20′ 56″, -the highest yet attained.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sun was again seen on 5th February, so that their -night had been 91 days, against 71 of the previous year. -On the 14th the 75th parallel was reached, and soundings -gave 44 fathoms. Next day great astonishment was -caused when the lead-line gave 57 fathoms. A bear was -killed on the 18th.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During March, as the latitude increased, so did the -depth of water. On the 17th it was 67 fathoms, and on -the 19th, 71 fathoms; latitude, 75° 15′. On 8th April, -in latitude 75° 46′, the depth was 75½ fathoms; and in -75° 53′ 30″, on the 16th, it was 84 fathoms.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The 76th parallel of latitude was reached on the -21st April, and during the next four days the drift -towards the west was no less than 47 miles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 16th May great excitement was caused by the -discovery of land. The latitude on this date was 76° 43′ -20″ N., and longitude 161° 53′ 45″ E. The land was -only a small island, Jeannette Island, but its discovery -caused great rejoicing among the party, who had looked -at nothing but ice and sky during fourteen months. -Another island, Henrietta Island, was discovered on the -24th May. The latitude on this date was 77° 16′.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 31st May a party of six in charge of Melville -started for Henrietta Island. They took a light boat, a -sledge and fifteen dogs, and seven days’ provisions. De -Long wished to know whether there was any bay in -which he could place the ship, and whether there was -animal or bird life with which he could replenish his -waning stock of provisions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 1st of June the doctor made the startling announcement -that several of the party on board were suffering -from lead-poisoning. An examination was made, and -traces of lead were found in the water, and in still larger -quantity in the tomatoes. It was supposed that the juice -of the tomato had acted on the solder used in the tins.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Henrietta party returned on the 5th June. They -landed on the island on 2nd June, and left a record in a cairn. -The island was found to be desolate rock, surmounted -by a snow-cap. The cliffs were inaccessible; and dovekies -nesting in the face of the rock were the only signs of life.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 10th of June the ice suddenly opened alongside -the ship, which settled down nearly to her proper bearings. -There was now a small canal on the port side, and into -this De Long had a heavy floe hauled so as to receive the -pressure in the event of the ice closing. This was at first -successful, but later the ice closed in with great force, -jamming the ship hard against the ice on the starboard -side, and causing her to heel 16° to starboard. Orders -were at once given to lower the starboard boats and haul -them to a safe position. Melville, while below in the -engine-room, saw a break across the ship in the wake of -the boilers and engines, and it was evident that the ship -was breaking in two. Orders were now given to remove -sledges and certain provisions which had long been kept -in readiness in case the ship might have to be abandoned. -At 4.30 p.m. there was a lull in the pressure, and De Long -began to hope that the worst was over, but at 5 p.m. the -pressure was renewed with tremendous force. Everything -needful for a retreat over the ice was now hurriedly -removed to a place of safety. At 6 p.m. it was found -that the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> was beginning to fill, and at 8 p.m. -everybody was ordered to leave the ship. At 4 a.m. of -the 12th the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> disappeared beneath the water, in -latitude 77° 14′ 57″ N., longitude 154° 58′ 45″ E.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Preparations were at once begun for the retreat to the -Siberian coast. The first and second cutter and the -whale-boat had to be mounted on their travelling-sledges; -bags had to be made to hold bread, tea, coffee, and sugar; -and sledges had to be overhauled and relashed. To get -their weights as exactly as possible, they had to start with -an ounce weight and the doctor’s scales, and work up by -a number of Remington cartridges to a pound. Two -empty meat-tins tied to the end of a stick suspended by -its centre formed the scale.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During this time they lived on plenty of food, as they -had saved more than they could take with them. The -clothing allowance for each officer and man was limited -to what he was actually wearing and the contents of a -packed knapsack.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All arrangements having been made, the start to the -southward began on the evening of the 18th June. The -party had three boats, seven sledges, and twenty-three -dogs. Dunbar was sent ahead to select a route and plant -flags for the party’s guidance. Danenhower, Chipp, -Alexey, and Kuehne were on the sick list, but could walk. -The five McClintock sledges carried 1659 lb., 1318 lb., -1252 lb., 1342 lb., and 1325 lb. respectively. During -the first day these loads were found to be too heavy, and -De Long saw that instead of being able to advance the -boats and provisions in three separate hauls as he had -hoped, he must be satisfied if he could do it in six. It -was therefore necessary to repack the sledges. Even with -the lighter loads, the runners of the sledges were frequently -doubling under during the first few days. On the -20th June it rained steadily for eight hours, and instead -of starting as usual at 6 p.m., the party did not get off -till 2.30 a.m. of the 21st. Openings in the ice were -already met, and caused great delay. Small ice-floes had -to be dragged into position to form a bridge over which -the sledges were dragged.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 25th June, after a severe week’s work, De Long -obtained his first opportunity of ascertaining his latitude. -His feelings may be imagined when he found that he was -28 miles farther north than where he started from a week -before! He wisely kept this discouraging fact from the -knowledge of the general party. He now altered his -course from south to south-west. On this date Chipp -was so weak that he had to be carried on a sledge.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 26th June five bridges had to be built over leads: -the heaviest sledge fell into the water, but was dragged -out; and Melville went in up to his waist. On the 27th -eleven hours’ hard work carried them only 1¼ mile. One -lead 40 feet wide, and another 60 feet wide, had to be -crossed. Yet under all these difficulties everybody was -bright and cheerful. It was no uncommon thing to have -four leads to bridge in half a mile, and sometimes as soon -as one was bridged another opened in the rear. Over -this rough and ever-changing path six, and sometimes -seven trips had to be made. It is not to be wondered at -that the work was terribly laborious, and progress slow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 3rd of July the latitude was found to be 15 miles -farther south than on the 25th June, so that the drift had -not been against them. The 6th July was a wet and -stormy day, and the party remained in their tents until -6 p.m. of the 7th. On the 9th they were well satisfied -with an advance of 3 miles. On the 10th July some -excitement was caused by the appearance of land to the -south-west. De Long was doubtful whether it was really -land, but next day from the top of a hummock he saw -unmistakable land, and also water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cocoa and chocolate were now exhausted, and the -tea was reduced to half an ounce per man. The ice -became comparatively loose, and boats and sledges had -to be continually ferried across large openings on small -floes. On the 13th July the first serious breach of discipline -among the crew took place. E. Starr, one of the seamen, -found a pair of wet soles on his sleeping-bag. He flung -them some distance on the ice, in a temper, and refused -to pick them up when ordered to do so by Melville. For -some time he also paid no attention to De Long, who at -once put him off duty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 15th July a seal was shot, and proved useful -both for food and grease for leaking boots. Another -seal was obtained on the 16th, but on the other hand -270 lb. of pemmican was lost through the capsizing of -a dog-sledge. On this day also De Long was unfortunate -enough to break through the ice when jumping across an -opening, and went up to his neck in the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 20th July a walrus was shot and secured. The -choice pieces were used by the party, and the rest went -to the dogs. The skin was cut into pieces and divided -for boot-soles. They had now to contend with a moving, -rotting pack, and they were greatly hindered by fog. -Leads were continually opening and closing, and large -blocks of ice were being swirled around, and carried first -west and then east. On the 24th they had the good -fortune to kill a bear. On the 25th land seemed quite -close at hand, but after working 24 hours they had again -to camp on the ice. Fog delayed the next start till the -evening of the 27th, when they again hoped to reach land, -but within half a mile of it they were stopped by broken -ice, and had again to camp. On the 28th, after great -difficulties, the land was at last reached. De Long took -possession of it in the name of the President of the United -States, and named it “Bennett Island.” After crossing the -180th degree of longitude, De Long should have advanced -his date one day, but he did not do so, as the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> -was sometimes drifted east and sometimes west of this -line. At Bennett Island he corrected the date, so that -possession of it was taken really on the 29th July.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Preparations were now made to take tidal observations, -make sketches, collect natural history specimens, and -hunt for game, etc. Large quantities of driftwood were -scattered about the shore, and Melville found a vein of -bituminous coal. The face of the cliffs was alive with -dovekies, of which they obtained a fair number.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Bennett Island was left on 6th August, after a record -had been deposited in a cairn. Ten of the poorest dogs -were shot, leaving twelve. On the 7th the party were able -to take to their boats, and the men were distributed as -follows:—In first cutter, De Long, Ambler, Collins, -Nindemann, Ericksen, Kaack, Boyd, Alexey, Lee, Noros, -Dressler, Görtz, Iversen. In second cutter, Chipp, -Dunbar, Sweetman, Sharvell, Kuehne, Starr, Manson, -Warren, Johnson, Ah Sam. In whale-boat, Melville, -Danenhower, Newcomb, Cole, Bartlett, Aneguin, Wilson, -Lauterbach, Tong Sing, Leach.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Soon after the boats started, four of the dogs jumped -out and were lost. Two St. Michael’s sledges and four -McClintock sledges had been left behind. On the 8th -August other four dogs jumped from the boats, and two -dogs were shot, leaving only two.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A good deal of ice was still met with, and the boats -had frequently to be hauled on the ice and dragged across -until open water was again found. A seal was shot and -secured on the 11th August. On this date they calculated -that they had advanced about 20 miles. Another seal -was obtained on the 15th, and as provisions were now -running low, it was very acceptable. The last ration of -bread was served out on the 18th. On the 19th the -ice closed on the second cutter and stove a hole in the -bow. Chipp repaired it with a piece of Liebig box. On -the 20th August land was seen to the south-west. Preparations -were now made for sea. Snow was melted for -water, and the boats overhauled, etc. On the 21st, however, -before they could start, the ice had closed around -them, and it was not until the 29th that they were able -to take to the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 30th August they reached and landed on -Faddejew Island. The “Faddejew Hut” marked on -the Russian chart was found tumbling to decay. The -island was left on the 31st August. On the 1st September -the second cutter was separated from the other two boats, -and did not rejoin them till the afternoon of the 3rd. -In order to let Chipp have a better chance of keeping up -with the other two boats, De Long ordered one man, Ah -Sam, to his party, and another, Manson, to go in Melville’s -boat. This resulted in the saving of Manson’s life.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 4th September they landed on a low beach -running out from the island of Kotelnoi. Some of the -party, next day, came across several ruined huts, and in -one of them was found an elephant tusk, a wooden cup, -a spoon, and a fork.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Kotelnoi Island was left on the 6th September. -Semenooski Island was reached on the 10th, and on -this day the last of Liebig’s Extract was used. It had -been much liked by the party. On this small island -they were fortunate in killing a deer. They rested here -till the 12th, and on leaving deposited a record. They -had still seven days’ provisions, and De Long hoped to -reach the Lena without difficulty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A breeze sprang up on the afternoon of the 12th, and -at 9 p.m. De Long lost sight of the whale-boat ahead, and -at 10 p.m. he lost sight of the second cutter astern. The -wind had now freshened to a gale. On the 13th there -was a tremendous sea, and the boat shipped a good deal -of water. An attempt was made to ride out the gale -under the lee of a sail, but after doing well for an hour, -the sheet parted, and sail and yard were lost. Nothing -more was seen by De Long of the other two boats.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Land was sighted on the 16th September, but when more -than a mile from the shore the water was not deep enough -to float the boat. They passed a miserable night attached -to some thin ice, and next morning several attempts were -made to reach land in the boat, but it always grounded. -A raft was then made, and on this were placed tents, -cooking-stoves, and boat-box. All the party had to -wade knee-deep 1½ mile to the shore. After a second -load was landed, the boat was dragged to within half a mile -of the land. The remainder of the load had then to be -carried. This was completed at 10.20 p.m. in a snowstorm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They rested over Sunday, 18th September, and set out -on the 19th to walk to a settlement believed to be 95 -miles distant, on the Lena River. They had about 3½ -days rations. Everything not absolutely necessary was -cached, and a record left in the instrument-box. Even -then it was found soon after starting that the loads -were too heavy, and log-books, stove, some alcohol, a -tent, and binoculars were sent back to the cache. The -road was bad, several of the men were lame, and occasionally -they were wading up to the knees.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 20th September another tent was left behind, -as they found they could not carry it. The day’s march -took them over ponds with thin ice, and mossy swamps. -Ericksen had frost-bitten feet, and kept the rest of the -party back. At the end of the fourth mile De Long -was compelled to halt and open the last tin of pemmican. -On starting out again, they struck deer-tracks, and this -gave great encouragement. They accordingly pushed -ahead, but soon afterwards De Long was informed that -Ericksen had lain down and desired to be left. De Long -and the doctor went back and got Ericksen on his feet -again, but he was in a serious condition, and it was evident -that the progress of the party would be slow if they were -all to keep together. Nindemann and Alexey were sent -ahead to trace the deer, but they were unsuccessful, although -they saw a herd of seven or eight. They were again sent -off, accompanied by Collins, and the remainder of the -party camped. De Long decided that if game were not -obtained he would send a small party forward to bring -relief. Next day, however, he pushed on again, although -no game had yet been obtained. On this march they -came to two huts, and De Long decided to halt here. -It was his intention to send the doctor and Nindemann -on next day for relief. Alexey, however, who had been -sent to examine some hut-like objects, found deer-tracks, -and as they seemed fresh, he followed them, and was -successful in killing two deer. He cut off a hind-quarter -of meat and set off for the hut. When he arrived, the -remainder of the party had retired for the night, but when -the announcement was made that deer had been obtained -sleep was forgotten. Cooking soon began in both huts, -and the whole of the meat was consumed, with the -exception of two tongues, before they felt satisfied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>De Long now decided to remain at the huts and rest -another day and live on the deer. It was not, however, -till two days had passed that a fresh start was made. A -record of the movements of the party was left in one of -the huts. De Long also left his Winchester rifle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 24th September they passed a wretched night. -Beds were made of a few logs, and wrapped in their -blankets the party tried to sleep, but could not, and in the -morning they were all cold and stiff. On the 25th the -remainder of the deer-meat was eaten for dinner. At -night two other huts were reached, and here they halted. -Next day they had only food for three more meals. They -had also one dog.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 27th September another deer was shot, and the -danger of starvation was again averted. The hungry men -at once commenced eating fried deer-meat, and took about -3 lb. each. The party then went on again, but Ericksen’s -foot was very bad, and progress was slow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 28th September they came to a point where -they had no alternative but to cross a river a quarter of a -mile wide. No wood could be obtained to build a raft -large enough for the purpose, and they were forced to -stay here in an old hut until 1st October, when the -river had frozen over sufficiently to allow them to -cross.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A large gull was shot on the 29th, and with this they -made soup. Fires were made when it was dark at night, -in the hope of drawing attention. On the 30th the -doctor removed several of Ericksen’s toes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 1st October a record was left in the hut, and -the party then crossed the river with Ericksen on a -sledge. De Long now saw that the chart in his possession -was practically useless. He had been hoping to reach -a place marked on the chart as “Sagastyr,” but he now -looked upon this as a myth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 2nd and 3rd they struggled on, and had to -camp in the open at night. On the 3rd October the -last of the pemmican was eaten, and nothing now remained -but the dog, which was killed for supper. De -Long and other two men broke through the ice during -the day’s march and got thoroughly wet. At night -they tried to dry themselves before a fire of driftwood. -Ericksen groaned and rambled in his talk, and the whole -party spent a most miserable night. On the morning of -the 4th they moved to a hut which had been discovered -by Alexey the previous night. From his chart De Long -now arrived at the conclusion that he was on Tit Ary -Island, and about 25 miles from Ku Mark Surka, which -he took to be a settlement. It may here be mentioned, -as indicating the worthless character of De Long’s chart, -that instead of being at Tit Ary Island as he supposed, -he was about 120 miles from it, and Ku Mark Surka lay -33 miles beyond that.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ericksen died on the 6th, in the hut. He was buried -in the river, and a board with his name was stuck in the -river-bank abreast of his grave. A Winchester rifle, some -ammunition, and a record were left in the hut, and the -party again moved on. The last of the dog-meat and -the last of the tea were used for breakfast. Some old -tea-leaves and 2 quarts alcohol were all that remained. -Towards night, Alexey obtained a ptarmigan, and with -this soup was made. Breakfast on the 8th consisted of -1 oz. alcohol in a pint of hot water. Dinner and supper -were the same.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 9th October, Nindemann and Noros were sent -ahead for relief. They carried their blankets, one rifle, -40 rounds ammunition, and 2 oz. alcohol. The remainder -of the party followed an hour afterwards. During the -march they all broke through the ice, and were wet up -to the knees. They stopped and built fires, and tried -to dry their clothes. Alexey shot three ptarmigans, with -which they made soup. For supper they had only half an -ounce of alcohol.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 10th October the last of the alcohol was taken -for breakfast, and they began to eat deer-skin scraps of -clothing. Lee showed signs of collapsing, and wished to -be left. For supper they had a spoonful of glycerine. -“All hands weak and feeble, but cheerful.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 11th there was a gale of wind with snow, and -they were unable to move. On the 12th the last of the -glycerine was taken for breakfast. For dinner they tried -two handfuls of Arctic willow infused in water. On the -13th willow-tea was again taken. On the 14th, Alexey -shot a ptarmigan, and soup was made. On the 15th the -willow-tea was again repeated, and two old boots were eaten.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All this time they were hoping to hear from Nindemann -and Noros. On the 16th October, Alexey broke down, -and died on the 17th. After this, no food was obtained. -Lee and Kaack died on the 21st, Iversen on the 28th, -Dressler on the 29th, Görtz on the 30th October. On -the latter date Collins was dying. Here the record of -De Long ceases. The doctor and Ah Sam must still -have been alive.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It will now be convenient to follow the fortunes of -Nindemann and Noros, who were sent for relief. During -their first march, on the 9th October, Nindemann shot -a ptarmigan, which served for their dinner. At night -they made a fire, drank willow-tea, and tried to obtain -a little nourishment from a burned boot-sole; then -wrapping themselves in their blankets, they lay down -near the fire. For breakfast next morning they had a -little willow-tea and another boot-sole. Their course -along the main stream was a confused morass, and they -were hindered by a high wind and drifting snow. At -night they made a hole in a snow-drift, in which they -camped. The wind was so high that although there -was driftwood, a fire could not be lighted. At noon -on the 11th they stopped and kindled a fire, meaning -to heat a little of the alcohol which they carried; but -Noros, who had it in his pocket, found the bottle -broken and the alcohol lost. They had therefore to -fall back on willow-tea and boot-sole. At night they -reached a hut in which they found some deer-bones. A -fire was kindled and the bones charred, and an effort was -made to eat them. Next morning a gale was blowing, -and nothing could be seen but drifting snow. They had -therefore to remain in the hut. The journey was resumed -on the 13th. A hut was seen on the opposite bank of -the river, and an attempt was made to cross the thin ice. -They repeatedly went through up to their waists, but -finally succeeded in gaining the bank. Noros while -searching for firewood found a box containing two fish. -Nindemann was fortunate enough to seize a lemming, and -on this and the fish they made their supper. The fish -were almost rotten, but they were soon devoured. Next -day they made a start, but were driven back by drifting -snow to the hut, where they stayed another twenty-four -hours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the morning of the 15th October another start -was made along the river-bank. The night was passed -in a kind of cave at the side of the river. Their supper -consisted of a piece of seal-skin pantaloons, which was -soaked in water and then burned to a crust. They -passed a wretched night. Next day they made for some -hills they saw in the distance. No willow could be found, -and a piece of seal-skin was their only food. They passed -the night in a ravine, where they dug a hole in the snow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 17th they struggled over streams and sand-spits, -and had again to pass the night in a hole in the -snow. The wind was too high to allow a fire, and it -was too cold to allow sleep. On the 18th they reached -a ruined hut almost filled with snow. They cleared out -sufficient to give them sleeping-room, and after taking -some willow-tea and a piece of seal-skin, they lay down -for the night. On the 19th they were so weak that they -had to rest about every five minutes. In the afternoon -they reached three huts, and in one of them was a kayak -containing something like sawdust. It was blue-moulded -and tasteless, but it was believed to be fish. As they -found nothing more, they ate it, and soon after they -had an attack of dysentery. They stayed in the hut all -day, and on the 21st found themselves too weak to move -farther.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 22nd October they heard a noise outside, and -Nindemann, when he looked through a crack in the door, -saw something move, and thought it was a reindeer. He -took down the rifle and was moving to the door when -it opened, and at the entrance stood a man. Seeing -Nindemann with the rifle, he expected to be shot, and -immediately fell on his knees and began to supplicate. -Nindemann threw the rifle down and beckoned eagerly -to the man to come in. After some hesitation, the -stranger entered, and the two men, anxious to be friendly, -offered him some of the fish. He shook his head, and -made signs that it was not fit to eat. Nindemann and -Noros went out, and found that the man had come in a -sleigh with reindeer; but there was nothing to eat. He -gave Nindemann a pair of deer-skin boots and a deer-skin, -and in return Nindemann gave him a shirt. The man -made signs that he would require to go, and held up three -or four fingers to indicate that he would return. Whether -he meant in three or four hours, or three or four days, -they could not tell.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About 6 p.m. the man returned with two others, and -brought a frozen fish which he skinned and sliced. They -also brought some deer-skin coats and boots for them, and -then made signs that Nindemann and Noros were to go -with them. The latter made various attempts to make -the natives understand the critical condition of De Long -and party, but utterly failed. Putting Nindemann and -Noros into the sleighs, they drove off with them along -the river to the westwards. They kept on their drive -for about 15 miles, when they came to a couple of -deer-skin tents. Here Nindemann and his companion -received boiled venison. The natives numbered seven -men and three women. One of the women gave -Nindemann water in order that he might wash, but as -he found himself unable to use it, she took pity on him and -washed his face. Again attempts were made to make -the natives understand about the party, but it was -impossible to say how far they were understood. Next day -over one hundred head of deer were harnessed to twenty-seven -sleighs loaded with reindeer meat, skins, and fish, -and driven over the mountains to the southward. About -the end of the second day they came to a collection of -huts, Ku Mark Surka, where there was a great crowd of -people feasting. On the following day, the 25th October, -Nindemann made another desperate attempt to make -himself understood. A model of a boat was produced, -and using sticks, Nindemann showed that the ship had -masts and yards, and that it was a steamer. He then -made models of the ship’s boats. Obtaining two pieces -of ice, he showed how the ship had been crushed. He -next put in each little boat so many sticks to represent -the men in each boat. He then showed a chart of the -ocean and coast-line, and tried to explain how the boats -were separated in a gale. He showed the way they had -walked along the river, and by putting his head down -and closing his eyes he tried to explain how many days -the rest of the party had been left. Sometimes they -seemed to be able to follow him, but no assistance was -offered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Next day an incessant but fruitless attempt to make -themselves understood was made. On the 27th October, -Nindemann could contain himself no longer, and broke -into sobs and groans. A woman in the hut took pity on -him, and began talking earnestly to one of the men, who -came to Nindemann and said something about a commandant. -Late in the evening, a tall Russian, whom -Nindemann took to be the commandant, arrived, but he -understood neither English nor German. He evidently, -however, knew something of affairs, for he uttered two -words, “Jeannette,” “Americansk.” Noros, meanwhile, -was in the hut writing out an explanatory note which -Nindemann and he had composed, and the Russian picked -this up and put it in his pocket, and refused to return it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the morning of the 28th they were taken charge of -by a man who was to take them to Bulun, where they -arrived on the 29th October. Here they saw the commandant, -who turned out to be a different individual -from the one previously seen. He seemed to understand -Nindemann’s signs and pantomimes, and spoke of telegraphing. -Nindemann made signs for pen, ink, and -paper, and dictated to Noros a dispatch to the American -Minister at St. Petersburg. This was taken by the -commandant, who said he would leave with it next -morning.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A hut was assigned to them, and on the 2nd November, -three days after the commandant had gone off with their -dispatch, they were electrified by the arrival of Melville.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We must now leave Nindemann and Noros, and return -to Melville’s party in the whale-boat. It consisted of -Melville, Danenhower, Newcomb, Cole, Leach, Wilson, -Bartlett, Lauterbach, Tong Sing, Aneguin, and Manson.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the night of the 12th September, Melville lost -sight of the other two boats, and contrived to ride out -the gale. He then ran all night of the 13th, to the -west and south-west. On the morning of the 14th the -boat grounded in 2 feet of water, and there was no -land in sight. By running some distance to the east, -deeper water was obtained, but it was not until the -morning of the 16th that land was sighted, consisting of -two low headlands forming the mouth of a large river. -They ascended the river and tried to effect a landing, -but the shoals constantly prevented it. Towards night -a hut was seen, and they succeeded in making a landing -near it. The boat was hauled up, and a fire was kindled. -The men were scarcely able to walk. During four days -of their rough passage they had no water to drink, and -their legs were terribly cramped. After working up the -river two more days, they came to a collection of huts -where they met three natives, and feasted on venison, -goose, and fish. They endeavoured to get the natives to -pilot them to Bulun, but failed. Next day they pushed -on, but were forced to return to the huts. The head-man -of the village had, in the meantime, arrived, and -Melville induced him to agree to pilot the party to -Bulun. They started on the 22nd September, and on -the 26th reached a village where he was informed that -it was a journey of sixteen days to Bulun. Melville -insisted on being taken there, and an attempt was made; -but after struggling with the ice and against the wind, -they had to return to the village. They were given a -hut and an allowance of provisions. Melville prepared -a telegram to the Secretary of the Navy and to the -American Minister at St. Petersburg, and letters were -written in several languages. The head-man of the -village undertook to send these forward.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About the 10th October there came to the village a -Russian exile, who seemed more intelligent than the -others. This was the man who later fell in with -Nindemann and Noros, and who was first mistaken for -the commandant. He arranged with Melville to go to -Bulun and bring reindeer teams for the transportation of -the party, as well as food and clothing. He returned on -the 29th October, when Melville had almost given him up, -and he brought the note from Nindemann and Noros. -As soon as Melville heard that De Long and his party -were in need of assistance, he started by dog-team for -Bulun, which he reached on the 2nd November, as already -related.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Melville now arranged for Danenhower to take charge -of the party while he started north in search of De Long. -He was absent twenty-three days, and during that time -he travelled 663 miles, but although he recovered the -log-books and other articles cached, and found several of -the records left in the huts, he failed to find the bodies. -Winter had now set in severely, and the search had to -be given up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No news had yet been heard of Chipp’s party, and it -may here be mentioned that no trace of them was ever -found. It is probable that the boat went down in the -gale.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Early in the year of 1882, Melville began preparations -to renew the search in the spring. He received instructions -from the American Government to spare no expense. -Food and clothing were transported from Yakutsk to the -Lena Delta, a distance of over 1500 miles. Melville had -Nindemann and Bartlett to assist him when he started -for his second search on the 16th March. On the 23rd -March the bodies were found. De Long, Dr. Ambler, -and Ah Sam, the three who lived longest, were found -lying together.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Melville ascertained that the whole of this district, at -certain seasons of the year, was under water, and he -therefore had the bodies removed some distance to the -south, where he had them buried on a rock about 300 or -400 feet high.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A long search was now made for Chipp and his party, -but, as already mentioned, no trace of them was found.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During 1883 the American Government appropriated -the sum of 25000 dollars for the purpose of having the -bodies conveyed from the Lena Delta to America and -for a further search to be made for the missing boat. -This was carried out by Lieutenant Harber, of the U.S.N.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The fate of this expedition was one of the saddest in -the history of Arctic exploration. It achieved little in -the way of discovery, but yet, as will be hereafter explained, -the loss of the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> had an important -bearing on a future expedition which was destined to -add greatly to our knowledge of the Arctic regions.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/map-5.jpg' alt='' id='map-5' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/> -<p class='caption'>CHART OF GREENLAND AND ELLESMERE ISLAND.</p> -</div> - -<div><h1 id='ch9'>CHAPTER IX<br/> <span class='sub-head'>GREELY’S EXPEDITION (1881−84)</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>Lieutenant Weyprecht, of the Austro-Hungarian Expedition, -at the meeting of the German Scientific and -Medical Association, at Gratz, in September 1875, -presented a plea for systematic Polar exploration and -research.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A Commission, appointed by Prince Bismarck to consider -the question, strongly commended the plan to the -Bundesrath and to all interested nations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Turko-Russian War delayed the question until -1879, when an International Polar Conference met at -Hamburg in October. At this Conference twelve stations -were agreed upon, one of which was to be in the -Archipelago of North America.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The United States did not at first take any action in -the matter, but ultimately they decided that the Signal -Service should form a Polar station at Lady Franklin -Bay, and carry out the programme outlined by the -Hamburg Polar Conference.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A sum of 25000 dollars was appropriated for the -expedition, and Lieutenant Greely was appointed to the -command. He was instructed to establish the station -near Lady Franklin Bay and contiguous to the coal-seam -discovered by the English Expedition of 1875. The -steamer on arrival at the station was to discharge her -cargo and then return to St. John’s, Newfoundland. -Lieutenant Greely was also instructed that it was contemplated -that the station would be visited in 1882 and -in 1883 by a steamer, sailing, or other vessel, by which -supplies as would be deemed needful would be sent. In -case the vessel was unable to reach the station in 1882, -she was to cache a portion of her supplies at the most -northerly point attained on the east coast of Grinnell -Land. In case no vessel reached the station in 1882, -the vessel sent in 1883 was to remain in Smith Sound -until there was danger of its closing by ice, and, on -leaving, was to land all her supplies and a party at -Littleton Island. This party was to be prepared for a -winter’s stay, and was to be instructed to send sledge-parties -up the east side of Grinnell Land to meet Greely’s -party.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>If not visited in 1882, Lieutenant Greely was to -abandon his station not later than 1st September 1883, -and to retreat southward by boat, following closely the -east coast of Grinnell Land until the relieving vessel was -met or Littleton Island reached.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The arrangements promised in these instructions to -Greely are of great importance in the light of subsequent -events.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The steamer <span class='it'>Proteus</span> was selected to convey the party -to Lady Franklin Bay. She was a barkentine-rigged -steamer of oak with two compound engines, 110 horse-power, -467 tons register, had an iron-armed prow, and -was sheathed with iron-wood from above the water-line -to below the turn of the bilge. Her screw was self-lifting, -she had spare rudder and propeller, and was in -every respect suitable for ice-navigation. The charter -of this vessel consumed over ¾ of the appropriation, -leaving less than 6000 dollars for the special outfit of the -party.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The master of the <span class='it'>Proteus</span>, Richard Pike, had for many -years been engaged in the seal fishery of the Labrador -ice, and was one of the most experienced captains and -ice-navigators of Newfoundland.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Greely’s party, numbering twenty-three men in all, -left St. John’s, Newfoundland, on 7th July 1881. -Lieutenant Kislingbury was the second in command, and -Lieutenant Lockwood was third. Dr. Pavy, the surgeon -of the expedition, had spent the preceding year in Greenland, -and joined the party at Godhavn.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gales and thick weather delayed the <span class='it'>Proteus</span>, and the -island of Disco, at Godhavn, was not reached until the -15th July. Twelve dogs with a supply of dog-food were -purchased here, and the <span class='it'>Proteus</span> again sailed on 21st July. -Some more dogs with food and other supplies were -obtained at Ritenbenk, and a considerable number of -sea-birds were shot and hung up in the rigging to dry. -At Upernavik two Eskimo were engaged: Thorlip -Frederik Christiansen, aged thirty-five, and Jens Edward, -aged thirty-eight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the Berry Islands a direct course was laid for -Cape York, which was sighted on the 31st July. -Melville Bay had been found almost clear of ice, and -was crossed in the remarkably short period of thirty-six -hours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Carey Islands were reached on the 1st of August, -and the cairn erected by Sir George Nares in 1875, and -also the dépôt of 3600 rations, were examined. On the -whole, the dépôt was still in good condition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A quantity of coal was landed on the extreme south-western -point of Littleton Island, and the mail landed -by Sir Allen Young for the English Expedition was discovered -at the extreme northern end of the west coast.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To the northward from Littleton Island the sea was -entirely free from ice, and Greely decided not to touch -at Cape Sabine, but to shape a course for Cape Hawks. -The dépôt left here by the English was visited, and, -with the exception of a portion of the bread, was found -to be in good condition. As Greely was short of boats, -he took on with him the English jolly-boat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The cairn on Washington Irving Island was searched, -and the record of Nares was taken, and a copy left with -a new record giving a brief account of the expedition to -date. Near Cape Frazer the first palæocrystic floeberg -was seen. A cache of 200 lb. of meat and 280 lb. of -bread was left at Carl Ritter Bay. Greely points out -that the indentation here is so slight, and the curve so -great, that it is a bight rather than a bay. The south-eastern -part of Lady Franklin Bay was reached on the -4th August, but here a heavy pack was met, and it was -not until the 11th that the <span class='it'>Proteus</span> entered Discovery -Harbour.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On entering the harbour, eleven musk-oxen were seen. -They were immediately followed, and all were shot. It -was found that the <span class='it'>Proteus</span> could not safely approach -Watercourse Bay, and Greely therefore decided to make -his station on the shore of Discovery Harbour, near the -quarters of the English Expedition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The site for a house was soon chosen, and the unloading -of the vessel was proceeded with. The station was named -“Conger,” after Senator Conger, who had interested -himself specially in behalf of the expedition. In addition -to the general supplies, 130 tons of coal were landed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Greely records that, on the 25th August, Lieutenant -Kislingbury, the second in command, spent the day on -the <span class='it'>Proteus</span>, and next day, dissatisfied with the expeditionary -regulations, requested that he be relieved -from duty with the expedition. His request was granted, -and he was ordered to report himself to the Chief Signal -Officer on his return to the States. However, just as -Lieutenant Kislingbury was leaving the station, the -<span class='it'>Proteus</span> got under way, and he was obliged to go back to -Conger. He did not afterwards return to duty as an -officer. Greely gives no explanation of the matter, but -Lockwood in his diary states that one of the annoyances -complained of by Kislingbury was the rule that officers -should rise in the morning with the men.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A wooden house was constructed, 60 by 17 feet. Its -walls were double, the two coverings of ½-inch boards -being separated by an air-space of about a foot. The -roof was only a single board thick, but was covered (like -the sides) with tar-paper. The house had also a ceiling, -and the space between this and the roof afforded an -excellent storage-place for articles which would have -been injured by exposure. The interior of the house was -divided into three rooms, one 17 by 15 feet for the -officers, another 8 by 17 feet served partly as the cook’s -kitchen and partly as an entry, and the third room was -used by the men. The house was conveniently and -pleasantly situated within 30 yards of the water’s edge, -on a small tableland between two brooks, which for a -few months in the year ran into the sea. The coal-mine -was 4 miles distant, and could be reached through a -valley to the eastward.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The house had not been quite finished when field-work -commenced. Greely expresses the view that autumn -sledging should be carefully planned, attempted with -great caution, and never pushed to great distances. He -states that in autumn temperatures the travelling-gear of -a man once wet, the chances of dangerous frost-bites and -disaster increase.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 30th August Dr. Pavy and Sergeant Rice, the -photographer of the expedition, were sent north as far -as practicable towards Cape Joseph Henry. They were to -examine the condition of the English dépôt at Lincoln -Bay, and report on the practicability of autumn and -spring travelling by sledge along the Grinnell Land coast. -They travelled with packs, carrying a dog-tent, blankets, -and provisions to last them as far as the English dépôt, -where their supplies could be renewed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The dépôt at Lincoln Bay was missed in going north, -and the party pushed on to Cape Union before returning -south. Here a channel of open water, 2 miles wide, was -seen to stretch as far northward as the eye could reach. -In returning, the dépôt at Lincoln Bay was discovered, -and was found to be in bad order. Greely recommends -that water-tight cases of very light tin should be used in -protecting stores thus cached.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sergeant Rice, who had broken through the young ice on -his way north, was attacked on the way south by acute -rheumatism. In spite of the severe pain, he made a -determined attempt to walk to the station, but was -ultimately forced to yield. The doctor made him as -comfortable as possible in the tent, and proceeded to -Conger for assistance. A party of men with a sledge -and improvised stretcher was immediately dispatched, -and after considerable difficulty Rice was conveyed to the -station. He rapidly recovered, and ten days later was -again in the field.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During Dr. Pavy’s absence, Greely established a large -supply dépôt near Cape Beechy. On 7th September, -Greely visited the Bellows, a valley about 15 miles from -the station. Ten eider ducks were obtained, and nine out -of fourteen musk-cattle were killed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Pavy, with Private Whisler and Eskimo Jens, left -the station on 2nd October to proceed to Cape Joseph -Henry and lay out along the Grinnell Land coast such -dépôts of provisions as would facilitate spring travel in -that direction. A point near Mount Parry was ultimately -reached, and here 150 lb. of pemmican and 50 lb. bread -were cached. The open condition of the floe-ice in -Robeson Channel prevented further advance. Conger -was again reached on the 9th.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 10th October, Lockwood established a small -dépôt near Cape Baird. On the 13th September a large -pack of wolves made their appearance, and for some time -they were a source of danger. Greely decided to attempt -to poison them, and ultimately succeeded in poisoning -four. The rest then disappeared for that season.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 17th September the first birthday occurred, and -the occasion was taken to inaugurate a practice, which -was afterwards adhered to at Conger, of exempting the -man from duty and of allowing him to select the dinner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The temperature fell below zero on the 20th September, -which Greely believed was the earliest date on record. -The first star at midnight was seen on 9th September, -and so extremely rapid is the approach of darkness in all -very high latitudes that on the 8th October lamps had -to be used throughout the twenty-four hours, except for -an hour at midday.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Scientific observations were conducted regularly and -very carefully at Conger during the whole stay of the -expedition. Some idea of the amount of labour involved -may be conveyed by the statement that the number of -observations recorded daily was as follows: Meteorological, -234; tidal, 28; magnetical, 264—aggregating 526 daily. -On what were called term-days the number of magnetical -observations was increased to over 1200. Pendulum, time, -and sound experiments were also made.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As regards food-supply, the expedition was fortunate -in being able to obtain sufficient musk-meat to enable -each man to have 1 lb. daily during two years at Conger. -Condensed milk, butter, and oatmeal had been taken -in large quantities, and there was a liberal supply of -cheese, macaroni, and condensed eggs. They had also a -large amount of fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes were -found to be the best vegetable, and apples and peaches -were considered the best fruits. One ounce of limejuice -was issued to each man daily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Even after the disappearance of the sun, it was decided -to continue sledging work. On 23rd October, Lockwood -and three men were sent to Dépôt “B,” at Cape Beechy, -to construct a large commodious snow-house for the use -of the sledge-parties. About 4 cwt. of coal from Watercourse -Mine was taken as fuel to be used in a small stove. -At Dépôt “A,” at Cape Murchison, about 3000 lb. of -coal, also from the mine, was accumulated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 3rd November, Lockwood with seven men left the -station to attempt to cross Robeson Channel from Cape -Beechy. Next day Dr. Pavy, Lieutenant Kislingbury, -Sergeant Rice, and Eskimo Jens, with two dog-sledges, -left to add stores to the dépôt in Wrangel Bay. This -latter party succeeded in adding a small quantity of -stores to the dépôt, but Lockwood was unsuccessful in his -attempt to cross Robeson Channel, owing to the open -condition of the straits.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The results of these winter journeys satisfied Greely -that it was not advisable to send sledge-parties to any -considerable distance after the sun has left or before its -return. The sun was last seen at the station on 14th -October, and again reappeared on 28th February, 137 -days later. Very dark nights were, however, uncommon, -and except on a few cloudy and stormy days they were -never prevented by darkness from taking their regular -exercise.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During October a wall of ice, 6 feet high, was constructed -some 3 feet from the house, and was rendered -windproof by a coating of wet snow. The space between -the house and the wall was later filled in with loose, dry -snow, which formed an excellent protection.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As regards clothing, Greely came to the conclusion -that for ordinary use first-class woollen under-garments, -with heavy woollen clothing, are all that is essential in -Arctic service.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In December a number of men gave indications of -being mentally affected by the continual darkness. The -Eskimo were extremely depressed, and on the 13th, Jens -Edward disappeared without eating his breakfast, or even -taking his seal-skin mittens. A search was made, and he -was discovered near Cape Murchison, travelling rapidly -northward. He returned to the station without objection, -and in time recovered his spirits.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The lowest temperature during the winter occurred on -3rd February 1882. The minimum was −62.2°, the maximum -−44.1° F. The protective influence of a snow-hut -was shown by the fact that after a mean temperature -below −50° for five consecutive days, the thermometer -inside read −17°. Even in these extremely low temperatures -some hunting was done. On 16th February the -mercurial thermometers thawed out, after having been -frozen for sixteen days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Preparations for spring sledging were actively commenced -early in February. The saddler, the tinman, the -carpenters and others were kept busy with sledges, boat, -cooking-lamps, sleeping-bags, foot-gear, etc.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Of twenty-seven dogs purchased in Greenland only -twelve were living at the end of 1881. In addition to -these twelve there were three private dogs. This allowed -two teams. As regards sledges, Greely decided to use the -Hudson Bay pattern for the supporting sledges on the -North Greenland coast. This form of sledge is suitable for -the deep snow experienced by Lieutenant Beaumont. Light -strips of ash were fastened to the bottom on each side to -serve as runners, and it was found necessary to shod these -with steel. Greely afterwards recommended future explorers -to use Hunt’s pattern of the St. Michael’s sledge, -with the addition of steel runners so arranged as to be -attached or detached at pleasure. The Hudson Bay sledges, -with lashings and coverings complete, weighed only 35 lb. -The Greenland sledge was adopted as the pattern for the -dog-sledge. The lashings of this sledge being of seal-skin -permit rough handling without the sledge being materially -injured. Its only drawback is the liability of the runners -to split longitudinally through the row of holes bored to -receive the lashings. Greely strengthened the upstanders -and runners of his sledges by setting in plates of wrought -iron. The pine slats commonly in use in Greenland -were replaced by the best American ash, hickory, or oak. -The weight of the sledge used was 105 lb.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sledging ration in 1882 was 39 oz., but it was -increased in 1883 to about 42 oz., consisting of 22 oz. -meat, 2 of butter, 4 of vegetables, 10 of bread, 2 of -sugar, ½ oz. of milk, 1 oz. of tea and chocolate, salt ¼ and -pepper 1/20 of an oz. The meat consisted of pemmican, -bacon, musk-meat, canned sausage, and corned beef. -Limejuice pemmican was found to be very unpalatable, -and was only eaten under press of hunger. Greely’s -parties generally complained that chocolate taken in the -field made them thirsty. No rum was ever sent as a -sledge-ration, but it was furnished as medicine to be used -under extraordinary occasions at the discretion of the -officer in charge. The alcohol allowance of fuel for a -party of three or four, at first 5 oz., was increased to -6 oz., as being the smallest amount on which the food -could be cooked. As the result of his experience, Greely -recommended that the vegetable-ration should be 3 oz. -preserved potatoes, and that the other ounce should be -replaced by half an ounce each of milk and of extract of -beef. Of the meat, only half should be of pemmican, -the balance to be divided between bacon and fresh meat; -the latter to be sliced fine and frozen. In case fresh -meat cannot be obtained, Greely recommended that of -the 11 oz. meat, 4 oz. should consist of bacon and the -balance of sausage and canned fresh meat. The limejuice -was frozen into small squares, each of which represented -a ration. It thaws at a temperature of 14° F.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Greely recommends alcohol of great strength for fuel -in the field, and that it should be carried in tightly sealed -vessels of about 2 gallons. This enables caches to be -frequently made for the return journey. The lamp and -all the cooking vessels were fireproof, made as far as -practicable of single pieces of heavy tin without solder. -A lamp with five wicks was used, and at a temperature -of −20° melted enough snow in sixteen minutes to produce -2½ quarts of water, and in ten minutes more, raised it to -the boiling-point. At the same time, in an open vessel, -there was melted 1½ quart of water. The amount of -alcohol expended was 4 oz.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 19th February 1882, Lieutenant Lockwood with -two men and a dog-sledge left the station to visit Dépôt -“B,” near Cape Beechy, and to examine the ice in -Robeson Channel with a view of selecting the best route -to be followed in a later trip to Thank-God Harbour. -The party returned on the 22nd, having found the ice -favourable.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 1st March, Lockwood with three men set out -for Thank-God Harbour. Two other men with a second -dog-team were to support him as far as possible. The -distance of 28 miles to Dépôt “B” was travelled in five -hours and twenty minutes. The night was spent in the -snow-house there, and next day the whole party set out -across Robeson Channel. When the bad ice near the -shore had been crossed, the supporting sledge-party -returned. Lockwood reached the Greenland coast the -same day as he left Cape Beechy. On the 3rd March -he travelled south along the coast, and arrived at the -observatory above Thank-God Harbour, occupied by -Bessels and Bryan in 1871−72. The sides and one end -of this building were still standing. Six 45 lb. cans of -pemmican, 35 lb. of farina, a half-barrel of limejuice, a -barrel of yellow corn-meal, and 10 barrels of hard bread -were found in the building, in fairly good condition. -There were also hatchets, saws, shovels, lead, shot, gunpowder, -and cartridges for rifle and pistol.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 5th March, Lockwood proceeded to Cape -Sumner over the route followed by Captain Hall in 1870. -During the whole of this day the temperature remained -below −50°, and the party were compelled to continually -keep the warm hand to the face in order to prevent it -from freezing. At night a deep snow-drift was found in -a small ravine, and a hole was dug in this and a house -formed by using the tent and poles for a roof. Next day -Newman Bay was reached in a snowstorm, and shelter -had to be taken in a house made in a snow-bank, where -they had to remain until the morning of the 9th. Here -they had an experience they were not likely to forget. -Lockwood and Jewell had used up or had lost their stock -of matches. Brainard had some, but they seemed damp -and would not light. They were 60 miles from the -station, and there was a temperature of freezing mercury -outside. Without fire they could not obtain water, and -without water they could not live long. The matches -were tried again and again, but only gave a flicker and -went out. At last Jewell produced a love-letter which -had been carefully kept in an inside garment, and holding -a piece to the next match it caught the flame, and with -this the alcohol-lamp was at once lighted. The cause of -the matches not lighting eventually proved to be the -vitiated, damp atmosphere of the hut.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Eight hours’ travelling on the 9th brought the party -to Boat Camp, where the canvas and whale-boats were -found in very much the same condition described by the -English. From this camp, Cape Sumner was readied -in an hour and a half, and the tent pitched. Here -Lockwood decided to leave the tent, sleeping-bag, and -some other articles of use for further exploration, and -to return to Conger. The party started on the 10th in -a temperature of −41°, and crossed Robeson Channel to -Dépôt “B” in 12½ hours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 5th March, Dr. Pavy, with two men and a dog-sledge, -was sent to convey a sledge-load of provisions to -as northerly a point on the Greenland coast as could be -reached in one day’s march from Cape Beechy. They -reached the Greenland coast, and cached the supplies at -a point called the “Gap.” They returned to Conger on -the 9th.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 13th March, Sergeant Brainard, with seven men, -was ordered to take a small boat with such additional -supplies as could be hauled, to the dépôt near Cape -Sumner. The party left the snow-house near Cape -Beechy on 15th March, in a temperature of −50.5°. -The Greenland coast was reached on the 17th, after very -severe labour. On the way one man had to be sent -back to Dépôt “B.” Brainard reported that he placed -the boat beside a huge rock, and fastened her down -securely with boxes, rocks, etc., first placing hard bread, -medical knapsack, etc., under her, to prevent them from -being blown away. The channel was then recrossed, and -Dépôt “B” reached on the 19th, and Conger on the -20th March.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 19th March, Dr. Pavy, Sergeant Rice, and Eskimo -Jens, with a dog-team, were sent north in an attempt -to reach land to the northward of Cape Joseph Henry. -Greely states that Pavy was confident that land would -eventually be discovered in that direction. Sergeant -Jewell and Eskimo Christiansen were detached as a -supporting party as far as Lincoln Bay. Dr. Pavy on -reaching the dépôt previously formed by him near Mount -Parry found that a bear had eaten 70 lb. of the -pemmican.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Cape Union the party were storm-stayed for -twenty-two hours. Two trips had to be made back to -Lincoln Bay to bring north supplies. On the 31st -March they left Lincoln Bay with the last load, but when -near Cape Union the right runner of the sledge broke -longitudinally through the lashing-holes. Rice offered -to return to Conger for a new runner, and started at -once with Eskimo Jens. They made the journey to -Dépôt “B” in one march, but the Eskimo was completely -exhausted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sledge having been repaired, the party finally left -Lincoln Bay on the 6th April, and reached the <span class='it'>Alert’s</span> -winter quarters on the 11th. Beneath the large stone -that covers the grave of Petersen they found that a -hare had taken up its residence. The signal flag-staff, -with attached halliards, at Cape Sheridan, was still -standing in as firm a condition as when erected in 1875.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instead of crossing the Feilden Peninsula, Dr. Pavy -decided, on account of the bare ground in some places, -to follow the coast to Cape Joseph Henry. This decision, -though it seemed wise at the time, probably proved fatal -to the success of the journey. During the 18th and -19th April a severe storm confined them to their tent. -During the 20th and 21st they succeeded in transporting -their stores to a point on the polar pack about 4 miles -north of Cape Joseph Henry. On the 21st another -storm was experienced, which continued as a severe gale -during the night. On advancing north on the 23rd, Jens -suddenly announced the presence of water. This was -found to be an open channel a mile wide, which had -probably been caused by the gale. The ice on which -the party was seemed to be in motion, and Dr. Pavy -therefore decided to return to Cape Joseph Henry. On -arriving opposite the cape, open water of three-quarters -of a mile in extent was found between the ice and the -land. Ultimately the ice closed in against the shore -and allowed the party to retreat in haste, abandoning -their tent, some provisions, and part of the scientific -instruments. Dr. Pavy, under the impression that -Robeson Channel was open, decided to return in haste -to Conger, in case his retreat might be cut off. The -station was reached on the 2nd of May.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 26th April, Greely with three men started for -the interior of Grinnell Land. They entered Conybeare -Bay, and discovered that it was a large fiord, which was -named “Chandler Fiord.” On reaching the head of this -they passed along the bed of a river, and at certain -places could hear the water running under the ice. -Ultimately they came to a point where the river was -open, and they were forced to take to the hillside. A -short distance farther a surprise awaited them in the form -of an immense ice-bound lake, which was named “Lake -Hazen.” The station at Conger was again reached on -7th May.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The most important sledge-journey undertaken by the -expedition began on the 3rd of April, under the command -of Lieutenant Lockwood. Its object was the exploration -of the North Greenland coast. The advance sledge was -to be hauled by dogs, with Eskimo Christiansen as driver, -and Lockwood was to select one man from the supporting -party before their return. This latter party consisted -of twelve men, with four sledges of the Hudson Bay -pattern.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The average amount of extra clothing was 10 lb. per -man. The clothing worn was generally double suits of -underclothing, three pairs of socks, with outer ordinary -wool clothing, over which a light duck suit was worn, -to keep the snow from adhering to the wool. A few -only wore outer clothing of skin. The foot-gear consisted -of moccasins, and Greenland, Labrador, and canvas boots.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The party left Dépôt “B” to cross Robeson Channel -on the evening of 5th April. The load was equal -to 130 lb. to each man, and 100 lb. to each of the -dogs. Next day one man suffering from rheumatism -was ordered to return to the station; and later another -man who had frozen one of his toes was taken back to -Cape Beechy by Lockwood. On the 7th the party -experienced a violent gale, which confined them to their -sleeping-bags forty-five hours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On reaching Polaris Boat Camp, one of the Hudson -Bay sledges had been so injured by the rough ice that it -was practically useless. At this camp the wind again -became very violent, blew down the tent, and one gust -lifted the dog-sledge, with its load of 200 lb., bodily -from the ground. The sledge struck one man, knocking -him several yards and injuring him severely. Two other -men, owing to illness, had to be sent back from this -camp.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The party were employed until the 16th April in -accumulating at Boat Camp the stores from the other -dépôts, and while this was being done Lockwood returned -to Conger for an extra set of runners, as he was afraid -that the runners of the dog-sledge might break down.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The party started from Boat Camp with 300 rations -on 16th April. The eight dogs hauled about 800 lb., -and each man hauled about 217 lb. on the second sledge. -On the third and fourth sledges the men dragged about -150 lb. each. The constant weights of the dog-sledge -were 243 lb., and of the remaining sledges 375 lb.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the first six days they had to travel over land, -and after tremendous exertions the sea-coast was again -reached on 22nd April. The party arrived at Cape -Bryant on 27th April. On this journey one of -Beaumont’s caches was discovered, and the rations -found were taken on to Cape Bryant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At this point the supporting party were sent back, -and Lockwood, Brainard, and Christiansen, with rations -for twenty-five days, set out on 29th April towards their -farthest north. The weight carried amounted to about -783 lb., and consisted of rations 227 lb., dog-pemmican -300 lb., equipments 176 lb., and dog-sledge 80 lb.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A course across the fiord towards Cape May was taken, -and the weather was delightful. Sixteen miles were -covered in eight hours. Next day the snow was soft -and deep, like that experienced by Beaumont, and it was -found necessary to advance with half-load and then return -for the other. Lockwood now gave up the idea of visiting -Cape May, and directed his course towards Cape Britannia. -After this hard work Lockwood and Brainard could not -sleep well, but the Eskimo invariably snored two minutes -after composing himself to rest. On the 2nd May they -came to a crack in the ice, and had to follow it several -hundred yards before they could cross it. Thinking this -would be a good chance to get a deep-sea sounding, -Lockwood ran out all the line he had, but did not reach -bottom. He then attached coils of seal-thongs, then some -rope, and finally the dog-whip, but still did not reach -bottom at 820 feet. After hesitating whether he would -also use the dog-traces, they began to pull up the line, -and had drawn out the whip, when the rope broke, and -everything below was lost. All further attempts at -sounding were thus prevented.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cape Britannia was reached on 4th May. This was -the <span class='it'>Ultima Thule</span> of Beaumont’s hopes, and quite as far -as Greely expected Lockwood to reach. A cairn was -built, and in it was deposited a record, five days’ rations, -three days’ dog-food, the extra sledge-runner, shelter-tent, -little lamp, and the snow-shoes. Lockwood and Brainard -ascended to the top of the cape, 1950 feet high, where -a cairn was built and a record deposited. The latitude -was found to be 82° 44′.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Rounding Cape Frederick next day, they camped opposite -Nordenskjöld Inlet. A tidal-crack was here again -met with. On the 6th May, Mascart Inlet was reached, -after a ten hours’ march which exhausted both men and -dogs. Numerous signs of animal-life were seen here; a -hare was captured, and traces of foxes, lemmings, bears, -and musk-oxen were observed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 7th May, Low Point was reached. The latitude of -this place is the same as Cape Columbia, the most northern -point of Grinnell Land. On the 10th May, De Long Fiord -was crossed, and cairns constructed on the northern and -southern points. The party camped on Mary Murray -Island, in latitude 83° 19′, and were here delayed 63½ hours -by a violent gale. A lemming was captured by the dogs -at this camp.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Lockwood Island was reached on the 13th of May, and -England’s record was at last broken. The honours of the -farthest north had been held by England for three -centuries. The highest latitude reached by Lockwood -was 83° 24′, against Markham’s 83° 20′ 26″.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the summit of the island, which was ascended by -Lockwood and Brainard, could be seen a rocky headland, -Cape Kane, to the north, and still some distance beyond, -another, Cape Washington. On Lockwood Island -numerous traces of foxes, lemmings, hares, and ptarmigan -were seen. On the summit, Lockwood left a record in a -small tin box under a few small stones, as no large ones -could be found.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The return journey was commenced on the evening of the -16th May, and Cape Bryant was reached in nine marches. -After leaving Cape Britannia, where they again obtained -the snow-shoes, deep snow was met, and Lockwood and -Brainard used the shoes for the first time, and found -immense relief. Both bitterly regretted they had not -used them going north.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From Cape Bryant to Polaris Boat Camp was passed -over in six marches. Here three of the supporting party -awaited their return. From this camp the whole party -crossed Robeson Channel to Cape Beechy in fourteen hours -in face of a violent snowstorm. Conger was reached on -1st June, after an absence of sixty days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The mean temperature during the outward part of this -journey was below zero. The distance of 276 miles entailed -travel of 470 miles. Lockwood personally during the -sixty days covered 1070 miles in forty-six marches. His -discoveries extended 95 miles along the North Greenland -coast beyond the farthest point seen by Beaumont.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The winter at Conger had been of great severity, the -mean temperature for the 131 days without the sun being -−32.3°.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 19th May 1882, Greely visited the coal-mine. He -found the seam 200 yards long and extending 8 feet above -the level of the creek. An immense quantity of coal -could be easily mined.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 24th June, Greely with four men left for the -interior of Grinnell Land, through Black Rock Vale. A -two-wheeled wagon was used to carry the provisions, etc. -This valley was entirely barren of snow, and in most -places was covered with a comparatively luxuriant vegetation. -Grasses or sedges 10 or 12 inches in height were -frequently noticed on the banks of a river. The temperature -during the journey remained extremely high. On -one occasion the thermometer reached 74° F. in the shade, -and as many as fifty butterflies were seen in one day!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Beyond this valley, a system of small lakes, draining -from one into another, was found to finally discharge into -Lake Hazen. Numerous birds and herds of musk-oxen -were met with. Traces of Eskimo were discovered in -many places both in the form of summer encampments -and permanent winter huts. These must have been -inhabited within a comparatively recent period. From -the various relics found, Greely formed the opinion that -these Eskimo had dogs, sledges, arrows, and skinning-knives, -and that they fed on musk-oxen, seals, hares, and -occasionally fish.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After travelling over 100 miles from Conger, the -wagon broke down completely, and had to be abandoned. -The remainder of the journey was made with knapsacks. -Skirting the south shore of Lake Hazen until its termination -was reached, they ascended a river which entered the -lake. One of the men became exhausted carrying a heavy -load, and had to be sent back. Near the source of the -river Greely ascended a mountain with great difficulty. -The height was ascertained to be 4500 feet above sea−level, -and Greely believed it to be the highest mountain -in Grinnell Land. He named it “Mount Arthur.” It is -the crest of the land, and the farther side drains to the -western sea.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They now started on their return journey, and reached -Conger on 10th July. The journey entailed an aggregate -of 352 miles’ travel in nineteen marches—an average -of 17½ miles, which was a remarkably good performance -over rough country.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A ship was anxiously expected in either July or August, -but these months passed without it making an appearance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The first serious breach of discipline took place on -28th August. The engineer having stolen some of the -fuel-alcohol, was found drunk. About the beginning of -October a bear visited Conger on several occasions, and -Greely thought it necessary to require the men to obtain -authority for any extended absence from the station. In -connection with this order, Sergeant Lynn was reduced to -the ranks for having made a “disrespectful remark.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From 14th to 19th November there was a great -magnetic storm, which was general throughout the world. -During this time the auroral displays were magnificent, -and on the 17th the magnetic needle ranged in variation -considerably over 19°.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The second winter passed, and left the party in much -better health and spirits than had been anticipated. -There had been an abundance of fresh meat, and no scurvy -made its appearance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The spring work of 1883 was to be a renewal of -explorations in North Greenland. Lockwood left Conger -for his preliminary journey on 10th March, with five men -and dog-teams. During an absence of seven days he -accumulated about 1300 lb. of field-supplies near Cape -Sumner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He started on his final journey northwards on 27th -March. He was instructed to return to Polaris Boat -Camp not later than 31st May. The party left thoroughly -equipped, and had the former year’s experience in their -favour. The journey to Black Horn Cliffs from Conger -was made in six days, against twenty-two days in 1882. -Here, however, open water was met, and the party had to -return. They reached Conger on the 12th of April.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In discussing this journey, Greely expresses his belief in -an open Polar Sea which could only be entered by a ship -in extremely favourable years by the Spitzbergen route. -The huge floebergs of the north are given off by glacial -lands in the vicinity of the North Pole, according to -Greely’s view. The discoveries of Nansen prove the non-existence -of an open Polar Sea, and Peary claims to have -discovered that the source of the floebergs is in the -glaciers of the extreme north of Greenland.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 25th of April, Lockwood with Brainard and -Christiansen left Conger to attempt to cross Grinnell Land -to the western ocean. They had a team of the best ten -dogs, and provisions to last thirty-one days. A supporting -sledge was to accompany them for two marches. Lockwood’s -fourth camp was situated about 67 miles from -Conger. Lieutenant Archer in 1876, with an eight-man -sledge, took fourteen days to do the same distance. This -illustrates the great difference between sledging with dogs -and with men.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From Archer Fiord, Lockwood passed along the Ella -Valley to the base of a glacier 150 feet above the sea. -The glacier stretched from side to side of the valley, and -was found impassable. Lockwood next decided to try the -route <span class='it'>via</span> Beatrix Bay. From the head of this bay they -passed along a valley to its termination, and then had to -turn off to the north up a steep rocky ravine. Here -the large sledge had to be left, and a small one -brought specially for land-travelling was afterwards used. -From this camp they started for Musk-ox Valley on 8th -May. The following day’s march carried them to the -apparent end of the valley, and they then entered a cañon -which seemed to end in a glacier 8 or 10 ten miles distant; -but as no other route seemed possible it was followed. -This cañon took them into a broad valley with a lake in -its centre. The wall of a glacier apparently rose all along -the south side of the valley, and the country behind -seemed one continuous glacial surface. Travelling in a -south-west direction, they found the ice-capped land presented -to their view a vertical face of solid ice from 125 feet -to 200 feet in height. This wall of ice ran across the -country in such a manner that Lockwood named it “The -Chinese Wall Glacier,” but later it was designated Mer de -Glace Agassiz. The next march brought them to the -watershed of Grinnell Land. They now descended a -narrow gorge bounded on either side by towering mountains, -and finally reached a narrow valley 1000 feet lower down. -Passing along this valley, and still rapidly descending, -they reached the head of a fiord where the water was -salt. This was named “Greely Fiord.” Proceeding -about 26 miles down the fiord, they reached their farthest -on 13th May, and camped in a heavy snowstorm. By -fasting nineteen hours, they were enabled to remain here -until the storm abated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The return journey had to be made on short rations. -This party travelled 437 miles during their month’s -absence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The work of exploration was now practically completed, -and preparations for the contingency of a retreat southward -began to receive serious attention. Greely had -already established a large dépôt of provisions at Cape -Baird, on the south side of Archer Fiord, and 12 miles -from Conger. This work was begun as early as the 1st -February. Dr. Pavy protested against the work as -entailing unnecessary exposure, and some warm words -evidently passed between the doctor and Greely. The -latter makes the charge that this was the first of a series -by which Dr. Pavy opposed all the work initiated during -1883. The doctor’s objection was no doubt to the work -being done during the coldest month of the year. Greely -takes great credit for establishing this dépôt 12 miles from -the station, but it is only just to the doctor to state that -Lockwood in his diary mentions the fact that as early as -March 1883 Dr. Pavy and two others of the party were -in favour of abandoning all further explorations, and -applying their efforts to depositing provisions down the -straits to secure their safe retreat in boats in August and -September. No mention of this fact is made by Greely. -He states that the correspondence between them formed -part of his official report, but has no place in his book.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Lockwood also states that, on his return from his North -Greenland journey of 1883, Lieutenant Kislingbury’s only -thought seemed to be that a sledge-party should be sent -down to Littleton Island to have the ship leave her -supplies at Cape Sabine instead of at the island, and that -in expressing this view Kislingbury merely reflected the -latest opinion of the doctor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The reader may be left to judge what effect it would -have had on the ultimate fate of the party had these -ideas been carried out.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In order further to insure a safe retreat, Greely decided -to bring from Thank-God Harbour the English ice-boat -left there by Beaumont in 1876. This boat was brought -across the channel by twelve men, who made the trip of -90 miles in six days in a mean temperature of −21°.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 1st June, Greely being dissatisfied with the manner -in which Dr. Pavy had kept the specimens of natural -history and the notes concerning them, transferred the -work to Lockwood. On the 19th July the bitter feeling -between Greely and Dr. Pavy was aggravated by the -latter declining to renew his contract, which expired on -the 20th July, and refusing to give up his diary. As Dr. -Pavy insisted that he was out of service and refused to -obey orders, Greely thought it necessary to place him -under arrest, with permission to take such exercise as was -necessary within a mile of the station.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All preparations for the retreat having been completed -by 29th July, an order was issued announcing that -Conger would be deserted on 8th August if no vessel -should arrive. All private property was to be left behind, -except 8 lb. of baggage for each man and 16 lb. -for each officer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The station was abandoned on 9th August, the weather -conditions on the 8th not being favourable. The dogs -were left behind, and several barrels of seal-blubber, pork, -beef, and bread were opened, so that they might maintain -life for several months in case the party might be compelled -to return to Conger. Three tons of coal remained, -and a sufficient quantity of provisions to have supplied -scant army rations for one year, with the exception of -flour, sugar, vegetables, milk, and butter. The entire -collection of natural history specimens and the original -records of the expedition were left at Conger.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cape Baird was reached on 10th August. Here the -caches were taken up, and then the launch, with three -boats in tow, was steered down Kennedy Channel. The -whole party of twenty-five were then in good health, and -little could they dream of the horrors they were to undergo.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 12th August, Sergeant Cross, the engineer, -was found to be under the influence of liquor. He had -allowed the launch to ground on the falling tide. On -this date Carl Ritter Bay was reached, and the cache -made by Greely on his way north was taken up. On the -13th their progress was arrested by an enormous floeberg, -60 feet in height above the water, which had grounded -1 mile from the shore, and between it and the shore -was an unbroken floe. A later examination of the floeberg -discovered that it had split and formed a narrow -cleft about 12 feet wide and over 100 yards long. Into -this narrow passage, with walls of ice about 60 feet high -on either side, the boats were steered, and the dangerous -run was made without accident.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 15th August, Cross was again intoxicated, -and Greely found it necessary to put Private Frederick -permanently in charge of the engine. On the 21st -August the boats were caught between the moving pack -and an ice-foot 10 feet high, and rather severely nipped. -The English cache at Cape Collinson, consisting of 240 -rations of meat, salt, pepper, onion-powder and fuel, and -120 rations of bread, was taken up on 22nd August. -Cape Hawks was reached on 26th August. Here it was -found that the record left on the northward journey had -been untouched. This proved that no vessel had reached -this point either in 1882 or 1883, and Greely began to -see that the position of his party was critical. He -calculated that on this date he had still sixty days’ -provisions, except sugar. The English dépôt left here -was also found. The bread was very mouldy, but all -that was eatable was taken, and the barrels were broken -up for steaming purposes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cape Hawks was left on the afternoon of 26th August, -and on the same day they became beset. The temperature -was now low, and young ice formed rapidly. The -Eskimo killed a seal on 1st September, and another on -the 2nd.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 3rd September, Greely took the wise course of -calling together the officers and two of the sergeants -and pointing out to them the necessity of hearty and -united action. He expressed a desire for the frankest -opinion of each one as to what would be the wisest -measures to take. Various opinions were expressed, but -Greely decided to make no immediate movement.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile they slowly drifted southwards. A tepee -after the Indian style was made of the sails, and could -accommodate eighteen men. The ice-boat with a canvas -shelter could hold nine. On 6th September they were only -3 miles from Bache Island, and about 17 from Cape Sabine. -On the 10th September the launch was abandoned, and -a start was made for the land with two boats dragged -on sledges. On the 12th one of the two boats had to be -left, as it was feared that it would break down the -sledge. On this date the last of the sugar was used. -A high south-west wind sprang up on the 14th, and in -three hours drove the party farther north than they had -travelled south in three days. This gave rise to much -disappointment, and Greely’s troubles were aggravated -by the criticisms of Dr. Pavy. On the 15th the latitude -was found to be 1 mile farther north than where the -launch was abandoned. On the 16th they were directly -north of Littleton Island, at a distance of 30 miles from -Cairn Point, Greenland, and 19 miles from Cape Sabine. -Greely now held the view that the next start should be -for the Greenland coast, and although he received little -support from the officers, he was prepared to avail himself -of any chance of moving in that direction. Unfortunately, -next day it was found that they had drifted 3 miles to -the west, and this changed Greely’s intention of attempting -to reach the Greenland coast. On the 18th land -seemed comparatively near, but on the 19th a south-west -gale sprang up, and they were drifted far to the east -again. Greely now held a conference with the officers -and two of the sergeants, and expressed the opinion that -everything but 2000 lb. selected baggage should be -abandoned, and with twenty days’ rations the party -should start across the pack for the Greenland shore, -about 23 miles distant. The sergeants were inclined to -favour Greely’s plan, but the others recommended delay. -Greely decided to wait till next day, but fog prevented -any move being made. The drift later set again to the -west, and on the 25th they were within 3 miles of -Brevoort Island. On the 26th a gale caused the floe, on -which the party were, to break up, and it was with great -difficulty that they escaped destruction. Land to the -south of Cape Sabine was at last reached on 29th -September. The retreat from Conger involved over 400 -miles’ travel by boats, and fully 100 with sledge and boat. -The condition of the party during the drift had been -wretched in the extreme. In spite of all difficulties, -however, the party reached land in fairly good health -and with undiminished numbers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 1st October, Rice and Jens started for Cape -Sabine, taking with them a record to deposit in the cache. -They returned on the 9th October, and brought momentous -news. Three caches were found at the cape, and in one of -them a record brought back by Rice explained that the relief -steamer had been wrecked and sunk on the 23rd July 1883; -that a dépôt of some of the provisions had been made at -Cape Sabine, and that a second steamer was on her way -to Littleton Island. Lieutenant Garlington, who wrote -this record, also stated that he was leaving for the -eastern shore, and that everything within the power of -man would be done to rescue Greely’s party.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the strength of this record, Greely decided to proceed -to Cape Sabine and await the promised help. The -whale-boat abandoned on the ice was found by Rice at -Payer Harbour safe and whole. On the 11th October, Rice -started for Cape Isabella to ascertain whether the second -relief ship had left supplies there. Cross, on this day, -again managed to get under the influence of liquor. -Next day the whole party left their temporary shelter to -proceed to Cape Sabine, so as to avoid having to bring -the supplies from that point. The cache left by the -wrecked party was reached on the 15th, and Greely -decided to take up quarters near it. On the cache being -examined, it was found that instead of 500 rations (as -mentioned in Garlington’s record) there were scarcely 100. -In this record the statement was also made that a boat -had been left at Cape Isabella. On the 15th, Rice -returned and stated that no boat could be found, and -that only 144 lb. English meat was cached there. On -the 17th the temperature was 6° below zero, and the -party had practically no shelter. It was decided to build -a stone house 25 feet by 18. Owing to the scarcity of -rocks, the walls were made only 3 feet high, and a boat -was placed on the top to form a roof. When sitting in -their bags the heads of the tall men touched the roof. -Under the boat was the only place where a man could get -on his knees and hold his head erect. In this miserable -dwelling the winter had to be passed on starvation -rations. Holes were cut in the sides of the boat, in -which oars were inserted, which reaching to the side walls -and fastened by ropes, supported the canvas and overlying -blocks of snow which formed part of the roof. The -house was surrounded with snow, and at one end a snow-house -was built for the stores. Sand was put on the -floor over the uneven rocks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The provisions from the various caches were slowly -brought to the house under great difficulties. The -records of the expedition and the pendulum were cached -on Stalknecht Island in a prominent position, so that -no one visiting Payer Harbour could miss seeing it. A -record similar to the one placed on Brevoort Island was -put in the sextant-box and left in the cache.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 29th October the party decided that one of two -mattresses should be set aside for Greely, who directed -that the other should be disposed of by lot. Greely also -generously turned over his own mattress to Sergeant -Gardiner, who was ill. A considerable part of the dog-biscuits -was found mouldy, but although Greely gave -orders that the bad ones should be thrown away, the -whole were afterwards eaten by the famished men.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 1st November the daily ration was cut down to -about 6 oz. bread, 4 oz. meat, and 4 oz. vegetables, etc.; -a total of about 14 oz. On this ration it was calculated -that the party could be provided for until 1st March 1884, -at which date there would be ten days’ rations of 20 oz. -each in which to cross Smith Sound by sledge.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 2nd November, Rice, Frederick, Elison, and Lynn -left for Cape Isabella to obtain the English meat cached -there. The Arctic night had commenced a week before -this date, and the moon had chiefly to be depended on for -light. Cape Isabella was reached on the 7th November. -The first march of fourteen hours on the return journey was -a very exhausting one, and had to be done on a cup of tea -and no food. During this march Elison froze both his -hands and feet. Frederick and Rice lay on either side of -Elison, and tried in many ways to impart heat to his -frosted limbs. Next day Frederick had to support and -half carry Elison. On the 9th, in order to save Elison, it -became necessary to abandon the meat. On the 10th, -Rice started for the camp at Cape Sabine to obtain -assistance. He had to travel 25 miles almost in total -darkness, and he accomplished the distance in sixteen hours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During this time, and until assistance arrived, Frederick -and Lynn tried to keep Elison warm, but in a few hours -the sleeping-bag became frozen so hard that they could not -turn over, and had to lie in one position eighteen hours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Elison’s feet and hands were frozen solid, and his face -was little better, yet he arrived at Cape Sabine alive, -although in a very critical condition. The rescue party, -enfeebled through want of food, made a journey of nearly -40 miles in forty-four hours, over very rough and heavy ice, -exposed to temperatures ranging from 19° to 34° below -zero, and almost in darkness. Sad to relate, this party -of rescuers and rescued, with the exception of two, all -afterwards perished.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 4th November it was found that some one had -been tampering with the stores. On the 9th, Lockwood -discovered an opened but full can of milk hidden away. -About the middle of November, Greely began to give -lectures, so as to interest the men and kill time. On -4th December, Greely states that he heard Dr. Pavy -taking bread from Elison’s bread-can, but did not charge -him with it. A considerable number of foxes were killed -during December, and allowed a slightly increased ration. -For Christmas an attempt had been made to save some -provisions, although the whole party were starving. -Breakfast on that day consisted of a thin pea-soup, with -seal-blubber and a small quantity of preserved potatoes. -The dinner was a more elaborate affair, and included seal-stew, -potatoes, bread, pickled onions, and a kind of rice -pudding. At night everybody was required to sing a -song or tell a story, and the proceedings continued till -midnight. The only extra rations for New Year’s Day -were cloudberries and a quarter of a lemon and gill of -rum to each man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 2nd January 1884, Elison’s right foot separated -from the ankle when the doctor severed a fragment of -skin. The patient was quite unconscious of the fact. -Later he lost the other foot and both hands in the same -manner, and for long afterwards he still believed he -possessed them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 4th January it was found that a hole had been -cut through the canvas roof of the storehouse and a piece -of bacon fished out. On the 7th some one made a hole -with an axe in one of the barrels of bread and stole -several pounds.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Up till the 12th January water had been obtained from -a lake near the house, but after that date ice had to be -melted. This meant a heavy drain on their fuel, and the -quantity of tea had to be reduced one-half. On the -16th January, Lockwood was so weak that he could not -rise without assistance. Cross was unable to walk, and -several others of the party were becoming very weak.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cross died on the 18th January; his habits had no -doubt undermined his constitution, and he was therefore -the first to succumb. He was buried 15 inches deep on -the summit of a hill near the camp. Next day was his -birthday, and it was found that he had saved up a considerable -quantity of bread and butter to celebrate it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 19th January it was found that the bread was -overrunning the estimate, and the ration was increased a -half-ounce. This partly dispelled the gloom caused by -the first funeral. On the 21st January it was discovered -that at some time twelve cans of milk had been stolen. On -the 26th, Rice and Jens received an extra allowance of -food, so as to strengthen them for a proposed trip to -Littleton Island. At this time old leather boots were -being burned to augment the fuel. The general ration -was again slightly increased on the 28th. A still further -increase was made on 1st February. On the 2nd, Rice -and Jens started for Littleton Island, accompanied by -Brainard and Christiansen for a short distance. They -carried six days’ rations. They returned on the 6th February, -having found open water. Rice believed that he -reached within 10 miles of Littleton Island. The trip -exhausted Jens very much.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 27th February the last of the onions, dog-biscuits, -and coffee was reached. On 2nd March the last general -issue of lemons took place, and the last can of milk was -opened for Elison. On 3rd March, Frederick was promoted -by Greely to be sergeant in place of Cross, who had -died. This and similar promotions were afterwards disapproved -of on the ground that there was “no precedent -for them”! Red tape in its most vivid colours can -evidently flourish in the land of “liberty.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 11th March, Long and Christiansen were sent to -Alexandra Harbour in search of game. They returned -on the 13th very much exhausted. They saw no game -and no tracks, except of a single fox. On the 14th, -Brainard shot three ptarmigans, the first game obtained -since early in February. Three other were shot on the -15th, and four dovekies on the 16th. On the 17th the -rations had to be reduced to 7 oz. of bread and 4 oz. -of meat. On the 21st a net was made in which to catch -shrimps, and next day about a pint was obtained. By -this date the idea of crossing Smith Sound had been given -up, as the strength of the party was insufficient for the -task. On the 24th of March the entire party were in -great danger of perishing from the fumes of the alcohol-lamp -used in cooking. The chimney had been closed -with rags, as usual, so that as much heat as possible -might be retained in the hut at night, and the cooks had -forgotten to remove the rags before beginning cooking. -Several of the men were rendered unconscious, but soon -recovered in the air outside the hut. It was remarked -afterwards by all the men who got out of the hut, that -every one attempted to assist his neighbour except Henry, -who held himself aloof, evidently caring for no one but -himself. Greely and several of the men suffered severely -from frost-bites as the result of the exposure. After -order was restored, and the breakfast cooked, it was found -that a piece of bacon had been stolen. Jens had seen -Henry take the bacon and conceal it within his shirt. -Just before dinner, Henry complained of being sick, and -soon after he vomited. Frederick, on examination, found -that the vomited matter contained a considerable quantity -of undigested bacon. A general investigation of Henry’s -conduct was made on the 25th, which clearly established -his guilt, not only of the bacon, but that he took a double -allowance of rum after the theft. Greely relieved Henry -from duty, and he was prohibited from leaving his sleeping-bag -except under the supervision of one of his -comrades. Two days later, 10 oz. chocolate reserved for -Elison was stolen, and Henry was suspected.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For the first time in five months a ray of sunlight -entered the wretched hut on 25th March. On the 27th, -Long was fortunate in obtaining thirty-three dovekies. On -the 28th, Rice got 27 lb. of shrimps, Long secured fourteen -more dovekies, and Christiansen shot a ptarmigan. -This success caused great rejoicing among the starving -men.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 29th March, Elison wished the doctor to do -something for his itching feet, unconscious that they had -been gone since early in January. On the 3rd April all -that remained of provisions consisted of 5 lb. of meat, -3 lb. of bread, and about 2 lb. of stearine to each man. -From 20 to 30 lb. of shrimps were, however, being -obtained daily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The second death took place on 5th April. Christiansen, -one of the Eskimo, had been thoroughly used up in the -hunting expedition with Long, and never quite recovered. -Extra food was given to him during the week previous to -his death, in the hope of saving him. Lockwood had a -great affection for him, and had much to say in his -praise.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Deaths now followed one another quickly. Lynn became -unconscious at 1 p.m. on 6th April, and died at 7 p.m. -When dying he asked for water, but there was none to -give him. The Isabella trip had weakened him both -physically and mentally.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 6th April, Rice and Private Frederick started -to attempt the recovery of the English beef which had to -be abandoned to save Elison. They had wished to make -the attempt earlier in the year, but Greely would not -consent. Now, when provisions were almost gone, he -agreed. Before leaving, Rice slept in the same bag -containing his dead comrade Lynn, all unconscious of the -fact that, in two days more, he too would pass away. The -temperature when they started was 8° below zero. Next -day they were confined to their bag twenty-two hours by a -violent storm. They reached the place where the meat -had been abandoned, but could not find it. Soon afterwards -Rice showed signs of weakness. Frederick gave -him some spirits of ammonia in rum, until he made some -tea. Then, giving him some warm food and drink, he -urged him to walk, in order to avoid freezing. His -condition had now, however, become so alarming that he -could not stand up, and his mind continually reverted to -home, relations, and friends. Frederick stripped himself -of his jumper, in which to wrap Rice’s feet. In his shirt-sleeves, -sitting on the sledge, in a driving storm of wind -and snow, he held his dying comrade in his arms for -several hours, until he passed away. The feelings of -Frederick may be imagined; his sleeping-bag had been -left some miles away, and to reach it he must struggle -against a cutting blast filled with drifting snow. -Recovering strength by sleep and a little food, he returned -6 miles to cover his comrade with snow and ice. In -returning to the camp at Cape Sabine, he dragged his -sledge as far as his feebleness would permit, then took a -little food, and getting into his bag, drank a spoonful of -ammonia and rum, which enabled him to sleep. As soon -as he awoke, he travelled on as before. In this way he -hauled everything back to the camp, even including Rice’s -rations. It may truly be said that Rice laid down his -life for his comrades. On several other occasions he -had ventured it, especially on his extraordinary trips to -Isabella, and towards Littleton Island. Rice’s death -deeply affected the party.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the same day that this tragedy was being enacted -on the ice, Lockwood breathed his last in the hut at Cape -Sabine. Since the beginning of the year he had been -extremely weak, but lingered on till the 9th of April. -He was the most distinguished man of the party, his -explorations having been the main achievements of the -expedition. His name will remain in Arctic history.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Jewell is much weaker to-day,” were the last words -Lockwood wrote. This was on the 7th April, and on the -12th Jewell died. On the 11th, Brainard fortunately -shot a bear, which probably saved the lives of some of the -party; and on the following day Long shot a small seal. -On the 13th the ration was increased to a pound of meat -daily. On the 20th it had to be reduced to 10 oz. -Towards the end of April, Greely was seriously ill, and in -danger of dying. Henry, taking advantage of his illness, -stole alcohol, and became hopelessly drunk.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 29th April, Jens and Long were out hunting, -and watched a seal lying on an isolated floe. They hoped -the floe would drift in to the fast ice, but after a long -delay, Jens decided to try and reach it in his kayak. He -crossed one lead, dragged his kayak across the ice, and -entered a second. Long, who was looking on, saw Jens -suddenly begin to paddle rapidly, and the next moment -the kayak began to sink. Jens made an effort to get up -on the ice, but it was new and could not bear his weight, -and he was drowned. The kayak was probably cut when -being dragged over the ice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 3rd of May the last of the bread was used, and -only nine days’ meat remained. On the 6th a violent -scene took place between Greely and Dr. Pavy regarding -the doctor’s reports. On the 12th, Greely decided to -divide the last of the regular rations, as he was afraid that -one or two of the worst men of the party might appropriate -the remaining food, which was only sufficient to last -till the 15th of May.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The want of provisions rapidly told on the starved men. -Ellis died on the 19th, Ralston on the 23rd, and Whisler -on the 24th. They now tried to feed on saxifrage -(<span class='it'>Saxifraga oppositifolia</span>). On the 24th they had for -dinner a handful of saxifrage, two or three spoonfuls of -shrimps, and a pint and a half of tea. On the 26th there -was a severe storm, which prevented Brainard going to -obtain shrimps, and in consequence stews had to be made -of the seal-skin thongs used for lashing the sledge.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sergeant Israel, the astronomer, died on the 27th May. -At the beginning of June, fourteen of the party were still -alive, but did not expect to live long, unless the hunters were -more fortunate or relief came quickly. On the 1st June -they had a breakfast of shrimps and seaweed after a fast of -thirty-four hours. Lieutenant Kislingbury died at 3 p.m. -He was the only one of the party known by Greely before -contemplating Arctic work. Although he had trouble -with him at the commencement of their work at Conger, -Greely acknowledged that he was a hard-working officer, -and that he never spared himself in labours which would -add to the personal comfort of others.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Salor died on 4th June. On this date, Greely, against -the doctor’s advice, decided to try to eat tripe de Roche. -As Henry had been found stealing again, he was cautioned -by Greely that he would come to grief if he did not -stop it. Greely also gave written orders to Brainard, -Frederick, and Long that if Henry was again caught -stealing he was to be shot. Next day Frederick detected -Henry stealing shrimps, and Greely found that he had -been stealing seal-skin thongs contrary to positive orders. -He was ordered to be shot, Greely giving the order in -writing. It was carried out the same day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 6th June, Dr. Pavy drank about 3 oz. of -extract of ergot, having evidently mistaken it for a -preparation of iron. He died the same day at 6 p.m., -and Bender fifteen minutes before him. Greely states that -Dr. Pavy was a man of fine education, polished manners, -and great Arctic ambition. His medical skill was great, -and contributed much to the general welfare of the party -during the last winter. He thought, however, that his -previous Bohemian life unfitted him for duty where his -actions were subject to restriction or limitation from -others.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For breakfast on the 7th all the shrimps were eaten, -and everybody began collecting reindeer-moss, tripe de -Roche, and saxifrage. On the 11th June the party -obtained a guillemot, and a second went to the hunters. -Next day the nets for catching shrimps were lost through -the floes breaking up. Gardiner appeared to be dead at -11 a.m. of this day, and was carried from the tent in -which the party had been living for some time; but later -he showed signs of life, and did not die until 5 p.m.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 13th June, Greely issued to the party his seal-skin -jumper for dinner. He also divided between them the -dirty, oil-tanned covering of his sleeping-bag. Schneider -died on 18th June.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Near midnight of the 22nd the whistle of a ship was -heard. At first the party could hardly believe their ears. -Brainard went to the brow of the hill, but no ship was to -be seen. The party had resigned themselves to despair, -when suddenly strange voices were heard, and they -realised that they were saved. During the forty-two hours -prior to their rescue a few square inches of soaked seal-skin -was all the nutriment they received.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No relief or expeditionary vessels ever before ventured -at so early a date the dangers of Melville Bay. Congress -had offered a reward of 25000 dollars for the first information -regarding the expedition, and this had an important -bearing on the rescue. The Scotch whalers set forth on -their voyage many days earlier than was customary, and -there was a friendly rivalry in the search between them -and the American vessels in charge of Captain Schley, -who, profiting by their experience and advice, won in the -race for Cape Sabine.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Of the twenty-five men of the party eighteen had -died. The living were: Greely, Brainard, Long, Frederick, -Bierderbick, Connell, and Elison. It was found necessary, -however, to perform secondary amputation in the case of -Elison, and he died at Godhavn on the 8th of July.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As regards the responsibility for the great disaster -which overtook this expedition, Greely admitted that, -although not under orders to do so, he should have done -more than arrange for a retreat to Cape Sabine in the -event of not being reached at Conger. But little blame -can be attached to him for this omission. It is easy to -criticise after the event, but it seemed in the highest -degree improbable that, if he could not be reached at -Conger, there would be the least difficulty in the relief -ships leaving sufficient supplies at Cape Sabine or other -point on the west coast.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The disaster can be traced in the first place to the -instructions given to Greely to abandon the station and -retreat to the south in the event of no relief ship reaching -him. It would have been much better to have left this -question to Greely’s discretion. If the party had remained -at Conger another winter, it is highly probable that no -disaster would have occurred.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the second place, the chief responsibility undoubtedly -lay with those who had charge of the relief. A ship was -sent north in 1882, and failed in its mission; but instead -of leaving its stores, or even part of its stores, at some -point likely to be reached by Greely, those in command -took the incredible course of returning south with the -stores intact.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In 1883 those in authority must have known that -absolutely nothing had been done in 1882, and that in -the event of a failure to reach Conger taking place in -1883, Greely would certainly retreat southwards. One -would therefore have expected that all possible precautions -would be taken to insure the safety of the -expedition. The possible wreck of one of the relief -ships should have been arranged for, and steps taken to -insure that sufficient supplies would not only be left at -Littleton Island, but at some point on the west coast.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Serious responsibility was incurred by Lieutenant -Garlington when he made the written statement that -everything in the power of man would be done to relieve -the expedition. All through the horrors of the winter -nearly the whole of Greely’s party believed to the last -that a relieving party was at Littleton Island watching -the first favourable opportunity to cross the Sound.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The whole arrangements for the relief ended in a -gigantic muddle, and while nothing was done to lend -assistance, Greely’s party were induced by fair promises -to camp in a practically barren region.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>This expedition, and others which had preceded it, -gave little encouragement to Americans to continue -Arctic exploration, although the results achieved had -been important. Kane lost the <span class='it'>Advance</span>; his party -had to undergo great privations, and had ultimately to -retreat in boats. The <span class='it'>Polaris</span> was lost, and many of the -members of the expedition had to suffer greatly. De -Long lost the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span>, and a large number of his party -met a terrible fate; and now Greely’s expedition was the -climax of them all.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/map-6.jpg' alt='' id='map-6' style='width:500px;height:auto;'/> -<p class='caption'>MAP OF FRANZ JOSEF LAND</p> -</div> - -<div><h1 id='ch10'>CHAPTER X<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE NORWEGIAN POLAR EXPEDITION (1893−96)</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>In many respects this expedition is unique. It was planned -by Dr. Nansen after careful consideration of many -scientific facts connected with the Polar Sea, and although -his theories and conclusions were opposed by many of the -leading authorities of the day, the expedition was carried -out almost to the letter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> expedition had a very important bearing -on that of Dr. Nansen. In 1884, Professor Mohn published -a paper in which it was stated that various articles which -must have come from the wreck of the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> had been -found on the south-west coast of Greenland. He believed -that they must have drifted on a floe right across the -Polar Sea. These articles included a list of provisions -signed by De Long, the commander of the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span>; -an MS. list of the <span class='it'>Jeannette’s</span> boats; and a pair of oilskin -breeches marked “Louis Noros,” the name of one of the -<span class='it'>Jeannette’s</span> crew who was saved.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It occurred to Dr. Nansen that a ship might be allowed -to be frozen in the ice and to drift as the articles -from the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> must have done. This idea was propounded -in an address before the Christiania Geographical -Society on 18th February 1890.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In this address Dr. Nansen brought forward various -evidences in support of the theory that a current flows -across or near the North Pole from Bering Sea on the -one side to the Atlantic Ocean on the other. A -“throwing-stick” used by the Alaskan Eskimo in hurling -their bird-darts had been found among the drift-timber -on the west coast of Greenland. It was also known that -the driftwood that is carried down by the polar current -along the east coast of Greenland and up the west -coast consists largely of wood from the coast of -Siberia.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After discussing the various possible routes by which -this drift might take place, Dr. Nansen came to the -conclusion that a current flows at some point between -the Pole and Franz-Josef Land from the Siberian Arctic -Sea to the east coast of Greenland.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nansen’s plan was to build a ship as strong as possible, -so as to enable it to withstand the pressure of the ice. -The sides were to slope sufficiently to prevent the ice, -when it presses together, from getting firm hold of the -hull, as was the case with the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> and other vessels. -Nansen’s idea was that the ice, instead of nipping the ship, -must raise it out of the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Fram</span> was built on the principles suggested by -Nansen: its sides were from 24 to 28 inches in thickness, -of solid water-tight wood. The inside of the ship was -also shored up and strengthened in every possible way. -The equipment was of the best, and special attention was -devoted to the commissariat; most of the provisions were -soldered down in tins, as a protection against damp.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The members of the expedition numbered thirteen. -Several places were visited in passing up the coast of -Norway, and the party received a great reception. -Norway was left at Vardo; and about four days afterwards, -on the 27th July 1893, ice was met with.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was Nansen’s intention to pass through Yugor Strait -and make his way along the coast until he reached the -New Siberian Islands, and then up the west coast of these -as far as possible before he allowed the <span class='it'>Fram</span> to be -frozen in.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Khabarova, Yugor Strait, thirty-four dogs which -had been sent there by previous arrangement were obtained. -Some days were spent here in making repairs, -shifting coal, etc. A ship loaded with coal was to meet -the <span class='it'>Fram</span> here, but turned up two days late, having been -delayed by ice. The <span class='it'>Fram</span> left Khabarova on 5th August, -and after careful navigation in a fog, succeeded in passing -through the Yugor Strait into the Kara Sea. Cape -Chelyuskin, the northernmost point of Asia, was reached -on the 10th September. On the 12th September two -walruses were shot and secured. On the 18th September -the course was shaped northwards, to the west of the -New Siberian Islands, and the <span class='it'>Fram</span> had a straight run -until the 20th September, when it was stopped by ice -near latitude 78°. The edge of the ice was now followed -towards the north-west, and about 78½° was reached. -On the 24th September they found that the ship was -being frozen in. An observation taken on the 29th gave -latitude 79° 5′. By 8th November they had drifted as far -south as 77° 43′; on the 19th November they were north -to 78° 27′; and on the 23rd November they reached 79° 11′, -which was the highest yet reached. On the 27th November -an altitude of Jupiter was taken, and the latitude found to -be 78° 36′, from which it was believed that a mistake had -been made on the 23rd. By the end of the year they -were not much farther north; sometimes the drift was -one way and sometimes the other. Several bears made -their appearance and were shot; foxes were also seen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As early as 15th January 1894, Nansen began to -speculate about the possibility of leaving the ship and -making a sledge-journey over the ice towards the Pole, -but he decided to first wait and see the result of the -drift. On one point Nansen’s calculations had proved -incorrect: he had presupposed a shallow Polar Sea in -which all currents would have a strong influence. Instead -of this, it was found in latitude 79° that with a line of -1000 fathoms the bottom could not be reached. The -greatest depth hitherto found in these regions was 80 -fathoms.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was not until the 1st of February 1894 that the 80th -degree of latitude was reached. On the 6th of April a -remarkable event took place, which had been looked -forward to with lively interest. It was an eclipse of the -sun. Hansen, who had charge of the astronomical observations, -calculated that the eclipse would begin at -12.56. It really was seen to begin 7½ seconds later than -the time calculated. This proved the chronometers to -be in excellent order. Four bears made their appearance -on 8th April; none had been seen during the three -previous months. The 81st degree of latitude was -reached about 17th May 1894, and the 82nd not until -the 31st October 1894.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 5th of November a curious incident happened, -and is worth mentioning. One of the young dogs was -heard howling fearfully on deck. It was found to have -touched an iron bolt with its tongue, and was frozen fast -to it. The poor beast was straining to get free, with its -tongue stretched out so far that it looked like a thin rope -proceeding out of its throat. The bolt was heated by -means of the hand, and the puppy then managed to get -the tongue free.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 16th November, Nansen elaborated his plan for the -sledge-journey towards the Pole in the spring of 1895. -He made his calculations from the 83rd degree of latitude, -and he expected that the <span class='it'>Fram</span> would reach a higher latitude -than this. The distance to the Pole from this latitude -is 483 English miles. Nansen thought it reasonable to -expect that this distance could be covered in fifty days, -which would give about 9½ miles a day. The expedition was -to consist of twenty-eight dogs, and two men, with 2100 lb. -of provisions and equipments. Nansen calculated that in -fifty days the dogs would consume 1400 lb. of pemmican, -allowing a pound a day for each dog. Two pounds of -provisions daily for each man was allowed. In returning, -he intended to make for either the Seven Islands, north of -Spitzbergen, or Cape Fligely in Franz-Josef Land, according -to circumstances. Setting out on the 1st of March, -he expected to reach the Pole at the end of April, and have -about 500 lb. of provisions left for the return journey. -This would not allow anything for the dogs, so it was -intended to kill some to feed the others. Allowing for -the gradual reduction of weight on the return journey, -Nansen calculated that Cape Fligely should be reached -about the 1st of June. From here he would decide -whether to return along the north-west coast of Franz-Josef -Land by Gillis Land towards North-East Island and -Spitzbergen, or south through Austria Sound towards the -south coast of Franz-Josef Land, and thence to Novaya -Zemlya or Spitzbergen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nansen decided that Johansen should be his companion. -He was a lieutenant in the Reserve, and was so eager to -go in the <span class='it'>Fram</span> that, as no other post could be found for -him, he accepted that of stoker. He afterwards assisted -Hansen in taking scientific observations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 20th November, Nansen delivered an address to the -whole ship’s company, in which he announced his determination -to make the sledge-journey. Preparations -were now made in earnest. During the summer Nansen -had already begun to make a kayak, the frame of which -was of bamboo carefully lashed together. When completed, -the framework weighed 16 lb. It was afterwards -covered with sail-cloth, when the whole boat weighed -30 lb. It was 12 feet long, 28 inches wide in the -middle, and 12 inches deep. Another kayak was made -with a depth of 15 inches. These kayaks were chiefly -intended for crossing over channels and open spaces in -the ice, and coasting along possible land. They were -essentially like Eskimo kayaks, full-decked, save for an -aperture in the middle for a man to sit in. This aperture -was encircled by a wooden ring, after the Eskimo fashion, -over which the lower part of the seal-skin jacket could be -adjusted so that the junction between boat and jacket was -water-tight. Besides this aperture in the middle, there -were small trap-doors fore and aft in the deck, for the -convenience of stowing provisions. Two sledges were -made about the same length as the kayaks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 12th December 1894 it was found that the <span class='it'>Fram</span> -had attained a higher latitude than had ever before been -reached by a ship, the observation giving 82° 30′. A -great feast was held in its honour.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 3rd of January 1895 the <span class='it'>Fram</span> received such an -alarming pressure from the ice that all preparations had -to be made in case the ship would have to be abandoned. -By the 6th of January the ice became quiet, and the -danger was over. On this day the latitude was found to -be 83° 34′, so that the expedition had now reached the -most northern latitude; the record of Lockwood had -been beaten.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Preparations for the long sledge-journey were now -hastened. Bolsters filled with pemmican and dried-liver -pie were made to fit the sledges and form a bed on which -the kayaks were to rest. These bolsters when filled -weighed from 100 to 120 lb. each. Three sledge-sails -were made of very light calico, and were about 7 feet -2 inches broad by 4 feet 4 inches long; they were made so -that two of them might be laced together and used as one -sail for a double sledge.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 26th February, Nansen and Johansen left the ship -along with five of their companions who were to accompany -them a short distance. During the first day, -however, one of the sledges broke down seriously, and the -whole party returned to the ship, so that all the sledges -might be strengthened.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 28th February a start was again made, with six -sledges instead of four. A broad board was fitted lengthwise -to the sledge, underneath the cross-bars, so as to -protect them against projecting pieces of ice. They had -not proceeded far from the ship when Nansen came to the -conclusion that the load was too heavy, and several sacks -with food for the dogs were left behind. On the 3rd of -March, Nansen again decided to return to the ship. The -progress made with six sledges was unsatisfactory, and the -cold was severe.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 14th of March they left the <span class='it'>Fram</span> for the third -and last time. As regards clothing, Nansen had on the -upper part of the body two woollen shirts; outside these -a camel’s-hair coat, and last of all a thick rough jersey. -Instead of the jersey, Johansen wore an “anorak” of thick -homespun, provided with a hood. On the legs they had, -next the skin, woollen drawers, and over these knickerbockers -and loose gaiters of close Norwegian homespun. -To protect them from wind and fine-driven snow, they -wore a suit made of a thin, close kind of cotton canvas, -and consisting of an upper garment to pull over the head, -provided with a hood, and a lower one in the shape of a -pair of wide overalls. Instead of wearing long stockings, -Nansen preferred to use loose stocking-legs and socks, as -these were more easily dried on the chest when asleep at -night. For travelling over snow in a low temperature, -Nansen recommends Finn shoes. They are warm and -strong, are always flexible, and very easy to put on and -take off. They must, however, be made of the skin of the -hind-legs of the reindeer buck. In milder weather they -had leather boots of the “komager” type, made of under-tanned -ox-hide, with soles of the skin of the blue seal. -Inside the Finn shoes they used “sennegraes,” or sedge -grass, which absorbs moisture and keeps the feet dry.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On their hands they wore ordinary woollen mittens, and -above these large gloves of wolf-skin, neither of them -having divisions for the fingers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On their heads they wore felt hats, which shaded the -eyes from the dazzling light, and were not so pervious to -the wind as an ordinary woollen cap would be. Outside -the hat they generally had one or two hoods of cloth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To sleep in, they used a double bag of adult reindeer-skin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In Nansen’s opinion, a tent should always be carried. -He thinks that the inconsiderable increase in weight is -more than compensated for by the extra comfort. The -tent used was square at the base and pointed at the top, -and was pitched by means of a snowshoe-staff which served -the purpose of a tent-pole. The walls were kept down -by pegs, and then banked carefully round with snow to -exclude wind and draughts. At first Nansen tried a tent -with a canvas floor attached, but found that snow and -moisture collected on this and added much to the weight. -The whole tent weighed a little over 3 lb.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The cooking apparatus consisted of two boilers and a -vessel for melting snow or ice. A Swedish gas-petroleum -lamp, known as “The Primus,” in which the heat -turns the petroleum into gas before it is consumed, -was used for heating. Nansen used petroleum because it -generates more heat in comparison with its weight than -alcohol. He took with him 4 gallons, and this enabled -them to cook two hot meals a day and melt an abundance -of water during 120 days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Several pairs of snow-shoes were taken. Their firearms -consisted of two double-barrelled guns, each having a -shot-barrel of 20 bore, and a barrel for ball of about -360 calibre; and the ammunition amounted to about -180 rifle-cartridges and 150 shot-cartridges.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The instruments were: a small theodolite, a pocket -sextant and artificial horizon, a light azimuth compass -and two other compasses, two aneroid barometers, two -minimum spirit-thermometers, three quicksilver sling-thermometers, -an aluminium telescope, and a photographic -camera.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As regards provisions, the chief article was pemmican, -but there was also a good supply of butter, calf’s liver, -albuminous flour, wheat-flour, whey-powder, cornflour, -sugar, vril-food, chocolate, oatmeal, white bread, aleuronate -bread, fish-flour, dried potatoes, cocoa, a “special -food” made of pea-flour, meat-powder, fat, etc., and a few -others. An important point as regards provisions is -that the food should be in a condition to be eaten without -cooking, in case the fuel be lost or used up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the first week the travelling was good, from -9 to as many as 20 miles being covered daily. On the -22nd of March the latitude was found to be 85° 9′. -From this time onward the ice was bad. The temperature -at first was very low, frequently more than 40° below zero. -On 29th March the latitude was found to be 85° 30′, -although Nansen expected that he had reached 86°. This -probably indicated that the ice was drifting southwards. -On 30th March, when one of the sledges was going over -a crack in the ice, all the dogs fell in, and had to be -hauled out. The next sledge fell in, and had to be unloaded -before it could be got out. Next day Johansen in -crossing a lane went through the edge of the ice, wetting -both legs, which soon became covered with a mass of ice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A great deal had always to be done before starting off -on the day’s journey. The breakfast had to be cooked; -sometimes a sledge had to be relashed; a hole would be -found in a fish-flour sack which had to be sewed up; and -the dogs’ traces had to be disentangled with great difficulty. -On the 1st April they kept on the move so long -that it was too late to wind up their chronometers. -Johansen’s had stopped altogether, but Nansen’s was -still ticking. The ice was now becoming worse and worse, -and Nansen began to have doubts as to the wisdom of -going northwards much longer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 3rd April the second dog was killed as food for -the others. Nansen now calculated that the distance to -Franz-Josef Land was three times as far as the distance -they had come. He saw that it was impossible to reach -the Pole or its immediate vicinity over the ice they were -encountering, with the dogs they had. He now wished -that the number of dogs had been much greater. On -4th April the latitude was 86° 3′. On the 8th April, -Nansen finally decided to return and shape his course for -Cape Fligely, in Franz-Josef Land, about 450 miles distant. -The latitude of the farthest north point was found to be -86° 13.6′, and the longitude about 95° E.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the first few days on the return journey they -met with comparatively level ice, much to their surprise; -but they soon began to meet more open lanes. On the -12th April they had the misfortune to let their chronometers -run down. This was the cause of much worry -afterwards. On 16th April, Nansen calculated that they -were 60 miles on their way home. The temperature had -now risen to about 15° below zero, and they considered -this mild. A dog had to be killed every few days in -order to feed the others. They considered this slaughtering -of the faithful animals a horrible affair, but it was -an absolute necessity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 21st April they came across an immense piece -of timber sticking out of the ice. Nansen believed it to -be Siberian larch. Johansen marked it “F. N., H. J., -85° 30′ N.” On the 25th April fox-tracks which were -fresh were seen in the snow. This discovery raised the -question whether land could be near, but the weather was -so thick that it might have been near and could not be -seen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Open water in the form of lanes in the ice now became -more frequent, but Nansen was still reluctant to use the -kayaks. There were several large holes in them which -would require to be repaired, and in the present condition -of the ice Nansen believed that it would be difficult to -protect the bows of the kayaks from being cut, and in the -event of water getting in, ice would immediately form, and -to remove it would be impossible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 3rd May the dogs had been reduced to sixteen. -Two days later the latitude was found to be 84° 31′, and -longitude 66° 15′ E. This was not so far south as Nansen -expected, but farther west.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In some places the snow was very deep among the -rough ice, and as the snow-shoes had frequently to be -taken off for the purpose of helping the sledges over -difficulties, Nansen regretted that he had not also Indian -snow-shoes, which would have been of more use in such -circumstances.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 14th May, during a storm, the opportunity was -taken to remove the load from one of the sledges which -was not now required. An attempt was made to use the -wood of the sledge as fuel, but after burning nearly the -whole of it and succeeding in obtaining only one pot of -boiling water, they gave it up as a failure, and went back -to the “Primus.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They had for some time been expecting to see land -daily, but there was still no appearance of it. The open -lanes of water were causing more and more trouble. On -the 17th May a school of narwhals was seen in one of them, -but none was obtained. On the 19th May the first bear-tracks -were seen. On the 25th the latitude was found to -be 82° 52′, and yet there was no land in sight. Payer had -supposed Petermann Land to be in latitude 83°.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The first bird was seen on 29th May, and seals made -their appearance soon afterwards. On the last day of -May only seven dogs remained. On the 2nd of June it was -found that it was necessary to make use of the kayaks, -and preparations were made to put them in proper order. -The covers were patched and the frames relashed. It -was not until the 8th of June that everything was ready -for a fresh start, and then it was found that all the lanes -had closed, so that the kayaks were not yet required. -For the first time the temperature rose above the freezing-point -on 6th June.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The travelling was now extremely difficult, and they -had to be satisfied with journeys of 1 and 2 miles -daily. Sometimes it was found that they had drifted -about as far northward as they had travelled southward, -and it became a serious question whether they were likely -to reach land. Although about the latitude of Cape -Fligely, there was no appearance of land, and Nansen was -in great difficulty over his longitude, due to the time -when the chronometers ran down. He calculated and -recalculated his observations without making the matter -any more clear. Sometimes he thought he might be east -of Cape Fligely, and sometimes that he might be to the -west.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About the middle of June, three months after they -left the <span class='it'>Fram</span>, they began to see signs of returning life. -Little auks were numerous, more bear-tracks were seen, -and on the 22nd June they were fortunate enough to kill -a seal. This seal was one of the large bearded variety -(<span class='it'>Phoca barbata</span>), and supplied sufficient food and fuel to -last a month.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The killing of the seal furnished a very exciting incident. -It was on the first occasion that the kayaks were -used. They had just crossed a pool, and Nansen had -hauled one of the sledges half-way on to the ice when the -seal appeared and was shot by Johansen. Nansen seized -a harpoon and threw it deep into the fat back of the seal. -Meanwhile the sledge, which had been drawn partly on to -the ice, slid down again, and the kayaks with Johansen -and the dogs were set adrift. He tried to drag the sledge -up on to the kayak, but failed. The sledge gradually -heeled the kayaks over until one side of Johansen’s was -in the water. The cooker which was on the deck fell off -and drifted away; the snow-shoes followed. Nansen -meanwhile was holding on to the seal, but had to let go -and assist in preventing the kayak from sinking. In the -end, the lost articles were rescued, and the seal hauled on -to the ice. They had previously reduced their rations and -fuel to a minimum, but now they feasted on seal’s flesh -and blubber. It was decided to remain here some time, -to see if the ice would open to allow the kayaks to be -used. About this time they abandoned everything that -was not absolutely necessary, so as to lighten the load as -much as possible—even the sleeping-bag was left behind.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From this camp they first saw land without being -aware of what it was. While still waiting at this camp, -a bear with two cubs put in an appearance, and after a -difficult chase over ice and lanes, all three were shot. -This fortunate occurrence supplied an abundance of food. -Nansen and his companion remained at this place, which -was named “Longing Camp,” until the 22nd July. A -great deal of meat had to be left behind, and a good -many articles, such as a hammer, Finn shoes, a frying-pan, -sail-cloth, etc. In place of these articles, some flesh from -the seal and bear was carried.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Land was first detected on 23rd July. It had been -observed before, but the snow-fields were mistaken for -clouds. It had long been expected, and now it gave the -travellers great joy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 29th July, Nansen began to suffer from lumbago, -probably caused by sleeping on the bare ice. It gave -him severe pain during several days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When land was first seen, Johansen expressed the -opinion that it would be reached next day. Due, however, -chiefly to the drift, the journey occupied thirteen -days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 4th of August, Johansen nearly lost his life. -They had reached a lane, and were preparing to launch -the kayaks, when Nansen heard Johansen cry to him to -take the gun. On looking round to see what was the -matter, he saw an enormous bear standing over Johansen, -who was on his back. Nansen tried to seize his gun, but -his kayak slipped into the water, and it took some little -time to pull it out again and to reach the gun, which was -in its case on the fore-deck. Luckily one of the dogs -came to the rescue, and the bear turned its attentions to -it. This enabled Johansen to wriggle himself out of its -grasp, and the next moment Nansen fired, and the bear -dropped dead.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At last, on the 6th of August, open water was reached. -For some time the dogs had been reduced to two in -number, and now that open water had been gained, -Nansen could not see how the two dogs could be taken -farther. He was sorry to part with them; they had -been faithful and enduring, and had followed him the -whole journey through. A cartridge was sacrificed on -each.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The two kayaks were lashed together, and the sledges -placed on deck, one in front and one behind. Before -going far, the wind rose sufficiently to enable a sail to be -used, and soon the margin of a glacier was reached. This -was from 50 to 60 feet in height, and landing was therefore -impossible. The margin of the glacier was followed -towards the west, and it was found necessary to land on -a drifting floe in order to obtain sleep. Next day, when -they turned out, they found the ice packed around them; -but fortunately the open water was not far off to the -west, and they reached it without much difficulty. Birds -were now plentiful, and it was with great satisfaction that -they observed the signs of animal-life, and knew that -they could obtain food. Later on they discovered that -the land they were coasting along consisted of islands. -The first three Nansen named “Eva’s Island,” “Liv’s -Island,” and “Adelaide’s Island” respectively. South of -these the land had probably been seen by Payer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 11th of August, while Nansen was on a -hummock inspecting the waters ahead, a huge monster -of a walrus came up near the kayaks. No notice was -taken of it, but it came up snorting, sometimes on one -side and sometimes on the other, and threatened to thrust -its tusks into the frail kayaks. Ultimately Johansen -shot it through the eye, and with a terrific bellow -it rolled over and disappeared. Not long afterwards, -Johansen’s kayak received a violent shock from another -walrus, which was shot dead through the forehead by -Nansen. With great difficulty, they managed to cut a -hole in the thick skin, and obtained some walrus-meat -and blubber.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 12th of August it was decided to cut off the ends -of the sledges, so as to be able to use the kayaks singly. -This was done, and better headway was made; but frequently -the channel closed, and the sledges had to be hauled -over the ice. On the 14th of August an iceberg some -50 to 60 feet in height was seen, and this was the highest -met with off Franz-Josef Land. On this day they had -bare land under their feet for the first time in two years. -The Arctic poppy was here in flower. The imperfections -of Payer’s map at this point greatly confused Nansen, -and he was not yet certain whether the land reached was -part of Franz-Josef Land. A sound to the west, which -he at first supposed to be Rawlinson’s Sound, did not at -all agree with the description given by Payer. Nothing -was to be seen of Dove Glacier, which was supposed to -bound the Sound on one side. Nansen reasoned that if -they were in Rawlinson’s Sound they must have traversed -the glacier and Wilczek Land without seeing any trace of -either, for they had travelled westwards a good half-degree -south of Cape Buda-Pesth. Nansen, therefore, -was inclined to believe that the land was new, and -must be to the west of Franz-Josef Land. But the -next puzzle was that if this was the case, the new land -must be very far to the west, for nothing had been seen -of Oscar’s Land. For the present the question was left -in a state of doubt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When they rounded the headland to the west, they -were delighted to find open water as far as they could -see, and that the land was trending south-west. Their -hopes of getting home now ran high, but soon afterwards -a storm delayed them four days and three nights, and the -ice packed close along the coast. This, at one blow, -destroyed all hope of getting home that year. While -camping during the storm, a bear came to the tent and -was shot by Nansen. As food was becoming scarce, this -was a fortunate occurrence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the 24th of August till 6th December there was -a gap in Nansen’s diary. On the latter date he began to -fill up the blank.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After being stopped by the storm, and then drifted out -to sea on the ice, they sailed for a whole day in open -water in their kayaks. On the following day the weather -became stormy, and they were obliged to land. Scarcely -had they reached the shore when a bear was seen and -promptly shot. Walruses were also seen in great numbers. -After feasting on the bear’s flesh, they lay down to sleep, -but were awakened during the night by a peculiar sound -outside the tent. This was found to be caused by a she-bear -and her young one, but as Nansen thought they had -already sufficient food for the present, they were allowed -to escape. Next day the ice had again been driven -against the shore, and as they could not proceed they -decided to make themselves more comfortable by building -a temporary hut of stone. The roof was made of the silk -tent spread over snow-shoes and bamboo rods, and the -doorway was closed with their coats. Daylight could be -seen between the stones on all sides, but yet they considered -it comfortable. The way south was still blocked -on the following day, which was the 28th of August, and -Nansen finally resolved on remaining here during the -winter. He was afraid that if he went much farther -south he might not have sufficient time to build a house -and obtain food. He therefore decided to begin at once -and lay in stores while game was yet plentiful. They -first decided to attack the walruses, and as they were -emptying the kayaks in order to be prepared, a she-bear -and her cub were seen coming along the edge of the ice, -and both were shot. This was a good beginning. Next -day they tried their luck at walrus-hunting. A walrus -was soon found, but nine cartridges had to be expended -before the monster was killed, and then, before they -could get near enough to use a harpoon, it sank and -disappeared. They returned to the shore very much -crestfallen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They now found two walruses lying asleep on the shore-ice, -and stole cautiously up to them. Nansen fired at the -back of the neck of one, and killed it with the first shot. -The other one was struck too far forward in the head, -and required three bullets to kill it. They had now to -skin them, but as there was a danger of being sent adrift, -the wind having risen, Nansen took the wise precaution of -bringing up the kayaks and sledges. It was as well he -did so, for while they were busily engaged skinning the -animals, the wind rose rapidly, and they suddenly discovered -that the ice had broken off and that they were -adrift. They hurriedly cut off as much walrus-flesh as -possible and flung it into the kayaks, but it was a hard -pull to reach the shore in the storm. Meanwhile the ice -on which the bodies of the walruses were, drifted out to -sea and disappeared. During the following night they -were again awakened by a bear outside the hut. It was -a she-bear with two large cubs. The mother was shot, -but the cubs took to the water, where they reached a -piece of floating ice. Nansen decided to go out in the -kayaks after the cubs. When they went to get the -kayaks, they found that the bears had been at the walrus-meat -and devoured every piece of fat and blubber on it. -One of the kayaks was thrown half into the water, and -the other high up among the stones, but fortunately they -were still seaworthy. The kayaks were launched, and the -cubs chased to land, where they were shot. Three bears -in one day was good work, and to add to their satisfaction, -the sunken walrus shot on the previous day was found -floating at the edge of the ice. It was towed into a place -of safety in a creek and made fast. After skinning the -bears and covering up the flesh, they turned in for sleep, -as they had obtained little the two previous nights. On -the 2nd September they set to work on the skinning of -the walrus. Another walrus, evidently curious to see -what was going on, came into the channel where the dead -walrus was lying, and approached right up to the edge of -the ice where Nansen and Johansen stood. Its curiosity -cost it its life, and there were now two walruses to skin -instead of one. This work was far from agreeable: they -had to lie on the animals and cut down as far as they -could reach below the water, and they were soon saturated -from head to foot with blubber and oil and blood. To -make matters worse, they had no chance of changing their -clothes during the winter; but it was a work of necessity, -as the walrus-blubber was needed for fuel.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 7th September the building of the permanent -winter-hut was commenced. Stones were quarried from -among the débris at the foot of a cliff near by, and part -of a sledge-runner had to do duty as a pick. A spade -was made out of a shoulder-blade of a walrus tied to a -piece of a broken snowshoe-staff. The walls were built -of stone, with moss and earth between, and were finished -in one week. They were scarcely 3 feet in height, but -an equal distance had been dug into the ground, so -that the hut was high enough to stand in. The forming -of the roof was the greatest difficulty. However, a piece -of driftwood had been found on the shore, and after a -day’s work Johansen succeeded in cutting it in two with -a small axe. These formed the ridge-piece, and walrus-hides -formed the rest. In one corner of the hut a little -hearth was made to cook upon, and above this a round -hole was cut in the walrus-hide. A smoke-board was -made of a bear-skin. The hearth had not been used long -before it was found necessary to build a chimney. This -was erected on the roof, and as the only materials were -ice and snow, it was not altogether free from the drawback -of sometimes dripping down on the hearth. Lamps -were made by turning up the corners of some sheets of -German silver. These were then filled with crushed -blubber, and wicks were made from bandages. They -gave a good light, but assisted very little in raising the -temperature. A sleeping-shelf made of stone was erected -along the back wall of the hut, but although bear-skins -were spread on this it always remained hard and uncomfortable. -The door consisted of an opening at one -corner of the wall, which led into a short passage, dug -out in the ground, and then roofed over with blocks of -ice. The inner opening was covered with a bear-skin, -and another skin was laid over the outer opening. The -hut was 10 feet long and 6 feet wide. The cooking was -very simple: it consisted in boiling bear’s flesh and soup -in the morning, and frying steak in the evening. Large -quantities were consumed at every meal, and yet they -never tired of it, and had always good appetites.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While building the hut an anxious look-out was kept -for bears, as none had been seen for some time, and too -little meat had yet been obtained to last during the -winter. On the 23rd September one was found beside a -walrus-hide which had been put in water to thaw. Soon -afterwards a second bear was seen gnawing at the hides -on the roof of the hut. Both were shot. On the -24th September two more walruses were shot, and from -these they obtained all the blubber they now required. -On the 26th September a bear was seen out on the ice, -but when Nansen approached it made off. He fired -twice at long range, the second shot wounding the -animal. It leaped and struck the ice, and finally -broke through into the water. It then made desperate -efforts to regain the ice, but the ice always broke under -its weight, and ultimately it died in the water. Nansen -and Johansen by means of a rope attempted to haul -the bear up on to the ice, but they found the weight -beyond their powers, and the ice always gave way. By -making a narrow crack sufficient to allow the rope to -pass, they dragged the bear under the ice to the shore, -where they made a hole and managed to draw it out. -After skinning the animal, they carried as much of -the meat as they could to the hut. When they neared -the place where their blubber was heaped, they were -astonished to see three bears tearing at it—a she-bear -and two young ones. The mother was killed, but the -two young ones escaped. On the morning of 28th -September a large bear was found sleeping on the blubber-heap, -and was shot. It had eaten an enormous quantity -of the blubber, and had also killed the two young bears -which escaped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The foxes caused a good deal of trouble during the -winter. They stole everything they could move. Pieces -of bamboo, steel-wire, harpoons and harpoon-lines, a -collection of geological specimens, a ball of twine, and -lastly a thermometer, were all carried off.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 15th of October they saw the sun for the last -time above a ridge to the south. The last bear was shot -on the 21st October, and no more were seen until the -spring.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The life during the winter was very monotonous. It -consisted chiefly of cooking and eating, and taking a little -exercise when weather permitted. On Christmas Eve -preparations were made to celebrate Christmas, but these -preparations were of a very limited character. Johansen -turned his shirts and put the outside one next the skin. -Nansen did likewise, and washed himself in a quarter of -a cup of warm water, using a dirty pair of drawers as -sponge and towel. For supper they ate a small portion -of the provisions they had preserved for the journey south -in the spring. Only on this occasion and on New Year’s -Eve were these provisions touched during the winter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Birds again made their appearance on 25th February, -and a bear was shot on 8th March. This bear came in good -time; the supply of oil was running low, and they could -only afford to cook once a day. Another bear was shot -on 2nd April, and as they now had a considerable -quantity of blubber and meat, preparations were made for -the journey south. But a great deal required to be done. -New clothes had to be made out of blankets; the windclothes -had to be patched; the “komager” had to be -soled; and socks and gloves had to be made out of bear-skin. -Then a light sleeping-bag of bear-skin had also to -be made. The hut was therefore suddenly transformed -into a tailor’s and shoemaker’s workroom. Thread was -obtained by unravelling the cotton canvas of some provision-bags.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nansen was as pleased as a child with a new dress when -on 12th May he was able to put on his blanket-trousers, -strengthened inside and out with pieces of an old pair of -drawers and of a shirt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The stores which had been buried at the beginning of -the winter were now dug up, and greatly to Nansen’s -disappointment it was found that several articles had been -spoiled by the damp of the previous autumn. The flour -had got mildewed; the chocolate had been dissolved by -the damp; the pemmican was uneatable. There remained -a limited quantity of fish-flour, some aleuronate flour, -and some half-moulded bread, which they carefully boiled -in train-oil, partly to dry it, and partly to render it more -nutritious by impregnating it with fat. They also cut up -as much raw bear’s flesh and blubber as they could carry. -Train-oil took the place of petroleum as fuel. They still -had 100 rifle-cartridges and 110 smallshot-cartridges, -and their rifles were in good condition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The hut was left on 19th May, after a short record -of the journey had been deposited in a brass tube plugged -at each end and hung by a wire to the roof. During -the first few days they made short marches, until they -again became accustomed to the work. On 22nd May -they had to shelter from a snowstorm, and on the 23rd -the weather was still bad, and they only went a short -distance. On the 24th, Nansen narrowly escaped being -drowned. While Johansen was busy with his kayak, -Nansen pushed ahead to look for a camping-ground, but -suddenly the ice gave way, and he found himself lying in -a broad crack which had been concealed in the snow. He -tried to get out again, but his snow-shoes were firmly -fastened, and he was also tied by the harness to the sledge, -so that he could not turn round. Fortunately, he had -been able, when falling, to dig his pike-staff into the ice -on the opposite side of the crack, and he held himself up -by that, and lay waiting for Johansen to come up. The -latter, however, had not noticed the accident, and was -still busy at his sledge and kayak. Meanwhile the water -was creeping farther and farther up Nansen’s body, and -he began to shout for help. At last he was observed by -Johansen, who arrived just in time to prevent Nansen -from going completely under the water. In future the -snow-shoes were not firmly attached when the ice was -thought to be dangerous. From the 26th to the 28th -May they were weather-bound, and after advancing a -short distance on the latter date, they had again to take -shelter until the 3rd of June. As provisions were now -getting low, a walrus was shot, and a supply of meat and -blubber thus obtained. On the 4th June they were -able to launch their kayaks for the first time, and made -great progress. On the 6th they had again to take to the -ice, but as there was a strong north wind and the surface -was favourable they were able to make good use of the -sledge-sail. On the 8th they were stopped by a furious -storm, and next day they had to make a long détour -westwards in order to avoid treacherous ice. On the 12th -they were able to sail all day long. In the evening -they felt their legs stiff with sitting in the kayak all day, -and they landed on the edge of the ice so that they might -stretch them a little. They then wished to ascend a -hummock, so that a view might be obtained over the -water. After the kayaks, which were lashed together, -had been moored by means of one of the braces, they -ascended a hummock close by, and had been standing only -a short time when Johansen raised the cry that the kayaks -were adrift. A rush was made to the edge of the ice, but -the kayaks were already a little way off and were drifting -quickly. The position was a terrible one, for all they -possessed was on board the kayaks. Nansen at once -threw off some of his clothing, handed his watch to -Johansen, and sprang into the icy water. He knew that -if the kayaks were lost it meant death to him and his -companion. At first it seemed more than doubtful -whether he could manage to regain them. When he -got tired, he turned over and swam on his back. At -length he gained a little on the kayaks, and he redoubled -his exertions. By this time Nansen felt his limbs gradually -stiffening and losing all feeling. His strokes became more -and more feeble, but the distance from the kayaks became -shorter, and at last he was able to grasp a snow-shoe -which lay across the sterns. He now tried to pull himself -up, but his body was so stiff with cold that this seemed -an impossibility. After a little, he managed to swing -one leg up on to the edge of the sledge which lay on the -deck, and then raised the rest of his body. They were -saved! With some difficulty he paddled the kayaks back -to Johansen, who confessed that these were the worst -moments he had ever lived through. Johansen now -pulled off Nansen’s wet clothes, put on the few dry ones -they had in reserve, spread the sleeping-bag upon the ice, -and covered Nansen with the sail and everything he could -find to keep out the cold. Next day Nansen was all right -again, and in the evening the journey was continued.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 14th June great herds of walruses were met, and -as meat and blubber were at a low ebb, a young one -was shot. Two days afterwards, a walrus nearly turned -the tables on them. It came up close beside Nansen’s -kayak, threw itself on the edge of it, took hold farther over -the deck with one fore-flipper, and tried to upset the frail -craft. Nansen struck at its head with the paddle, while -it in turn struck at the kayak with its tusks. It was only -when the deck was almost under water that it suddenly -disappeared. Nansen was congratulating himself on his -fortunate escape, when he noticed his legs getting wet, and -he had only time to run the kayak on a sunken ledge of -ice when it sank. It was as well that the ice was near at -hand, or the result would have been serious.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the afternoon of the 17th June, Nansen had ascended -a hummock to have a look at the land beyond. Flocks -of auks were flying to and fro making a confused noise, -and as Nansen listened, a sound suddenly reached his -ear, so like the barking of a dog that he started. He -waited for some time, listening intently, till the barking -began again and there was no room for doubt. He -shouted to Johansen that he heard dogs. Johansen -started up from the bag where he lay sleeping, and -tumbled out of the tent. He tried to hear the sound, -but could only make out the noise of the birds. Nansen, -however, was convinced that he heard dogs, and he prepared -to make for the land, leaving Johansen to stay -behind with the kayaks, so that there might be no risk -of their drifting away again. He had not gone far when -he observed tracks which were probably those of a dog. -Then he again heard the yelping of a dog more distinctly -than ever. It was with a strange mixture of feelings that -he made his way towards land. Suddenly he thought he -heard a shout from a human voice, and he ran up on to -a hummock and hallooed with all his might. Soon he -heard another shout, and saw a dark form moving among -the hummocks. It was a dog, and farther off was seen a -man. Nansen approached quickly and waved his hat; -the man did the same. Nansen heard him speak to the -dog, and recognised that the language was English. -As he drew nearer, Nansen thought he recognised Mr. -Jackson, whom he had once seen. They extended a hand -to one another, with a hearty “How do you do?” Explanations -quickly followed, and Nansen was led to -Jackson’s hut at Cape Flora. Here he received a royal -welcome from the members of the Jackson-Harmsworth -Expedition. Men were immediately sent to Johansen’s -assistance, and his reception at the hut was scarcely less -hospitable than Nansen’s. Their feelings may be imagined -when they were able to throw off their dirty oily rags and -have a hot bath, and to be able to put on clean clothes. -To add to Nansen’s delight, Jackson had a packet of -letters for him, and these contained only good news.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is an interesting fact that Nansen when he arrived at -Cape Flora weighed no less than 22 lb. more than when -he left the <span class='it'>Fram</span>, and Johansen weighed 13 lb. more. -Bear’s flesh had evidently agreed with them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On a comparison of Nansen’s chronometers being made, -it was found that they were not so far out as had been -anticipated. They were about 26 minutes wrong, making -a difference of 6½° in longitude.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Windward</span>, which was to bring supplies and take -home some of Jackson’s party, arrived on the 26th July. -By this time Nansen and Johansen began to fear that the -vessel could not get through the ice and that they would -have to spend another winter in the Arctic regions. -News soon arrived that all was well at home, and that -nothing had been heard of the <span class='it'>Fram</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Windward</span> left Cape Flora on 7th August, and -reached Vardo, in Norway, on the 13th. Nansen and -Johansen immediately set out for the telegraph-station, -and soon the news of their arrival spread over the -civilised world.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 17th August, Nansen arrived at Hammerfest. On -the 20th August, while still here, he received a telegram from -Sverdrup announcing the arrival of the <span class='it'>Fram</span> in Norway. -This filled the cup of rejoicing to overflowing. Next day -the <span class='it'>Fram</span> was joined in Tromsö harbour, and again they -were all together, well satisfied with their success.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>We may now return to the voyage of the <span class='it'>Fram</span> after -the departure of Nansen and Johansen on their sledging -expedition. It then lay in 84° 4′ N. latitude, and 102° E. -longitude.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sverdrup, after carting away a great pressure-ridge from -the port side of the vessel, made various preparations for -a sledge-journey southward, in the event of the <span class='it'>Fram</span> -being wrecked. Sledges, kayaks, snow-shoes, and many -other articles had to be made, and this work kept all busy -for a considerable time. Sverdrup considers Canadian -snow-shoes superior to Norwegian ones, when it is a -question of hauling heavily loaded sledges over rough ice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the summer of 1895 the drift was very slow; -the latitude on 22nd June was 84° 32′, and on 6th September, -84° 43′. The longitude on these dates was 80° 58′ -and 79° 52′ respectively. During the next three months -the drift towards the west was much greater: on the 30th -October the longitude was 70° 50′, on the 1st December it -was 58° 45′, and on the 9th January 1896 it was 41° 41′. -The meridian of 60° passing near Cape Fligely, in Franz-Josef -Land, was passed towards the end of November. On -the 15th November the latitude was 85° 55.5′, and on -the 9th January 1896 it was down to 84° 57′.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In these high latitudes the change from sunlight during -the whole twenty-four hours to darkness during the same -period is very sudden. On 12th September the sun was -above the horizon at midnight; on 8th October it disappeared -at noon—a change from constant light to -constant darkness in twenty-six days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As early as the beginning of February 1896 numerous -lanes of water were found both to the north and to the -south. By this time they had drifted to the 25th degree -of longitude, while the latitude kept steady at about -84° 50′. On the 15th February the longitude was 23° 28′, -but by the 29th February they had gone back to 27°. -After this date the drift to the west was very slow, but -it was more rapid towards the south. On 16th May the -latitude was 83° 45′, and the longitude 12° 50′.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For some months no animals had been seen, and the -appearance of two bears on 28th February caused some -excitement. When about 150 yards from the ship, they -stood for a time, but as it was still very dark, Sverdrup -waited in the expectation that they would come nearer. -Instead of coming nearer, they went off. Pettersen was -asked whether he had something to fry which would -smell strongly, so as to entice the bears back. After the -bears had been long out of sight, Pettersen produced a pan -of fried butter and onions. Before long, the bears were -seen coming back, and both were shot by Sverdrup. It -was sixteen months since they last shot a bear, and -during that time they had very little fresh meat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Soundings were taken several times during the winter, -but the bottom was not reached with a line over 9000 feet -in length.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>An interesting experiment was made on the 13th April. -Scott-Hansen and Sverdrup took an observation with the -theodolite, and Nordahl an observation with the sextant, -on the natural horizon. According to the theodolite, the -latitude was 84° 11.5′, and by the sextant 84° 13′. It had -previously been ascertained that there was a difference -of about two minutes between the artificial and natural -horizons.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As spring advanced, the openings in the ice became -larger, and preparations were made for forcing the <span class='it'>Fram</span> -ahead as soon as the opportunity offered. Everything -that was on the ice was taken on board, and on the 18th -May the engine was made ready for getting up steam.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Towards the end of May blasting operations were begun -to release the <span class='it'>Fram</span> from the ice, and on 2nd June, -Sverdrup and his crew had the satisfaction of seeing the -ship once more free. There was still, however, too much -ice all around for the <span class='it'>Fram</span> to make much use of her -freedom. It was not until the 12th June that a movement -could be made, and then only for a short distance. On -the 27th June the <span class='it'>Fram</span> was forced ahead about 2 miles. -On the 3rd July 3 miles were made, and on the 7th about -1 mile. On the 8th July, in latitude 83° 2′, the bottom -was reached at 1841 fathoms. On the 19th July the -<span class='it'>Fram</span> made about 10 miles, and on the following day it -advanced from 83° 14′ to 82° 39′. Good progress was -now made, and at midnight on the 27th July latitude -81° 32′ had been reached. During the next fortnight -they made little headway, and on the 9th August the -latitude was found 16′ farther north than on 27th July.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 13th August the <span class='it'>Fram</span> steered through the -last ice-floes into open water, north of the 80th degree of -latitude.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Nansen’s expedition lifted the veil of mystery from a -large portion of the Arctic regions. It proved that no -land existed over the long zigzag route traversed by the -<span class='it'>Fram</span> from the New Siberian Islands to a point north of -Spitzbergen within 350 miles of the Pole, nor over the -long sledge-route traversed by Nansen and Johansen. It -discovered that the Polar Sea, instead of being shallow as -hitherto supposed, is a deep basin, exceeding in many -places 11000 feet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Fram</span> drifted very near the route sketched by -Nansen before the expedition set out, and although -Nansen had to admit that the real force which caused the -drift was the wind—an opinion previously formed by -De Long from the drift of the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span>—this did not -alter the final result.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The drift of the <span class='it'>Fram</span> also forcibly proves that the -great mass of ice in the Polar Sea is in a constant state of -movement. It was found that in the sea north of Siberia -the prevailing winds were south-easterly or easterly, and -therefore the drift was towards the north-west or west. -On the other hand, to the north of Spitzbergen the winds -are north-easterly, and the drift is to the south-west.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The manner in which the <span class='it'>Fram</span> drifted also allows -speculations to be made as to the likelihood of the existence -of land to the north of the <span class='it'>Fram’s</span> track. It was found -that with a southerly wind the ice moved easily towards -the north. This is in favour of the view that no land -exists within a considerable distance to the north. The -depth of water and the absence of bears during 1895 also -favour this view. There is a greater probability that land -may exist north of Greenland or north of Grinnell Land.<a id='r1'/><a href='#f1' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[1]</span></sup></a> -The <span class='it'>Fram</span> began to drift to the south when it reached -the neighbourhood of 66° E. longitude, or to the north of -Franz-Josef Land. The latitude was then 85° 55.5′. It is -probable, however, that the <span class='it'>Fram</span> was now within the -direct influence of the drift which constantly passes down -the east coast of Greenland, and that the drift to the -south was not due to land towards the north or west. -More ice is formed in the Polar Sea during the long winter -than is melted during the short summer, and the surplus -must find an outlet into the warmer water of the south. -The ice of the Polar Sea may be compared to the ice of -a mighty glacier: the surplus of both moves on until it -finds an outlet, and moves in the path of least resistance. -The chief and almost only outlet from the Polar Sea is -between Greenland and Norway. A comparatively small -amount of ice finds its way through Robeson Channel or -Behring Strait. The drift of the <span class='it'>Jeannette</span> proves that -from Behring Strait the set of the ice is towards the west -and north-west. Between the longitude of Behring Strait -and the longitude of the north-east of Greenland there -must somewhere be a dividing-line where it will be easier -for the ice to find its way east round the north of Greenland -than westward over the great extent of Polar Sea. -It is probable that the ice from north of latitude 84° and -westward at least as far as 100° W. longitude drifts to the -east round the north of Greenland, if land does not extend -farther north in that direction.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sledge-journey by Nansen and Johansen was the -most daring ever undertaken. In the case of any other -sledge-journey there was always a base of supplies to fall -back upon; in Nansen’s case there was none. In taking -only one companion with him, his daring amounted to -rashness. Had any serious accident happened to one of -them it would have meant the sacrifice of both lives, for it -cannot be supposed for a moment that a comrade could -have been deserted under any circumstances. A party of -three would have been much safer, although it would have -involved a larger quantity of provisions. Two men might -struggle on with a disabled companion, but it would be -practically impossible for one to do so.</p> - -<hr class='footnotemark'/> - -<div class='footnote'> -<table summary='footnote_1'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 3em;'/> -<col span='1'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td style='vertical-align:top;'> -<div id='f1'><a href='#r1'>[1]</a></div> -</td><td> - -<p class='pindent'>These remarks were written before the discovery of Crocker Land and -Bradley Land.</p> - -</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/map-7.jpg' alt='' id='map-7' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/> -<p class='caption'>CHART OF SVERDRUP’S DISCOVERIES.</p> -</div> - -<div><h1 id='ch11'>CHAPTER XI<br/> <span class='sub-head'>SVERDRUP’S EXPEDITION (1898−1902)</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>A few days after the return of the <span class='it'>Fram</span>, Sverdrup was -asked by Nansen whether he wished to go on another -expedition to the north. He then explained that Consul -Axel Heiberg and the firm of brewers, Messrs. Ringnes -Brothers, were willing to equip a new Polar expedition -with Sverdrup as the leader. The offer was quickly -accepted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The route agreed upon was up Smith Sound and -through Robeson Channel, and as far along the north -coast of Greenland as possible before wintering. Sledge-journeys -were then to be made to the northernmost point -of Greenland, and as far down the east coast as could be -attained.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Norwegian Government not only gave the loan -of the <span class='it'>Fram</span>, but granted about £1100 for necessary -alterations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was intended to provision the <span class='it'>Fram</span> for two or three -years, but in the end there was enough for five.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The only member of the first expedition to accompany -Sverdrup was Hendriksen. The full party numbered sixteen, -and included a botanist, a zoologist, and a geologist.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Fram</span> left Christiania on 24th June 1898, and -on the 27th it left Christiansand, a course being set -for the south of Greenland, which was sighted on the -17th July.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 28th July a stop was made at Egedesminde, where -it had been arranged that the Royal Greenland Trade -Service would have dogs for the expedition. In -Sverdrup’s opinion the two indispensable adjuncts to the -carrying out of polar research are ski and dogs, and for -the Eskimo dog he has a great admiration. His experience -was that one man cannot manage more than -eight dogs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Egedesminde was left on the 29th July, and next day -Godhavn was reached. Here, coal, water, and more dogs -were taken on board, and on the 2nd August a course -was shaped for Upernavik, which was reached on the 4th.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Upernavik was left behind on the 5th August, and -Melville Bay was entered on the following day. Here -the <span class='it'>Fram</span> was detained six days in the ice, and did not -reach open water till the 16th.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The first place visited was Foulke Fiord, where they -expected to obtain large game, but were disappointed. -The <span class='it'>Fram</span> was next steered for Littleton Island, where -records were deposited. The view of the ice from the -island was not encouraging, but Sverdrup continued along -the coast of Greenland. The ice, however, lay immovable -close in to land, and the <span class='it'>Fram</span> was forced to turn back on -the night of 17th August.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When abreast of Littleton Island a course was steered -to Ellesmere Land, and then the coast was followed -northwards; but when north of Cape Sabine the <span class='it'>Fram</span> -was stopped by impenetrable ice. To avoid being pressed -ashore, it was found necessary to anchor the <span class='it'>Fram</span> in -the northern part of Rice Strait. For some time it was -hoped that the ice would drift south and allow a passage -to the north, but ultimately the party were compelled to -take up winter quarters in Rice Strait.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Preparations were soon made for autumn sledging -through Hayes Sound, and before the winter darkness -set in it was discovered that the Sound divided into two -fiords, and one of these was penetrated to its head. -The valleys in this region were found to support large -numbers of musk-oxen, but as Sverdrup failed to detect -the flavour of musk either in the flesh or in the milk, he -preferred to use the term “polar oxen.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A more or less permanent camp was formed on the -point of land where Hayes Sound divides into Beitstadfiord -and Jokelfiord. It received the name of “Fort -Juliana.” While Sverdrup was here on 6th October he -met Peary, who was out on a sledge-journey. Peary’s -ship had passed Cape Sabine on 13th August, and on -the 15th had been beset off Cape Hawks, where it had to -winter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sverdrup’s party passed the winter busily engaged in -various preparations for exploration in the spring. The -winter quarters were not far from Greely’s starvation-camp, -but little trace of it could be found.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 18th March 1899 an Eskimo from Inglefield -Gulf on his way to Peary’s ship paid the <span class='it'>Fram</span> a visit, -and other Eskimo arrived during the course of the -spring.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 19th March, when the Eskimo left the ship -on his way to Peary, he was accompanied by Baumann, -Sverdrup’s second in command, and by Hassel, one of the -crew, who wished to visit Peary. The <span class='it'>Windward</span> was -reached without incident, but at that time Peary himself -was confined to his cabin. In February, during a sledge-journey, -most of his toes were frost-bitten, and had to be -amputated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 17th April, Sverdrup with three men left the ship -to make an attempt to cross Ellesmere Land to the west -coast. Two days were taken to reach Fort Juliana, -which was left on 20th April. After leaving this camp, -the ice was found very favourable, and a distance of -38 miles was covered during the first day. At the head -of the fiord Sverdrup decided to continue the journey -with Bay the zoologist, while the other two were to -make a survey from the head of the fiord back to the -<span class='it'>Fram</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sverdrup’s route now lay along the bed of a river, but -in the afternoon of the first day rapids were met, and a -halt had to be made so that the country ahead could be -examined. By making a détour round the rapids, across -some sand-hills, better travelling was found, and the -ground up to the watershed was covered quickly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Polar oxen were met in considerable numbers. When -attacked, they form a square with the calves and heifers -in the middle, and the bulls and cows standing in line of -defence at equal distances. Sometimes the fiercest of the -bulls form a kind of outpost about 25 yards distant from -the square, and make individual attacks. When once the -square has been formed, the animals remain at their -posts until the attack is repulsed or the entire square -fallen. They have developed their strategic reasoning -powers to a wonderful extent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>West of the watershed the country became bare of -snow, and progress was arrested by an impassable cañon. -After various endeavours to find a passage for the sledges, -Sverdrup decided to carry provisions for three days, and -to take the dogs loose. In two days they reached a -large fiord, which was named “Bay Fiord” after Sverdrup’s -companion. The return journey was made without -special incident.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 23rd May, Isachsen, the cartographer of the expedition, -with Braskerud, set out to cross the glaciated -part of Ellesmere Land. The west coast was reached on -4th June. They found considerable difficulty on many -occasions in extricating themselves and the dogs from -the crevasses in the glaciers, but the journey was completed -without serious accident. They reached the <span class='it'>Fram</span> -on 2nd July.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 2nd June two expeditions left the ship. One -was composed of Schei the geologist, and the doctor, -Johan Svendsen. The other was composed of Simmons -the botanist and Sverdrup. Both parties travelled -together during the first day, and then separated. On -the 6th June, Sverdrup and his companion were at Fort -Juliana, when the other party unexpectedly arrived. The -doctor had taken ill while driving up the fiord. He was -made as comfortable as circumstances would allow. He -was snow-blind, and also complained of pains in his chest. -Sverdrup wished to take him back to the <span class='it'>Fram</span>, but he -said he would soon get well, and he preferred to stay -where he was. Two days afterwards the doctor was -much better, and helped to harness the dogs and lash -the loads when the rest of the party were setting out on -a four-days’ trip to Beitstadfiord. The doctor said he -would stay behind at Fort Juliana and employ his time -in collecting insects and in shooting. They then parted, -little thinking what was about to happen. On their -return to camp they were horrified to find the doctor -dead. The body was removed to the <span class='it'>Fram</span>, and then -received a seaman’s funeral in Rice Strait. The doctor’s -death was a great blow to the whole party, and some -of the strongest did not recover from it until months -afterwards.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During July the dépôt at Fort Juliana was withdrawn, -and preparations were made to sail north. An attempt -was made on the 24th July, but the <span class='it'>Fram</span> could not get -beyond Pim Island. Next day, in order to avoid the -pressure of the pack, the ship had to retreat to its winter -harbour.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 4th August another attempt was made to proceed -north. Things went well until the <span class='it'>Fram</span> was abreast of -Cape Camperdown, but here the ice compelled them to -steer a course more and more to the east. While in this -position, a steamer was seen to issue from Payer Harbour. -Sverdrup at once came to the conclusion that it was -looking for Peary, and would probably have letters from -Norway. An attempt was made to meet each other, but -they could not get nearer than about 5 miles. Then the -American ship signalled that she had letters on board -for Sverdrup, and steered off southward. The farthest -point reached by the <span class='it'>Fram</span> was about abreast of Cape -Hawks. Here she lay in the ice several days, and at last -got free only a few miles north of Cape Sabine.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sverdrup now decided to go across to Foulke Fiord. -There one of Peary’s ships was found, and it was -ascertained that the Norwegian mail had been left at -Payer Harbour.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Foulke Fiord was left on 12th August, and a course -was steered for Payer Harbour to fetch the mail. It was -soon seen, however, that it was impossible to reach it -through such masses of ice as were encountered. A course -was tried farther south, but with no better result. Then -several attempts were made along the Greenland side, -and across towards Payer Harbour, but each ended in -failure.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After a good deal of deliberation, it was finally decided -to make for Jones Sound. It was a great disappointment -that they were unable to proceed through Kane Basin -towards the north of Greenland; and the failure to -reach their letters very much depressed the spirits of the -party.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A course was now set for the walrus-shoals off Northumberland -Island, where twenty-two of the animals were -killed to serve as dog-food during the winter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Jones Sound was entered on 24th August. A place of -anchorage was found in a fiord a little west of Cone -Island. It was afterwards named “Fram Fiord.” On -the night of 28th August this fiord was left, and the -<span class='it'>Fram</span> proceeded west as far as Havnefiord, where a winter -harbour was secured.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After various short trips, Sverdrup with three men set -out on 8th September to put down dépôts of dog-food as -far west as possible, so as to be prepared for long journeys. -The water was still open, and the party went by boat. -On the 10th they reached a fiord, afterwards named -“Baadsfiord,” and they formed a dépôt on its eastern side. -They now decided to return to the ship, but found it -impossible to row the boat through a thick layer of snow -and slush which had formed on the surface of the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When they saw that there was little chance of being -able to take the boat back to the ship, and that they -must wait until ice formed strong enough to allow them -to walk back, they set to work to make a house, with the -boat for a roof. A hole was dug in a mound, and the -boat put on the top with shingle along the sides, and over -the whole was put a layer of snow 2 feet deep.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 6th October the ice was strong enough to bear, -and a start was made for the <span class='it'>Fram</span>. On the way they -met a relief party from the ship, and learned that -Braskerud was dead. He had caught a bad cold in Jones -Sound, and had been ill two weeks with a cough and great -difficulty in breathing. It is probable that both he and -the doctor had suffered from pneumonia.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The time for the autumn sledge-journeys had now -arrived, and it was Sverdrup’s intention to make a dépôt -at as great a distance to the west as possible. Various -preparations had to be made, but these were completed -in time to let Sverdrup with five men set out on 13th -October. During this trip a double tent was made use -of for the first time, and proved very successful. The -inner tent was made of thin cotton lining material. -There was a space of about a foot in height between -the two tents, and a space of 3 or 4 inches between the -vertical walls.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Two days were spent in the house at Baadsfiord, from -which they again set out on 18th October. On the 19th -they were stopped by open water beyond Stormkap, and -here formed a dépôt in which was also placed the most -of the meat from two bears which had been shot on the -way. In returning they explored a large fiord between -Baadsfiord and Stormkap, where they shot twenty-six -polar oxen. The fiord received the appropriate name of -“Moskusfiord.” It was a large task to carry all the -meat to the ship, but after several trips it was completed -by the 18th of November.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In Sverdrup’s opinion, Eskimo dogs should be fed once -every day. He believes that if well fed and protected -from cold in suitable kennels there is no reason why so -many should die during the winter. He found his dogs -in full vigour even at the darkest period of the year.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The winter passed in making preparations for the -spring journeys. On the 23rd February 1900 four men -set out for the westernmost dépôt, where they were to -leave their loads. When they reached it they found it -destroyed by bears, and nearly the whole of the food -eaten. Sverdrup now decided that a man should remain -at the dépôt as long as any sledge-parties were travelling -west of it. Bay at once applied for the post, and was -appointed “Commandant of Bjorneborg.” Here he lived -alone for three months.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 20th March the great spring expedition started -off. On the 17th a party of four had left for the dépôt. -The larger party consisted of six men, who were ultimately -to form three parties of two men each. The dogs numbered -fifty-five. The provisions consisted of bread, butter, -sugar, coffee, chocolate, pea-soup, vegetables, figs, French -plums, raisins, nectarines, egg-powder, groats, potatoes, -meat-fat, pemmican, golden syrup, and fish-flour. The -dietary allowed each man per day weighed 2-1/5 lb. The -loads amounted to over 670 lb. each.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Bjorneborg the provisions for the different parties -were weighed and arranged, and then a start was made -westward. The first fiord west of Bjorneborg was named -Gaasefiord, from the number of geese found in it. When -crossing the second fiord, three walruses were shot, and -after feeding the dogs well, the remainder was left as a -dépôt of dog-food. This fiord was named “Hvalrosfiord,” -or “Walrus Fiord.” Next day they reached a sound where -huge masses of ice were grinding round in a tearing current. -Sverdrup had never seen waters so absolutely impossible -to navigate as he saw here. The difficulties which had to -be overcome before it could be passed were so great that -it received the name of “Helvedesporten,” or “Hell Gate.” -On one occasion three men, eighteen dogs, and three -sledges with their loads fell into a hole in the snow -12 feet deep, but by great good fortune no serious damage -was done. On another occasion one of the sledges slipped -over a wall of ice into the sea. The dogs would have -been carried with it, but the traces broke. One of the -men, with a rope round his waist, had to be lowered down, -and the load and sledge were ultimately hauled up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The land at last began to trend to the north-east, and -the point was named “Land’s End.” The whole of the -west coast of Ellesmere Land was subsequently called -“King Oscar Land.” Next day a high mountain crag -appeared above the horizon away to the north. It was -named “Store Bjornekap,” or “Great Bear Cape.” Still -farther to the north another cape appeared, and was -named “Little Bjornekap,” or “Little Bear Cape.” Near -here a bear was shot, and served as a good feed for the -dogs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 31st March the returning party retraced their -steps. Sverdrup with three others proceeded westward. -At the parting a bottle of brandy was produced, but -somewhat to their astonishment they found it solid, and -it had to be poked from the bottle with a stick. The -temperature was 44° below zero.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The party now met loose snow, and during the first -day made only 9 miles; during the second day only -8 miles were covered. In the evening of the second day -they fortunately killed a bear, and decided to camp for a -day or two while the meat lasted, in the hope of the -travelling and weather improving. On this and many -other occasions the liver of the bear was offered to the -dogs, but they will touch it only when excessively hungry. -It has been a common belief that the bear’s liver is -poisonous to both men and dogs, but Sverdrup has eaten -it many times without feeling any disagreeable consequences. -He never found it in the least unpalatable -when care had been taken to remove the gall-bag as -quickly as possible. The last of the bear-meat was -consumed on the 7th April, and next day a fresh start -was made. A high mountain in the west had been -visible for some time, and Sverdrup formed the opinion -that it was not part of Ellesmere Land. He thought -that a sound probably passed north between Ellesmere -Land and this new land, and later exploration proved -that this opinion was correct. The high headland -received the name of “Cape Sydvest,” or “Cape South-West.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Beyond the headland bare ice was met, and travelling -became much faster. On 16th April, while Sverdrup -was standing on a pressure-ridge scanning the country, -he suddenly became aware that he was looking at land -far away in the west. A new plan was at once formed: -Isachsen with Hassel were to visit the new land in the -west, while Sverdrup and Fosheim were to continue to the -north along what was afterwards named “Axel Heiberg -Land.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Isachsen decided to leave behind a small dépôt where -he was to place a letter on his return. During the first -day Sverdrup and Fosheim covered 18 miles. Next day -they had strong wind and drift, and as a consequence -went out of their course and found themselves far inland -among some sand-hills, and all the time they had thought -they were driving on the sea-ice. A little farther to the -north they experienced very severe weather, and were -compelled to remain at one camp five days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 2nd May they found themselves in latitude -80° 31½′, and the coast was trending due north. The -tracks of reindeer were seen on several occasions, but not -the animals themselves. There was now no extra food -for the dogs, and it became evident that their strength -was failing. The latitude of 80° 55′ was reached on -5th May, and here they decided to erect a cairn and then -return. It is remarkable that along the whole of this -coast Sverdrup saw nothing approaching to palæocrystic -ice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As food was getting short, the return journey had to -be made with all possible speed. A short record was -found from Isachsen, who had returned to his dépôt on -28th April. Sverdrup and Fosheim reached it on 16th -May. Before they arrived at Land’s End, a bear was shot, -and was much needed for the dogs. As had been prearranged, -Baumann left a record in a cairn, with a -description and sketch-map of a passage across the land -to Goose Fiord. Sverdrup attempted this passage, but -in foggy weather he missed the way, and found himself -suddenly stopped by a high wall of ice, which entirely -cut off the valley. On investigation, however, a tunnel -made by a river was found to lead into the glacier. -Rather than drive all the way back, it was decided to try -the tunnel. From the roof hung gigantic blocks of ice, -and along the walls were grotto after grotto. It was a -fairy scene, but fear-inspiring as well as beautiful. The -tunnel led through to the valley on the other side. The -remainder of the journey to Bjorneborg was made without -incident.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Bay had now been a hermit three months, and had -many adventures with bears to relate. Sverdrup took -him on to the ship, and left Fosheim at Bjorneborg in -Bay’s place.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Before Sverdrup reached the ship a serious fire had -taken place on 27th May. A spark from the galley -chimney is supposed to have set the winter-awning on -fire. The flames spread so rapidly that soon the rigging -was on fire, sixteen paraffin-prepared kayaks which were -lying under the awning were totally destroyed, as well as -a score of prepared polar-ox skins and some bear-skins. -Several cases of powder were removed at the last moment. -An iron tank containing 50 gallons of spirit could not be -moved, but although the heat melted the tinning on the -outside of the tank, the spirit did not catch fire.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Schei and Peder arrived from their journey on Whitsunday -morning. They had visited North Kent, where -they shot some reindeer; and then went to Buckingham -Island and Graham Island. From there they had visited -some fiords in the south of Axel Heiberg Land.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Isachsen and Hassel returned on board on 19th June. -On 16th April they separated from Sverdrup and Fosheim -to explore the land seen in the west. The weather was -foggy, and nothing was seen of the land till the 20th -April, when they found themselves near the ice-foot. -After getting a general view of the land, they returned -to Axel Heiberg Land, where they arrived on 28th April, -and left a record as arranged. They then travelled south -round Cape South-West, and visited some of the fiords -in the south-east. The summer was spent in shooting, -dredging, botanising, and in making short trips to places -not far from the ship.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 8th August the <span class='it'>Fram</span> was able to steam out of -its winter harbour and make its way westward. At the -termination of Jones Sound, Cardigan Strait was entered -and the north end reached; but here fast ice was met. -The <span class='it'>Fram</span>, however, was able to bore its way some -distance to the west, but was finally stopped by the ice -and drifted back. Later, the <span class='it'>Fram</span> became beset, and -was not liberated till the 15th September. Next day -they were due west of Graham Island. A course was -now steered for Jones Sound, and a winter harbour was -found in Goose Fiord. The valleys in this neighbourhood -were well stocked with game, and large numbers of polar -oxen were shot for food during the winter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 18th October, Sverdrup and Olsen left the -ship, equipped for ten days. They were to make an -attempt to discover a sound leading north towards -Greely Fiord. The following day, a terrific gale came -on, and while sledging, a gust of wind carried Olsen’s -sledge with such violence against a block of ice that -Olsen was shot several yards, and came down on his -shoulder. Olsen thought his arm was dislocated, but -Sverdrup hoped it would soon get right again, and -pushed on. The arm, however, became more and more -painful, and they were forced to turn back. The wind -and drift were now in their faces, and Olsen’s sufferings -became very acute. They had passed the previous night -at a camp with Baumann and the mate, who were out -shooting, and to this they returned. Olsen was put into -the tent, his clothes taken off, and his arm examined. -His companions felt sure that the shoulder was dislocated, -but all their attempts to put it in again were unavailing. -During the night Olsen had no sleep, and next day the -storm was so violent that no move could be made. On -the following day the storm had abated, and Olsen was -taken back to the ship. As soon as Sverdrup arrived on -board, some of the doctor’s books were searched to find -out what was to be done with Olsen’s shoulder. Sverdrup -did not dare to give chloroform, but as the arm was now -extremely painful he decided to make Olsen drunk with -brandy. After the patient had taken about half a bottle, -an attempt was made by Fosheim and Simmons to reduce -the dislocation, but they failed. Then Sverdrup and -Fosheim tried, and to their great relief the arm slipped -into its socket. Olsen stood the ordeal well. The pain -and excitement had kept him sober, but as soon as the -dislocation was put right he became dead drunk. Next -day he was quite himself again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Winter preparations, such as covering the skylights -and making kennels for the dogs, were now carried out, -and various kinds of work in preparation for spring were -started. New sledges, odometers, and sleeping-bags had -to be made; and many articles required repairs. Schei -was set the task of making a new travelling-camera, and -did it successfully.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wolves made their appearance during the winter, and -two were caught in a trap, and ultimately grew quite -tame.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 8th April 1901 the long spring journeys -started. Sverdrup and Schei were to investigate whether -the new land discovered during the previous year was -separate from Ellesmere Land. Isachsen and Hassel -were to explore the land in the west. The latter party -had formed a dépôt at Cape South-West earlier in the -spring, and Sverdrup had also formed a dépôt. Baumann -and Stolz were to carry out a surveying expedition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sverdrup first explored several of the fiords which run -northward from Baumann Fiord. From Troldfiord they -passed over the land, and reached a large fiord running -east and west. A course was made for the north-west -point, from which a waterway was seen extending northward -as far as the eye could reach. To this was given -the name of “Heureka Sound.” In the north was seen -a high, bluish-black, precipitous promontory, which was -called “Blaamander,” or “The Blue Man,” and the course -was set on this. Farther north it was decided that -Fosheim and the mate, who were still with Sverdrup, -should follow the east side of the sound, while Sverdrup -and Schei should follow the west side. From this point, -far to the north, rose a mountain crag which appeared -like an island. It was later found that it was not an -island, but that large fiords penetrated the land towards -the north and east. From there, Greely Fiord runs -north-east.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sverdrup and Schei now made for the west coast, which -they followed northward over rough ice and in bad -weather. They finally reached a point which was termed -“Smorgrautberget.” From here they received the impression -that a large sea opened out to the north-west, -and that Axel Heiberg Land was separated from Grant -Land by a sound which was named “Fridtjof Nansen -Sound.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 13th May the return journey was begun. Not far -south of the most northern point reached they found -Eskimo ruins. Near Blaamander they crossed to the -east coast. On the journey north, and also on the way -south, they encountered wolves. A pack of twelve -attacked a dog-team, and one of the dogs was severely -bitten before the wolves were driven off. On the return -journey several fiords were explored and examined geologically -by Schei, who was always on the look-out for -fossils. The <span class='it'>Fram</span> was reached on 18th June.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Baumann and Stolz had returned on 28th May, Isachsen -and Hassel on 6th June, and Fosheim and the mate on -13th June.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The first two had seen a herd of three deer, and had -shot a good many polar oxen, a bear with two cubs, and -two wolves. They surveyed a large tract in the neighbourhood -of Baumann Fiord.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After leaving Sverdrup, Fosheim and the mate made -for Greely Fiord, which they followed eastwards in order -to ascertain whether a fiord or sound cut into the land -in a southerly direction. It was thought possible that -such a fiord might communicate with Bay Fiord.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One running to the south was found, and followed -to its head. Instead of going back the long way they -had come, an attempt was made to cross the land to -Heureka Sound, but after driving nearly 12 miles -they found the way impassable, and had to return. Part -of the Bay Fiord was explored on the way south, and -then they shaped their course for the <span class='it'>Fram</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Isachsen and Hassel reached Cape South-West on their -outward journey on 13th April. They found the cache -scattered about in all directions, but little of the food -was missing. It was supposed that this had been the -work of polar oxen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They left Cape South-West on 14th April with loads -of about 550 lb. on each sledge, and reached the new -land on the 17th. A sound was discovered between the -new land and North Cornwall, which was already known. -It received the name of “Hendriksen’s Sound.” They -passed through this sound, and reached the south-west -point of what was afterwards named “Amund Ringnes -Land,” and followed the coast northward. On the 23rd -April, land was seen in the west and south-west, and they -decided to drive west. They arrived next day at Nathorst -Peninsula, and this new land received the name of “Ellef -Ringnes Land.” The sound between this and the land -they had left was named after Hassel. Towards the west -and south-west still another land was seen, and was called -“King Christian’s Land.” The sound between the two -latter was called “Danish Sound,” and they passed through -this and drove north. At the most northern point of -the land, the trend began to be east and then south. -They followed the coast-line until 20th May, when they -saw land in the east, which proved to be “Amund -Ringnes Land,” the northern point of which they -reached on 24th May. They then made for Axel -Heiberg Land, and reached Cape South-West on 29th -May.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the new land they had explored they saw reindeer -and ptarmigan, and the tracks of bears, foxes, wolves, -and hares. They reached the <span class='it'>Fram</span> on 6th June.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The summer work was now commenced, such as -dredging and botanising, and a trip was made to -North Devon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As summer advanced, the party became anxious about -the prospects of the <span class='it'>Fram</span> getting free from Gassefiord, -as it was intended to return to Norway that year. An -attempt was made to bore the ice on 12th August, but -it ended in failure. On the 26th the <span class='it'>Fram</span> advanced a -thousand yards, but on the 27th it could only make -three ship’s lengths. By 5th September the ship had -gone about 10 miles through the ice, but some 6 miles -of ice was still between it and the open water. They -had now to give up all hope of getting free that year, -and had to make preparations to spend their fourth -polar night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Again the winter was passed in hard work for the -coming spring. It was intended, in case a ship might -come into Jones Sound in search of the <span class='it'>Fram</span>, to build -cairns and leave a record of the expedition on Cone -Island, and on different points in the sound. It was also -intended to send a sledge-expedition to Beechy Island, -partly to correct their chronometers, and partly to look -at the dépôts left there half a century before. Schei -and Sverdrup were to go north and map the tracts west -of Greely Fiord.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 1st April 1902 three parties went off. The patent -dog-food was nearly finished, and they had to carry stockfish -instead, which weighed much heavier. Trusting to -being able to obtain bears, Sverdrup did not take blubber -nor meat. No bears were obtained when expected, and -the dogs soon became very weak. It was not until the -10th April that a bear was seen and shot.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instead of travelling over the heavy ice towards -Smorgrautberget, Sverdrup kept to the east shore, and -then steered straight across Greely Fiord to Blaafjeld, -in the south of Grant Land. They kept to the east -side of a pressure-ridge which stretched straight across -the fiord, and seemed to be the boundary between the -fast ice of the previous year on Greely Fiord and the -drift-ice outside.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When near land, the ice became heavy, and it was -with great difficulty that advance could be made. West -of Blaafjeld they passed into a fiord where a large -number of hares were seen. It was the pairing season, -and they were scampering about in all directions. -Sverdrup supposed they had lost their heads from love, -and he slyly remarks that this is a thing which may -happen to others besides hares. The fiord was named -“Harefiord.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 30th April they set off from the headland on the -west side of the fiord. In the evening they camped near -the most westerly foreland they had seen the previous -year from Smorgrautberget. Next day they reached -another fiord and entered it for a short distance, but -as they were anxious to ascertain the extent of land to -the west they did not venture to its head. Next day -the land trended about due north, and when the weather -cleared land was seen to the north-west, and they recognised -they were in a bay. A straight line was made -for the part farthest off, which was reached on the 6th -May. Sverdrup here ascended a height, and found that -he was on an island separated by a narrow sound from -the land in the east. From a point about 3 miles -north of the camp, the land turned to the north-east. -North and west of this land, only sea could be made -out. To the south was Axel Heiberg Land. Sverdrup -built a cairn to mark their farthest north, as he had -now decided to return. The latitude was found to -be 81° 40′.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In returning, a course was made across Fridtjof Nansen -Sound to the northern extremity of Axel Heiberg -Land. In passing south they proved that Schei Island -was really an island, and not a peninsula. Some polar -oxen were shot and the dogs feasted, and the way south -was covered at a good speed. When Bay Fiord was -reached, they entered it and explored it to its head, -where they arrived on 29th May.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Fram</span> was reached on 16th June, after an absence -of seventy-seven days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Isachsen, Fosheim, and Hassel had left the records as -arranged, and had returned to the ship on 18th April; -and on the 23rd April, Baumann, Fosheim, and Raanes -started for Beechy Island, which was reached on 4th -May. It is really not an island, but constitutes the -south-west corner of North Devon. The dépôt was -found destroyed. The cutter <span class='it'>Mary</span>, which had been -left there, was a wreck; whether the work of Eskimo or -seal-catchers could not be said with certainty. They -discovered that Arthur Strait was really a fiord. The -return journey was started on the 6th May, and the -<span class='it'>Fram</span> was reached on the 20th May.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 12th April, Isachsen and Bay made a trip to -North Devon, and did not return till 21st May. On -25th May, Isachsen and Simmons set out to examine -a bed of coal discovered by Baumann, and returned on -9th June.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The work of exploration was now over. The usual -summer dredging was begun, and the geologist hunted -for fossils. Olsen managed to fall from a pressure-ridge -and dislocate his other shoulder. This time it was reduced -without the assistance of brandy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 20th July the <span class='it'>Fram</span>, with steam up, began to -leave her winter harbour, but it was not until the 6th -August that she entered Jones Sound. On the 10th the -<span class='it'>Fram</span> was in Baffin’s Bay, heading for the Devil’s Thumb. -Godhavn was reached on the 17th August, and here they -were well received. They left on the 21st, and although -there was a break-down of the engine, Norway was sighted -on 18th September. Stavanger was reached on the 19th, -and soon they received a most enthusiastic reception -wherever they went. The owners of the expedition incurred -expenses to the amount of £12,014.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This expedition, although it unfortunately was prevented -from carrying out its original plans, did important -work. It not only explored the whole of Jones Sound, -but discovered the existence of large islands extending -toward the north. The fact that no palæocrystic ice -was met with in this region makes it highly probable -that land exists still farther to the north.<a id='r2'/><a href='#f2' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[2]</span></sup></a></p> - -<hr class='footnotemark'/> - -<div class='footnote'> -<table summary='footnote_2'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 3em;'/> -<col span='1'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td style='vertical-align:top;'> -<div id='f2'><a href='#r2'>[2]</a></div> -</td><td> - -<p class='pindent'>The discovery of Crocker Land and Bradley Land proves that this -view was correct.</p> - -</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<div><h1 id='ch12'>CHAPTER XII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>ITALIAN EXPEDITION (1899−1900)</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>Between the discovery of Franz-Josef Land by the -Austro-Hungarian Expedition and the expedition of the -Duke of the Abruzzi a good deal of exploration had -taken place. In 1880 and 1881, Leigh Smith in his -yacht <span class='it'>Eira</span> reached Franz-Josef Land without much -difficulty, and surveyed the coast up to Cape Lofley. -The <span class='it'>Eira</span>, when leaving for the second time, was crushed -by the ice near Cape Flora, and sank. The crew built -a wretched hovel in which they passed the winter. In -the following summer they sailed in their boats to -Novaya Zemlya, where they were taken on board a -ship which had been sent to their assistance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In 1894, Jackson, in the <span class='it'>Windward</span>, built a station at -Cape Flora, on Northbrook Island, and remained there -till the autumn of 1897. He made three expeditions -with sledges. In the first two he was prevented from -advancing towards the north by stretches of open sea. -He reached 81° 20′. In the third journey he went -towards the west, making the circuit of Alexander Land. -He named the most westerly point of the group “Cape -Mary Harmsworth.” The sea to the north was called -“Queen Victoria Sea.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In 1898, Wellman in the <span class='it'>Fridtjof</span> landed at Cape -Tegethoff, and after making some discoveries in the -eastern part of Franz-Josef Land, returned home next -year in the <span class='it'>Capella</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Duke of the Abruzzi left Christiania on board -the <span class='it'>Polar Star</span> on 12th June 1899. It was his intention -to proceed to Emperor Franz-Josef Land and attempt -from there to reach the North Pole.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The expedition was composed of eleven Italians and -nine Norwegians. The ship was a whaler, and had been -previously named the <span class='it'>Jason</span>. It had been commanded by -Captain Evensen, who retained the command by being -appointed captain of the <span class='it'>Polar Star</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The second in command of the expedition was Umberto -Cagni, captain in the Italian Navy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Archangel was reached on 30th June. Here 121 dogs -were obtained. They had been brought by Trontheim, -who was also employed by Nansen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Archangel was left on 13th July; the first ice was met -on the 17th, and Northbrook Island was sighted on the -20th July.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The five huts left by Jackson at Cape Flora were visited, -and a dépôt of provisions for eight months was landed, in -addition to five tons of coal.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cape Flora was left on 26th July, and an attempt was -made to pass to the north through Nightingale Sound, -but the passage was blocked by ice. Next an attempt -was made to double Cape Mary Harmsworth, but this also -ended in failure.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nightingale Sound was again entered on the 28th July, -but in the evening of this day the ship was surrounded by -ice-fields, and had to remain near the northern extremity -of Bruce Island three days. On the 1st August an -attempt was made to bore the ice, but the ship advanced -only about 300 yards. Some channels formed on the -3rd and allowed some progress. On the 5th the whaler -<span class='it'>Capella</span>, with Wellman’s party, was sighted near Scott -Keltie Island, and Wellman and three of his companions -visited the ship.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From this point the <span class='it'>Polar Star</span> had open water until -it reached Maria-Elizabeth Island, but here it was stopped -by thick ice ahead and foggy weather. When the fog -cleared, a passage was found to the east of the island, and -the <span class='it'>Polar Star</span> advanced rapidly northwards, and reached -82° 4′ to the north-west of Prince Rudolf Island. The -<span class='it'>Alert</span> reached 82° 27′, the <span class='it'>Polaris</span> attained 82° 11′, so that -the <span class='it'>Polar Star</span> took third place among the ships which -had been navigated towards the Pole. The <span class='it'>Fram</span> reached -a much higher latitude, but it was by means of the drift. -From the farthest north reached by the <span class='it'>Polar Star</span> the -horizon was carefully observed, but no trace could be -found of Petermann Land and King Oscar Land, which -Payer thought he sighted from Cape Fligely. It was -found that the latitude of this cape was 81° 50′ 43″, and -not 82° 5′, as given by Payer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Polar Star</span> was now steered towards the south-east -to Teplitz Bay, the most northern bay of Franz-Josef -Land, in latitude 81° 47′, where it went into winter -quarters. The bay did not provide a very safe anchorage, -but its position far to the north made it of great importance -for the contemplated sledge-expeditions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 27th August the <span class='it'>Polar Star</span> was driven by the -pressure of the ice against the ice fixed to the coast, -and heeled over about 13 degrees. When the pressure -ceased, she remained in the same position. On the 7th -September the ice pressure again became severe, and the -ship was so seriously damaged that it had to be -abandoned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Steps were at once taken to have the stores landed, and -two large field-tents were erected on the shore to serve as -winter quarters. Outside these a second tent was formed -to cover the two field-tents, and a third tent covered the -whole.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A space between the two inner field-tents was occupied -on one side by the kitchen, and on the other by bags and -cases containing clothing. Between the field-tents and -the second tent tins of milk were built in the form of a -wall, and between the second and third tents were stored -the provisions likely to be consumed during the winter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After all these preparations had been completed, an -attempt was made to repair the damaged ship, which still -kept its position heeled over in the ice. The water which -had leaked into the ship was pumped out, and as far as -possible the damaged parts were repaired with tarpaulin -and boards.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the winter preparations were made for the long -sledge-journey in the spring. On the 23rd December the -Duke of the Abruzzi went out with some of his party in -order to train the dogs to draw sledges. They drove to -the bottom of the bay, and then turned back. On the -return journey a storm came on, and the way was lost. -Instead of keeping on the ice of the bay, they wandered -unknowingly up on the island, and were only made aware -of the fact when two sledges with their dogs, as well as -the Duke and Captain Cagni, fell from the glacier down -to the bay, a height of some 23 feet. Fortunately, neither -was hurt. Owing to the drifting snow and the darkness, -great difficulty was experienced in regaining the tent. -When it was reached, it was found that several of the -party were frost-bitten. The Duke and Captain Cagni -had suffered most. The circulation in the terminal joints -of two of the Duke’s fingers of the left hand could not be -restored.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Christmas and the beginning of the New Year were -celebrated with the utmost enthusiasm. Fireworks -consisting of rockets and fiery fountains, salutes from the -small gun, and bonfires of wood steeped in petroleum, all -united to form a striking scene in a land far removed -from civilisation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With the beginning of the New Year the preparations -for the sledge-journey received most attention. The -daily ration was fixed at 2 lb. 12 oz. 9 dr., which was -about 3 oz. more than the weight used by Nares and -Greely. It consisted of biscuit, tinned meat, pemmican, -butter, milk, Liebig’s extract, desiccated vegetables, -Italian paste, sugar, salt, coffee, tea, and onions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The lamps used were made on the Primus system, and -the cooking-stove was that designed by Nansen. The -quantity of petroleum was fixed at 3 oz. 8 dr. for each -man daily. The dog’s ration of pemmican was 1 lb. -1 oz. 10 dr.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The expedition carried flat-bottomed kayaks. These -had a framework of thin rods over which canvas was -stretched. Their greatest length was 11 ft. 7 in., their -width 2 ft. 6 in., and their height 11 in. They were -provided with a small sail, a pump to empty out water, -and a pair of oars with their rowlocks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sledges were 11 ft. 5 in. long, 1 ft. 6 in. wide, and -6½ inches high. The runners were slightly convex, so as -to turn easily; they were shod with white metal, and -wooden runners were strapped beneath them. The foremost -ends of the runners were joined by a bow, to which -the trace was attached, and no nails were used. Each sledge -was provided with a small steel rope, with as many rings as -there were dogs to tie them to, at a distance of 4½ feet -from each other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 18th January 1900 the Duke had nearly all the -first joint of the middle finger of his left hand amputated, -and ten days later a part of the fourth finger. This -rendered him quite unable to take any part in the sledge-expedition, -and Captain Cagni was given the command -of it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This expedition set out on 19th February. As open -water reached the mouth of the bay, it was found necessary -to haul the sledges overland to a point north of Cape -Germania. With thirteen sledges drawn by 108 dogs, -the ice-pack was reached on the 21st February. During -the first night on the ice the temperature reached 45.4° F. -below zero, and on 23rd February it reached 61.6° F. below -zero. Many of the party were frost-bitten, and few could -sleep. This extreme temperature was more than they -could stand, and Captain Cagni wisely decided to return -to Teplitz Bay, which was reached on the night of the -23rd.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The expedition left again on the 11th March. During -the interval various alterations had been made. It was -found necessary to diminish the loads so as to avoid -damage to the sledges when crossing the broken and -difficult ice near the island. The allowance of petroleum -was increased to 6 oz. 5 dr. for each man. Cagni had also -observed that it would be necessary to always send -forward at least two men to prepare the way for the -sledges. He therefore decided to take an additional man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The expedition consisted of three detachments. One -was composed of four men, and the other two of three -men each. The four men were to accompany the party -twelve days, and then return. The provisions were so -divided that this party carried the whole of the rations -for the ten men during the twelve days, and also the -rations for their own return. The second detachment -carried the rations to last the remainder other twelve days -and their own return. According to this arrangement, -the third or advance party would not begin on their -own rations until the twenty-fifth day, when the second -detachment would return.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The entire camp equipment and the clothing for the -three detachments amounted to 978 lb. 13 oz. 8 dr., -or nearly 100 lb. per man. The weight to be carried -amounted to the remarkable total of 6718 lb. 9 oz. 13 dr., -or almost exactly 3 tons. Twelve sledges were used, so -that the average weight for each was 5 cwt. The dogs -numbered 103.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the second departure the expedition was able to -travel out of the bay without having first to drag the -sledges overland. On the first day the temperature was -27.4° F. below zero. An auxiliary detachment accompanied -the party two days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At first, Captain Cagni set out towards the west, so as -to get away from land, but on the second day he tended -a little east of north, so as to allow for the probable drift -towards the west. During the night of the 13th March -the temperature fell to 45.4° F. below zero. On the -12th an advance of 7 miles was made; on the 13th, about -10 miles; but on the 14th the ice-axes had frequently -to be used to make a road, and only 3½ miles were -covered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For some days the temperature kept remarkably low. -On the morning of the 16th it reached 58° F. below zero. -On the 19th it rose to 16.6° F. below zero, but on the 21st -it again fell to 36.4° F. below zero.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 21st March, Cagni decided to take three men -with him in the third or advance detachment. He found -it necessary to send two men forward to prepare the way -for the sledges. With three men in the detachment, -only one would be left to look after the most of the -dogs and sledges. He therefore decided to send back -three men in the first detachment, instead of four. To -meet the extra rations required for the additional man, he -intended to send back the first detachment two days, and -the second detachment four days earlier than originally -intended.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The first detachment, composed of Lieutenant Querini, -the guide Ollier, and the engineer Stökken, was sent back -on the 23rd March. At this time the expedition was -about 45 miles distant from the island which had -been seen two days previously. Nothing more was ever -heard of this detachment. The Duke came to the conclusion -that an accident must have happened. It is quite -possible, however, if not probable, that the party was -drifted so far out of the proper course that the island -could not be reached before all the food had been consumed. -It will be seen that the third detachment failed -to make headway against this drift, and was saved only by -giving up the attempt to reach Prince Rudolf Island, -and by making its way towards the islands in the south.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some of the dogs caused a great deal of trouble. One -had deserted on two occasions. It was a fine, strong -animal, and it would have been a pity to kill it. The -doctor undertook to tame it and prevent it deserting. -He secured it with two chains and a steel-wire rope. In -spite of this, it was found trying to escape, and the doctor -gave it a severe beating. During the night the dog broke -the two chains, and in some incredible way managed to -get free. As if to be revenged on its tamer, it made a -hole in the doctor’s tent and stole all the butter which -was to serve for the detachment’s breakfast.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Towards the end of March the temperature was still -very low, and Captain Cagni suffered greatly from one of -his forefingers which had already been twice frost-bitten. -The sleeping-bag slowly filled with snow formed by the -frozen moisture of the breath. During the night their -bodies gradually thawed this snow, and they rose in a -cold bath in the morning. Soon after getting up, the -moisture froze again into a mass of ice. On 27th and -28th March the temperature was more than 40° F. below -zero.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 28th March, Captain Cagni was able to take an -observation for latitude, and was astonished to find that -it was only 83°. He had calculated that it ought to be -about 83° 50′. The drift to the south must therefore -have been considerable.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 31st March the second detachment, composed of -Dr. Cavalli, Cardenti, and Savoie, was sent back. It received -rations for eighteen days, and had twenty-four dogs. -Considerable difficulties were met with on the return -journey, but the detachment reached the coast of the -island on the 17th April. Here a broad channel of water -prevented them from reaching land. A kayak was repaired, -and Cardenti was sent in it across the channel. -He reached the glacier face, but it took him two hours to -ascend to the top by making steps with his ice-axe in a -crevasse. He then was unable to find his way to the tent -in Teplitz Bay. After wandering about on the island -all night, he saw the tent when daylight dawned. A -boat was at once dispatched to bring the doctor and his -companion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile the party in Teplitz Bay had been anxiously -awaiting the arrival of the first detachment. When the -second arrived and reported that the first had left seven -days before them, all hope was practically given up, -although a relief party was sent out to make a search in -the neighbourhood of the islands discovered by Nansen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cagni and his three companions set out after the -departure of the second detachment. They had forty-nine -dogs and six sledges. The load on each sledge varied -from 410 to 485 lb. On the first day they made a -splendid march of about 18 miles. With the beginning -of April the temperature rose, and life became -less miserable, but the higher temperature was accompanied -by a strong wind. On the 3rd and 4th April this -high wind and snow-drift confined the party to their tent. -They set out again on the 5th, but found great movement -going on in the ice. Channels were constantly -opening and closing, and pressure-ridges were being -formed all around. One of the sledges broke through -the ice, and was dragged out with difficulty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was part of the scheme of the expedition to gradually -kill a certain number of the dogs in order to assist in -feeding the others. At first none of the dogs cared to -eat the flesh; later the few which ate it waited till it was -frozen; but ultimately the whole of the survivors devoured -it with even more greediness than pemmican, and while it -was still warm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 7th April the latitude was found to be 83° 54′. -This was near the latitude calculated by Cagni, so that -the drift to the south had almost ceased. The recent -tracks of two bears were seen on this date. On the 8th -April channels were crossed by means of bridges built of -large blocks of ice detached from the hummocks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cagni was still suffering greatly from his frost-bitten -forefinger, which the doctor had generously promised to -amputate when Cagni returned to Teplitz Bay. On the -12th April a huge pressure-ridge, which Cagni estimated -to be from 36 to 45 feet in height, was seen -to form about 100 yards from the camp. On this -day they travelled a distance estimated at 22 miles. -Next day one of the guides suddenly broke through the -ice, and would have been lost but for the assistance of -his companion. Cagni took half a bath shortly afterwards, -and the second guide slipped into the water with one leg. -In spite of these difficulties, the day’s march was reckoned -at 13 miles. These two days, however, greatly exhausted -the dogs, and on the following day only 5 miles were -covered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 15th April a snowstorm confined them to the -tent. Cagni’s finger had kept him awake two nights, and -he took advantage of the delay to unbandage it and -remove with forceps some of the dead flesh. On this day -a hole was burnt through one of the two saucepans. This -was looked upon as a serious accident, but it occurred to -one of the guides to use the cover as a second bottom, and -this fortunately answered fairly well. The storm lasted -till the afternoon of the 17th April. This was the date -originally fixed for the return, but Cagni decided to still -push on. At midday on the 21st April the latitude was -found to be 85° 29′. This gave great encouragement, and -determined Cagni to make an effort to break Nansen’s -record. On the 22nd the latitude was 85° 48′; on the -23rd it was 86° 4′; and on the 24th it was 86° 18′.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cagni had now beaten Nansen’s record of 86° 14′, but he -decided to still push on. About six o’clock they were -stopped by a large channel, and here it was decided to -return. The latitude was found to be the record one -of 86° 34′. Great praise is due to Cagni for his pluck and -determination under difficulties which would have made -most men give up in despair. Coming from a country -which enjoys a warm climate, the severe temperatures -must have caused the party to suffer greatly, but added to -this in Cagni’s case was the torture he had to undergo -from his mortifying finger.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The return journey was begun on the 25th with four -sledges, thirty-four dogs, provisions for thirty days, 200 -rations of pemmican for the men and 300 rations for the -dogs. On the first day’s march the party covered the -remarkable distance of 29 miles. The outward track -assisted greatly on the return. The progress at first was -very good; in four days the party advanced 1 degree -towards the south.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 2nd May, Cagni improved the condition of his -finger, which had again pained him greatly. The glands -in the armpit were also inflamed. When the finger was -unbandaged, it was found to be greatly swollen. With a -lancet in his left hand, Cagni opened the swelling and -gave outlet to a large quantity of matter. After taking -away a covering of dead flesh, a piece of bone was found -sticking out of the wound. Cagni had only scissors to -work with, but with these he managed to cut off the -projection. The whole proceeding occupied him fully -two hours. His courage was beyond praise.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 8th May the latitude was found to be 83° 42′. -On this date the temperature had risen to freezing-point. -On the 10th, Cagni discovered that he had drifted about -8 degrees of longitude to the west of Teplitz Bay. -In the latitude he was in this represented about 57 geographical -miles. He therefore steered a course more to -the east. In spite of this new direction, Cagni found -two days later that he was still farther to the west. He -now hesitated to steer more to the east in case his -chronometers had been going more slowly, due to the rise -in temperature. This decision had an important bearing -on the future trials of the party.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 18th May it was found that though the party -had been travelling nine days towards the south-east, they -were still on the same meridian. Channels now became -so frequent that the course was difficult to keep, and the -weather became stormy and foggy. On the 23rd May -latitude 82° 1′ was reached, so that the party was now -nearly on a level with the northern part of Prince Rudolf -Island. The drift was, however, so great that during the -next six days only about 10 miles were covered towards -the island. Provisions were now running short, and both -the physical and mental condition of the men began to -deteriorate. According to the longitude, they were still -6 degrees west of Teplitz Bay.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It now became necessary to ferry the sledges and dogs -across the channels on large pieces of ice, and progress -became very slow. After struggling desperately towards -the east, it was found on the 7th June that they were -farther to the west than on the 1st of the month. The -week’s toil had therefore been in vain. This made Cagni -come to the wise decision to give up fighting against the -drift, and to proceed southwards, where he would probably -reach islands from which he would have a better chance -of reaching Prince Rudolf Island.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the second day after setting out to the south, land -was sighted, and turned out to be Harley Island. On the -10th the party found it necessary to begin eating dog’s -flesh. The coast of Harley Island was reached on 13th -June, but still they kept to the ice, and followed the coast -until they reached the north-west extremity of the island. -They then steered for Ommaney Island, where they arrived -at midnight on the 13th. This island was crossed, but -on attempting to leave it the ice was found impracticable, -and twice the party were forced to retrace their steps. -The third attempt was successful, after great labour among -moving ice. A broad channel was found open along Karl -Alexander Land, and Cagni therefore steered a course in -the direction of Cape Germania.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When they awoke on the morning of the 20th June, -they found they were afloat on a floe about 60 yards in -diameter. Here they had to remain two days at the -mercy of the wind. Prince Rudolf Island was reached -on the 23rd June, and the party arrived at the tent at -Teplitz Bay on the same date.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This sledge-journey by Cagni is the longest ever -made over the ice of the Arctic Ocean before that of -Dr. Cook. Starting from a comparatively low latitude, -he yet was able to surpass the record made by Nansen. -He had, of course, advantages which Nansen did not -possess: he had a base to fall back upon, and he had the -assistance of other two detachments; but on the other -hand he had to start from a much lower latitude. The -achievement of the Italians is one of which any country -might be proud.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Steps were now taken to free the ship from the ice, -which was from 10 feet to 18 feet thick. Holes were -drilled in this ice along one side of the ship, and into -these holes guncotton was placed and exploded. All -their efforts at first were of little avail, but they eventually -succeeded in righting the ship. A channel 180 yards -long had next to be blasted in order to get the ship out -of the bay. In forming this channel nearly all the explosives -were exhausted when it was completed on 10th -August. The provisions and equipment were now put on -board, and everything being ready on 16th August, the -<span class='it'>Polar Star</span>, which was still seaworthy, left Teplitz Bay -on the return journey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cape Flora was reached on 31st August, after considerable -difficulties with the ice on the passage south. -There was still a faint hope that the missing detachment -might be here, but no trace of it was found. As a final -precaution, provisions sufficient for twenty men during -eight months were left here; a still larger quantity had -been left at Teplitz Bay.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 2nd September the <span class='it'>Polar Star</span> escaped from the -drift-ice; on the 5th the rugged mountains of Norway -were in view, and Tromsö was reached on the 6th.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Although this expedition added no new land to our -maps, the results were important. It proved that a ship -could be taken to the northern part of Franz-Josef -Archipelago, and that a properly equipped sledge-expedition -could travel a distance of 5° of latitude over -the ice of the Arctic Ocean.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Franz-Josef Archipelago has since been visited by two -Polar expeditions known as the “Ziegler Expeditions,” -but these have added little to our previous knowledge.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/map-8.jpg' alt='' id='map-8' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/> -<p class='caption'>CHART OF NORTHERN PART OF GREENLAND.</p> -</div> - -<div><h1 id='ch13'>CHAPTER XIII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>PEARY’S EXPEDITIONS (1886−1909)</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'>Commander R. E. Peary is the most persevering and the -most daring of all Arctic explorers. He tells how he -was induced to take an active interest in Arctic exploration. -An old book-store in Washington was a favourite -haunt of his, and one evening he there came across a -paper on the Inland Ice of Greenland, and found the -subject so interesting that he followed it up. He consulted -various authorities, but found very conflicting -statements. He therefore determined to visit Greenland -and investigate the matter himself. He was then a -lieutenant in the United States Navy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Navy Department having granted his application -for leave, he made the necessary arrangements, and left -Sydney on the steam-whaler <span class='it'>Eagle</span> in May 1886.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Arriving at Godhavn on 6th June, he left the whaler, -and made preparations to explore the Inland Ice from the -neighbourhood of Disco Bay. He was delayed two weeks -at Godhavn by the ice before he could embark for Ritenbenk, -at the head of the bay.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 23rd June he left Ritenbenk with Christian -Maigaard, who was Assistant-Governor there, and eight -natives, and made for Pakitsok Fiord. The head of the -fiord was reached on the 25th, and on the 28th everything -had been carried up to the ice-cap.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary’s sledging equipment had been made under his -own supervision. He had two 9-foot sledges, 13 inches -wide, made of hickory, steel, and hide, on a modified -Hudson Bay pattern. With drag-ropes and lashings each -weighed 23 lb. He carried jacketed alcohol-stoves, -9-foot double-ended ash alpenstocks with steel point -and chisel, rubber creepers, snow-shoes, and ski. His -rations consisted of tea, sugar, condensed milk, hard -bread, pemmican, cranberry jam, baked beans, Liebig -extract, and an experimental mixture of meat, biscuit, -and desiccated potato.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The natives left the party at the edge of the ice-cap. -On the 29th June, Peary and Maigaard started due east. -A few hours after setting out, a furious storm came on, -and it was deemed advisable to return to the head of the -fiord and wait there till the weather improved.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 5th July the storm abated, and Peary and -Maigaard set out once more. They reached the sledges, -dug them out of the snow, and started due east again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After crossing a network of crevasses, they encountered -a series of lakes which were not frozen hard enough to -support them. They had frequently to wade through -a morass of saturated snow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 15th July another storm compelled them to -lie up four days at an elevation of 7525 feet above the -sea. This camp was 100 miles from the margin of the -ice-cap, and was the farthest point reached. Only six -days’ provisions were left, and Peary decided to return.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The return journey was made rapidly, but they had -several exciting experiences. On one occasion Maigaard -was nearly lost in a crevasse, and on another Peary was -swept away in a glacier stream.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On his return to Ritenbenk, Peary set out for the -Noursoak Peninsula, which he crossed alone to the edge -of the Great Kariak Glacier, and then returned. This -journey across the peninsula occupied three days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From this expedition to Greenland, Peary states that -he returned with the northern bacilli in his system, the -Arctic fever in his veins, never to be eradicated. He was -full of enthusiastic plans for accomplishing the crossing -of Greenland. Duty, however, absorbed his energies -during the next few years, and in the meantime Nansen -effected the crossing of Southern Greenland over one of -the routes which Peary had suggested.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary now fell back on his more ambitious scheme—the -determination of the northern limit of Greenland overland.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He laid his plans before the Philadelphia Academy of -Natural Sciences and other learned bodies, and received -their support. He then obtained eighteen months’ leave, -and made the necessary preparations for his expedition -of 1891−92. He approached the Dundee whaling companies -and the Director of the Greenland trade, but they -refused to transport his party to Greenland on any terms. -He was therefore compelled to charter a vessel, but was -fortunately successful in raising funds to meet the greatly -increased cost.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary and a party of six, which included his wife, left -Brooklyn in the <span class='it'>Kite</span> on 6th June 1891. His party -consisted of Frederick A. Cook, surgeon and ethnologist; -Langdon Gibson, ornithologist and chief hunter; Eivind -Astrup; John M. Verhoeff, mineralogist and meteorologist; -Matthew Henson, body-servant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The master of the <span class='it'>Kite</span> was Captain Richard Pike, who -was a famous Arctic skipper. It was he who took Greely’s -expedition to Lady Franklin Bay, and he was in command -of the <span class='it'>Proteus</span> when Lieutenant Garlington attempted to -relieve Greely.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary had two whale-boats built for the expedition, -and in these it was intended to return to the Danish -settlements from Whale Sound. He also carried wood -for a 12 by 20 feet house.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Godhavn was reached on 27th June, and left on the -29th. A stop was made at Upernavik, where Peary -expected to obtain a kayak and a native interpreter, but -failed to get either.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No obstruction to the <span class='it'>Kite’s</span> progress was met until -about 16 miles north of the Duck Islands. Here the -dreaded Melville Bay pack was encountered, and the <span class='it'>Kite</span> -after boring her way from the 2nd till the 4th July was -completely beset, and did not escape till the 17th.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 11th July the ice slackened a little, and the -<span class='it'>Kite</span> made attempts to forge ahead. While at this work -a large cake of ice struck the rudder, jamming it hard -over, and tearing the wheel from the hands of the two men -on duty. One of the men was thrown clear over the -wheel, and the next instant the iron tiller had caught -Peary’s leg between it and the deck-house, and snapped -both bones just above the ankle. He was immediately -carried to the cabin, where his leg was set.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This was an extremely serious accident for Peary, and a -man with less determination would have given up the -expedition and returned home. This idea did not seem -to occur to Peary. Even with a broken leg at this critical -period, he decided that everything must go on.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was his intention to secure a winter camp on the -north shore of Inglefield Gulf; but the <span class='it'>Kite</span> met unbroken -ice, and was ultimately run into McCormick Bay. Here -a site for the house was soon selected, and preparations -were at once made to land provisions and stores.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 26th July work was commenced on the house. -During the delay in Melville Bay pack, Peary had the -wood cut and fitted, and now it had only to be nailed -together and erected.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The interior dimensions of the house were to be 21 feet -in length, 12 feet in width, and 8 feet in height from -floor to ceiling. It consisted of an inner and an outer -shell, separated by an air-space, formed by the frames of -the house, and varying from 10 inches at the sides to over -3 feet in the centre of the roof.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the outside of the frames was attached the outer -air-tight shell composed of a sheathing of closely fitting -boards and two thicknesses of tarred paper. To the -inside of the frames was fastened the inner shell, composed -of thick trunk boards, and made air-tight by pasting all -the joints with heavy brown paper. This inner shell was -lined throughout with heavy blankets.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To still further protect it, a wall was built entirely -around the house, about 5 feet distant from it. The -foundation of this wall was composed of stones, turf, and -empty barrels. Above this, the wooden boxes containing -tinned supplies were piled in regular courses in such a -way that the contents could easily be reached. From the -top of these, canvas was stretched to the side of the house -so as to form a corridor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the snow came, a wall of this was built outside -of the other, and the roof of the house was also thickly -covered with snow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 27th July, Peary was taken ashore, strapped to -a plank, and placed in a tent near the site of the house, -so that he might supervise the work.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Kite</span> departed for the south on the 30th July, and -Peary and his party were left to their own resources.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Near at hand rose cliffs of a reddish colour, and -this fact induced Peary to name his house “Red Cliff -House.” Its position was found to be 77° 40′ north -latitude, and 70° 40′ west longitude. It was therefore -about half-way between the Arctic Circle and the North -Pole.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 12th August, Dr. Cook, Verhoeff, Astrup, and -Gibson were sent to Herbert, Northumberland, and -Hakluyt Islands. They left provisioned for fourteen -days. The object of the journey was to obtain birds -from the loomeries, to make plans of Eskimo houses and -villages, to communicate with the natives and obtain -from them furs and clothing. They were also to try -and induce a family of natives to settle near Red Cliff -House.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They returned on 18th August with 130 guillemots, -and also brought an Eskimo family, consisting of a man, -his wife, and two children, with a kayak and harpoon, a -sledge and a dog. They had shot a small walrus near -Herbert Island, and had towed it to Cape Cleveland, -a little over 2 miles from the house. Several other -walruses were obtained before the end of the month.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 4th September the entire party, with the -exception of Henson, set out for the head of McCormick -Bay with supplies intended for a dépôt to be established -on the Inland Ice in the neighbourhood of the Humboldt -Glacier.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 5th September, Astrup went up the slopes to -the ice-cap to select the best route for carrying up the -provisions. He returned with a favourable report, and -estimated the distance to the ice-cap at less than 4 miles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 6th September, Astrup, Gibson, Verhoeff, and -Cook started up the bluffs with loads varying from 52 to -58 lb., and towards night on the same day they carried -up a second load. On the 7th the last loads were taken -up, and Astrup, Gibson, and Verhoeff, who were to form -the Inland Ice party, remained at the ice-cap, while the -others returned to Red Cliff House.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This Inland Ice party returned to Red Cliff on 12th -September, and reported that the attempt to establish a -dépôt had been a failure. Owing to the presence of deep -soft snow, it was found that not more than one sledge could -be dragged at a time, and on the 8th September the party -advanced only 1 mile. On the 9th they were kept in -camp by a snowstorm and high wind. On the 10th -they advanced 1 mile by noon, and as there was no -prospect of better sledging, they deposited one of the -sledge-loads on a nunatak at an elevation of 2600 feet -above sea-level, and returned to Red Cliff without their -sledges or sleeping-gear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 22nd September, Peary sent Astrup and Gibson -back to the Inland Ice to study the condition of travel as -far north-east as possible. They dragged their sledges -five days, and attained an altitude of 4600 feet; but owing -to snow-squalls, high winds, and hard hauling, they then -decided to return.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During October many Eskimo arrived at Red Cliff, -and from this time onwards various parties were coming -and going all through the winter. Some came from Cape -York, nearly 200 miles away. Several of the women -were engaged to make fur clothing for the party.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the winter Peary kept his party busy making -sledges, odometers, and various other articles required for -the spring sledge-journey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary devised and cut the patterns for the suits and -sleeping-bags. These were made from the skins of the -deer shot by Peary’s men. The skins were stretched and -dried at Red Cliff, and the chewing was done by the -Eskimo women. This latter process makes the skins -thoroughly soft and pliable. A skin is folded with the -hair inside, and is chewed along the fold; then another -fold is made, and the process is repeated until the whole -skin has been carefully chewed. After this, it is scraped -and worked with a blunt instrument. It takes two women -about a day to chew a big buck-skin, and they usually -require to give their jaws a rest every alternate day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary took a series of photographs of seventy-five -Eskimo, and Dr. Cook took the anthropometrical measurements. -It may here be mentioned that Peary’s photographic -work was excellently done, and added very much -to the value of his explorations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 18th April 1892, Peary started on a trip round -Inglefield Gulf. The purpose of the journey was to -complete the necessary complement of dogs for the ice-cap -march, to purchase furs and materials for the equipment, -and as far as practicable map the shores of the -gulf. Peary was accompanied by his wife. He returned -on 24th April, having in the short space of one week -made a sledge-journey of some 250 miles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the month of April most of the supplies for -the great journey over the ice-cap had been carried up to -the edge of the ice. On the last day of April, Dr. Cook, -Gibson, Astrup, and five Eskimo left Red Cliff with two -sledges and twelve dogs, dragging the last of the supplies. -Peary and Henson followed on the 3rd May with the -remaining eight dogs and a large dog-sledge.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The three sledges used by Peary on this journey consisted -of two long, broad wooden runners curved at both -ends, with standards supporting light but strong cross-bars. -The largest sledge was 13 feet long and 2 feet -wide, with runners 4 inches wide, and standards 6 inches -high. It was composed entirely of wood, horn, and raw-hide -lashings. It weighed 48 lb., and carried easily a -load of 1000 lb.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The second sledge was 11 feet long and 2 feet wide, -with 3½-inch runners and 6-inch standards. It weighed -35 lb., and carried a load of 500 lb.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The third sledge, made by Astrup, was 10 feet long -and 16 inches wide, with 3-inch runners and 2-inch -standards. It weighed 13 lb., and carried a load of -400 lb.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The clothing consisted of a hooded deer-skin coat weighing -5¼ lb., a hooded seal-skin coat weighing 2½ lb., a -pair of dog-skin knee-trousers weighing 3-9/16 lb., seal-skin -boots with woollen socks and fur soles weighing 2 lb., and -an under-shirt; total, about 13 lb. With various combinations -of this outfit, Peary could keep perfectly warm -and yet not get into a perspiration, in temperatures from -+40° F. to −50° F., whether at rest, or walking, or -dragging a sledge.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary had twenty dogs for the journey, but one died -from the fatal <span class='it'>piblockto</span>, at the edge of the ice-cap. His -dog-food consisted of pemmican.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The provisions included pemmican, butter, Liebig -extract, biscuit, condensed milk, compressed pea-soup, -compressed tea, and extract of coffee. The daily ration -was 2½ lb. per man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the edge of the ice-cap the sledges had to be -dragged up one snow-slope and down another for a -distance of 15 miles, before reaching the gradual slope of -the true Inland Ice. This point was not reached until -the 15th May.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary took a true north-east course, and hoped to clear -the heads of the Humboldt, Petermann, and Sherard-Osborn -indentations. From this point, two short marches -of 5 and 7 miles brought them to an elevation of 5000 -feet, and early in the third march the highest summits of -the Whale Sound land disappeared, and they found that -they were descending. They had passed over the divide -between Whale Sound and Kane Basin, and were on the -descent towards the basin of the Humboldt Glacier. -This third march was 12 miles, and the fourth was 20, -and the distant mountain-tops of the land between -Rensselaer Harbour and the south-eastern angle of -Humboldt Glacier rose into view in the north-west.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the fifth day they covered 20 miles over a gently -undulating and gradually descending surface. On the -sixth march the surface became much more hummocky, -and Peary thought it advisable to deflect about 5 miles -to the eastward. At the end of this march there were -signs of an approaching storm, and a snow igloo was -built for shelter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The storm lasted forty-eight hours, and it took a long -time to dig out the sledges, which had been completely -buried in snow-drifts, and reload them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Starting out from here, they found that the storm had -made a good road for them, and they covered 20 miles -during the first march. On the following day they -again made 20 miles, and reached the point where -Peary decided the supporting party should leave him. -They were now 130 miles from the shore of McCormick -Bay.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was here that Peary resolved to take only one -companion with him. It had originally been his intention -to take two, but due to a frozen heel, Henson had -to be sent back to Red Cliff from the edge of the ice-cap. -All three of his companions volunteered to go -with him. Peary decided that Astrup should be his -companion, that Gibson should return in command of -the supporting party, and that, on their return to Red -Cliff, Dr. Cook was to assume charge.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Next day, Gibson and Dr. Cook started on the return -journey, and Peary and Astrup continued the march -towards the north-east. Peary had now thirteen dogs. -On the second march all the dogs were made to drag -the big sledge, and the other two sledges were put in -tow of the big one. Peary went ahead as guide, and -Astrup followed driving the dogs. They had gone but -a short distance on this march when the big dog-sledge -broke down, one side bending inward and breaking all -the standards on that side. This at first seemed a serious -accident, but by lashing the broken sledge alongside -another, and so making a broad 4-foot-wide sledge -with three runners, the difficulty was overcome. The -accident, however, had the effect of reducing the march -to one of 10 miles. Next day the snow was deeper and -softer, and but 15 miles were covered. During this -latter march they began to ascend, and the snow was so -deep that the sledges sank in it nearly to the cross-bars. -This made the hauling so heavy that Peary contrived an -impromptu sledge from an extra pair of ski, and transferred -to it 120 lb. from the big sledge. On this day -one of the dogs was ill, and at night it was killed and -fed to the others.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the following day the up-grade and the deep snow -compelled them to make two journeys in hauling the -sledge. Next day the surface fortunately improved, and -15 miles were covered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They were now evidently at the top of the grade, -and soon began a gradual descent toward the basin of -the Petermann Fiord. During this march they made -20 miles, and sighted land to the north-west.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the last day of May the head of Petermann -Fiord, with its guarding mountains, suddenly came into -sight, and Peary found it necessary to deflect some -10 miles to the eastward to avoid the inequalities of -the glacier basin. Peary camped here thirty-six hours, -and determined his position and took bearings of the -land.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From this camp the surface was comparatively level, -and the highest summits of the Petermann Mountains -were kept in sight for 40 miles. Then began a gradual -rise, the snow becoming softer and deeper.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 5th June the summit of the next divide was -reached at an elevation of 5700 feet above sea-level. -From here the travelling was very good, and 19½ and -21 miles were made in two marches; and on the 8th June -they camped in sight of St. George’s Fiord, but they -believed it was Sherard-Osborn Fiord. At the end of -this march a storm broke upon them, and they were -imprisoned in a rough shelter two days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary now found that he was on the southern edge of -a great glacier basin, and to avoid this he deflected -his course to the south-east, which forced him to -ascend steep icy slopes. It took two days of the hardest -work to get out of this trap, and at the end of them -he had lost 15 miles of his hard-earned northing. -During this climb, Peary’s best dog, the king of the -team, received a sprain. After limping at the rear of -the sledges for two or three days, he lagged behind, and -was lost in one of the ice-cap storms. Two dogs fell -into a crevasse and hung suspended at the end of their -traces until hoisted out.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Starting again on a north-east course, they had not -advanced far when they were brought up by a group of -enormous crevasses, and just as these were reached a -dense fog swept up from the glacier basin and delayed -them eighteen hours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary now decided to strike farther into the interior, -so as to avoid these glacier basins, but in carrying out -this plan he found the snow increasing and the grade -so steep that he was compelled to steer more to the -north.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He had advanced in this direction only 4 miles when -the big sledge again broke down, and an entire day was -lost in repairing it. Next day the temperature became -so high and altered the surface of the snow so much that -they found it impossible to go on. They had to wait -a fall of temperature, and this did not occur for two days. -At this camp spare articles weighing 75 lb. were thrown -away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Starting again, they made a march of 6¼ miles, going -over the road twice. The following day, land again -made its appearance ahead of them, and Peary deflected -first to the north-east and then to the east. Advancing -8 miles, they found themselves hemmed in by a series -of huge concentric crevasses, and to cross these it was -necessary to take a south-easterly direction. At one -time two dogs fell into a crevasse, and at another one of -the sledges broke through.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Next day they covered nearly 18 miles, and on the -following one they made 20½ miles. Land was now -visible to the north-west, north, and north-east.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Towards the close of the next march a fiord with high -sharp peaks on its northern side came clearly into view. -Starting again on the 26th June in a north-east -direction, Peary soon changed the course to east true, -and then to south-east, so as to avoid a fiord which was -seen ahead. Assuming this fiord to be Victoria Inlet, -and thinking he could round it, Peary kept on to the -south-east till the 1st of July, but still the mountains of -the shore were in view. On this day a wide opening, -bounded on either side by high vertical cliffs, showed up -in the north-east over the summits immediately adjacent -to the Inland Ice. Through this opening could be seen -neither the reflected ice-blink of distant ice-cap nor the -cloud-loom of land.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary now decided to reach this opening and discover -whether it looked out into the East Greenland Arctic -Ocean. Changing his course to north-east, he made for -the red-brown mountains of the strange land. The grade -now became so steep that it was necessary to descend -diagonally along the slope.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The highest convex of a crescent moraine which -climbed well up into the ice-cap was selected as a landing-place, -and after wading many streams, and floundering -through a mile of slush which covered the lower portion -of the ice, they clambered upon the rocks of the moraine -4000 feet above the sea.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Here Peary left Astrup to look after the clogs while -he hastened down to the land for the purpose of climbing -a summit some 5 miles from the edge of the ice. He -had not gone far when a snow-bunting fluttered up from -behind a rock, and not long afterwards he came across -the traces of musk-oxen. As he got farther from the ice, -flowers of various hues made their appearance, among -them the yellow Arctic poppy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instead of 5 miles, the distance of the mountain -lengthened to at least 12, and when it was reached -at the end of an eight hours’ march, it was only to find -that two or three other summits intervened between -Peary and the view he wished. By this time the soles -of Peary’s kamiks were cut through, and some of the -sharp stones had cut his feet. He patched his foot-gear -with a pair of seal-skin mittens and a skull-cap, and after -an hour’s rest he started on his return to Astrup, and -reached him after an absence of fifteen hours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary now decided to take Astrup and the dogs, which -numbered eight, and three or four days’ supplies, -and march overland. They started out on 3rd July -1892, carrying about 40 lb. each on their backs. On -the second day’s march they were fortunate in coming -across musk-oxen, and succeeded in killing two. This -gave both the men and the dogs a welcome change of -food, and they feasted till they could eat no more.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After several hours’ rest, they again set out, and succeeded -in gaining a rocky plateau, 3800 feet above sea-level. -This dropped in a perpendicular cliff into a bay -below. Looking out over a mighty glacier on the right -and through the broad mouth of the bay, they saw -stretching away to the horizon the great ice-fields of the -Arctic Ocean. To the west was the opening of a fiord -which Peary believed was the one which barred his -northern advance, and he had paralleled its course across -the northern end of the mainland from Robeson Channel -to the shores of North-East Greenland. This channel, -which Peary believes marks the northern boundary of -the mainland of Greenland, now receives the name of -“Peary Channel.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To the north-west, north, and north-east stretched -steep red-brown bluffs on the other side of the bay. -To the northward could be seen the entrance of a second -fiord, or channel, apparently extending to the northwestward.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The land which stretched away to the north-east was -free of snow. In this direction land could be seen -60 miles away. From observations taken by Peary on -the cliff, afterwards named “Navy Cliff,” the position was -found to be 81° 37′ 5″ north latitude, and 34° 5′ west -longitude. After building a cairn and leaving a record, -they retraced their steps towards the ice-cap.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On this northern land, besides snow-buntings, two or -three sandpipers, a Greenland falcon, a pair of ravens, two -bumble-bees, several butterflies, innumerable flies, and -about twenty musk-oxen were seen. Flowers of numerous -species were blooming in abundance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Two days were occupied in getting back to Moraine -Camp, and when it was reached the feet of six of the -dogs were cut and bleeding. It was therefore necessary -to rest and allow the dogs to recover, and it was also -necessary to thoroughly overhaul the impedimenta and put -everything in good order for the return journey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The big three-runner sledge was reduced to its original -dimensions, and the foot-gear required a good deal of -attention. At last, on 7th July, all was ready, and they -started up the icy slope.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In order to avoid crevasses and glacier basins, Peary -returned on a course well to the east of his upward one. -On the first day only 10 miles were covered, but on the -second they made 21½ miles, and ascended 1300 feet. On -the 10th July an advance of 20 miles was made, and an -ascent of nearly 1000 feet. On the 11th the altitude -rose 600 feet in another march of 20 miles. The elevation -was now 7300 feet above sea-level. On this date one of -the eight dogs became exhausted, and was killed and fed to -the others.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They now experienced a severe storm, which detained -them two days. On the first march after the storm they -travelled 20 miles over a level plateau in a thick fog.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Next day one of the dogs died, and now only six were -left, and Peary became anxious about the remainder. On -the 18th July the fog cleared. On the 21st, Peary decided -to abandon one sledge and leave behind articles weighing -about 50 lb. The load was repacked on the small -sledge.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Another of the dogs died on 28th July, but the -remaining five were in fairly good condition. On this -day 22 miles were covered, and the next few marches were -even better. They were now east of the Humboldt -Glacier.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 2nd August they neared the divide between -the Kane Basin and the Whale Sound region, and next -day they sighted land, after travelling 35 miles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the following day, when nearing the edge of the ice-cap, -a relief party came into view, and soon Peary had the -pleasure of meeting Professor Heilprin, who had come -north in the <span class='it'>Kite</span> to take Peary home.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Two days after his return to Red Cliff, Peary set out on -a boat-voyage into Inglefield Gulf, with the object of -becoming better acquainted with the northern shore. He -explored Bowdoin Bay to its head, and at this point -Verhoeff, who formed one of the party, left to cross the -glacier to McCormick Bay, where he was to meet Gibson.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Leaving Bowdoin Bay, Peary passed eastwards along -the gulf, and reached a striking, precipitous island, which -he named “Josephine Peary Island.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On returning from this boat-voyage, Peary learned that -Gibson had landed Verhoeff at Five-Glacier Valley a few -days after he had left Bowdoin Bay. Verhoeff’s intention -was to make an overland trip to the Eskimo settlements -in Robertson Bay, and he arranged with Gibson to return -for him at a certain time. The day after Peary’s return, -Gibson arrived with the news that Verhoeff had not turned -up according to promise.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary at once set out with Gibson and a crew of his -best Eskimo to search for Verhoeff. Heilprin’s party and -the <span class='it'>Kite’s</span> crew also took part in the search, which was -continued six days and six nights. The Eskimo ultimately -succeeded in finding traces along the side of a glacier, and -these were found to pass on to the glacier itself, but they -disappeared on the unyielding surface of the ice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The search was now given up. The conclusion arrived -at was that Verhoeff had fallen into one of the innumerable -crevasses of the glacier and had there perished. This sad -incident naturally cast a deep gloom upon the party, and -on Peary especially.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Preparations were now made for the return home. -Mrs. Peary distributed many household utensils to the -delighted Eskimo, who also received numerous presents of -wood, knives, iron, kettles, etc., which had been brought in -the <span class='it'>Kite</span> from friends of the expedition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Godthaab, on the way home, some of the kayakers -of the place treated them to an exhibition of aquatic feats, -such as turning a somersault in the water and jumping -one kayak over another. The remainder of the voyage -was completed without special incident.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Soon after his return from this expedition, Peary made -preparations for a more ambitious one. In order to raise -funds, he delivered one hundred and sixty-eight lectures -in ninety-six days. From these he realised 13000 dollars. -He also obtained some funds from other sources, and was -able to charter a ship named the <span class='it'>Falcon</span> to take his party -north, and return the following season to bring him back.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary left Philadelphia in the <span class='it'>Falcon</span> on 23rd June 1893. -The ship carried a steam-launch, and the two whale-boats, -the <span class='it'>Mary Peary</span> and the <span class='it'>Faith</span>. The six dogs of the -<span class='it'>White March</span> and some carrier-pigeons were also taken. -In order to make a new experiment in Arctic work, Peary -took some burros which had been brought from Santa Fé. -Several places on the American coast were stopped at, -and St. John’s was not left till 15th July. On the same -day one of the dogs managed to slip its harness, and was -lost overboard. On the 17th, during heavy weather, two -of the burros died. The <span class='it'>Falcon</span> touched at Battle -Harbour on the Labrador coast, in order that dogs might -be purchased; but Peary met with but little success. Other -two stations were visited, but as a total result only -twenty dogs were obtained. On the 22nd July the <span class='it'>Falcon</span> -was headed for the Greenland coast, and it arrived at -Holsteinborg on the 26th. Here seventeen dogs were -obtained, and near midnight of the same day the <span class='it'>Falcon</span> -left for Godhavn, where it arrived on the 28th. Fur clothing, -ordered from Copenhagen, was found ready, and twenty -dogs were obtained. Peary had been mindful enough to -take a present of oranges, lemons, and pine-apples to Mrs. -Anderson, the Inspector’s wife, and it gave great delight -to her and her family. Godhavn was left about 10 p.m. -on the 28th, and Upernavik was reached on the 30th. -Peary was disappointed in finding that only ten dogs were -to be obtained here, but he was informed that he would -get more at Tasiusak, about 40 miles to the north. -The latter place was reached early in the morning of 31st -July, and seventeen dogs were obtained. Peary had now -on board eighty-seven dogs, and the pandemonium caused -by these howling, fighting, restless animals was indescribable. -The Duck Islands were reached about noon, and after -a few hours’ stay, the passage of the dreaded Melville Bay -was begun. The weather was excellent, and where two years -before the <span class='it'>Kite</span> had to battle with the pack, there was -open water with only a few scattered icebergs. The -passage was made in the record time of 24 hours and -50 minutes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary landed and climbed Cape York. None of the -natives here had seen or heard anything of Verhoeff.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Bowdoin Bay, in Inglefield Gulf, where Peary intended -taking up quarters, was reached on the morning of -3rd August.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary selected the site of the house, and they soon set -to work to build this and unload the stores. The house -was named the “Lodge.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 12th August the <span class='it'>Falcon</span> left the bay on a cruise -for the winter’s meat-supply. Near Herbert Island they -were successful in obtaining twenty-four walruses. During -the hunt there was one exciting event. A walrus had -been shot, and a man was beside it on a cake of ice, when -the ice was struck by the <span class='it'>Falcon</span> and capsized. The man -was thrown into the water under the ship’s stern, but he -succeeded in clinging to the rudder, from which he was -released in safety.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Falcon</span> next steamed north as far as Littleton -Island, where four other walruses were shot. While here, -Peary and his party examined the site of Polaris House, -and found the place littered with miscellaneous articles of -no use to the natives. Peary also climbed to the top of -Littleton Island. He describes it as a terribly desolate, -barren-looking piece of rock.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Falcon</span> now turned southward on the way to -Olriks Bay, on the south coast of Inglefield Gulf, for deer. -During one night the party shot seventeen deer, and as a -sufficient supply of meat had now been obtained for the -dogs and natives during the winter, the <span class='it'>Falcon</span> went back -to Bowdoin Bay.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 20th August the ship returned to America. -Peary’s party, including himself, now numbered fourteen -persons:—</p> - -<table id='tab4' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 20em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 16em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tdStyle2'>Samuel J. Entrikin, first assistant</td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle3'>George H. Carr</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tdStyle2'>Eivind Astrup, second assistant</td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle3'>James Davidson</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tdStyle2'>Edward E. Vincent, surgeon</td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle3'>Walter F. Swain</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tdStyle2'>E. B. Baldwin, meteorologist</td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle3'>Hugh J. Lee</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tdStyle2'>George H. Clark, taxidermist</td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle3'>Mrs. Peary</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tab4c1-col2 tdStyle2' colspan='2'>F. A. Stokes, artist, an independent member</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tab4c1-col2 tdStyle2' colspan='2'>Mrs. Susan J. Cross (Mrs. Peary’s nurse)</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tab4c1-col2 tdStyle2' colspan='2'>Matthew Henson (Peary’s coloured man)</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class='pindent'>On 29th August, Astrup left the Lodge in charge of an -Inland Ice party, consisting of Carr, Davidson, and Lee. -They took with them five sledges and fifty dogs, with the -intention of establishing a dépôt of supplies as far in on -the Inland Ice as possible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 7th September a letter was brought by one of the -carrier-pigeons from the Inland Ice party, asking for more -dogs; and Peary visited the camp, which he found 6 miles -in on the cap. Astrup was suffering from something in -the nature of a chill, and the doctor had to be sent to him. -In a day or two he was much better, and able to continue -his work.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 12th September a little blue-eyed snowflake was -born at the Lodge, and named Marie Ahnighito Peary. -She was bundled in soft, warm Arctic furs and wrapped in -the Stars and Stripes. This wonderful baby was of extraordinary -interest to the natives. Families journeyed from -Cape York in the south, and from Etah in the north, to -satisfy themselves that she was not made of snow. Until -about six months old she lived in continuous lamp-light.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 13th September, Astrup was brought down from -the ice-cap, suffering from gastric trouble. The supplies -were then 12 miles from the edge of the ice, with the -exception of two sledge-loads which were 3 miles farther -in. Carr and Davidson, who had brought down Astrup, -started back to rejoin Lee, but they lost themselves in a -storm and had to return to the Lodge. A day or two -later they made a second attempt, and succeeded in reaching -Lee, who had been alone for a week. Here again a -storm came on, and confined them to the tent another -week. They then all returned to the Lodge, which they -reached on 23rd September.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Two days later, Peary set out with the party; but at -the moraine, at the edge of the ice, it was found that -three sledges which had been left there had been blown -away. They had in consequence to return to the Lodge -and make new sledges.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 30th September, Peary, Davidson, and Lee succeeded -in reaching the camp on the ice-cap, and found the -advanced sledges. Again they returned to the Lodge for -more dogs, and with these they advanced all the supplies -to a point 26½ miles from the moraine.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary wished to have them advanced still farther, but -a gale kept the party to their camp two days. They then -descended to the Lodge, but the storm lasted an entire -week. Another attempt was made by nearly the whole -party to reach the ice-cap, but in consequence of a constant -succession of snowstorms and high winds it had to be -given up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The season was now so far advanced that Peary abandoned -the idea of taking the supplies farther until the spring.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 31st October a large wave caused by a huge iceberg -from the Bowdoin Glacier burst up through the solid ice -near the shore, rolled the steam-launch over and over, and -stove it in; dashed the whale-boat a hundred yards up -the valley, and ruined it; then, receding, carried away all -the oil-barrels. It had been Peary’s intention to put up -an electric-light plant, but the loss of the oil rendered this -impracticable.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While the ice-cap work was going on, Entrikin was -busy hunting deer, in which he was most successful. In -two hunts he obtained no less than sixty animals.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The long sunless winter had now begun, but the party -were still kept at work. Much in the way of Inland Ice -equipment had to be got ready, and various sledge-journeys -were made for dog-food. About 700 miles were travelled, -and some 3000 lb. of dog-meat brought to the Lodge, and -yet no member of the party suffered any great discomfort. -These journeys were made in the moonlight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sun made its appearance on the 18th February -1894, and on this day Lee, with two Eskimo and a team -of dogs, set out for the cache on the Inland Ice. Lee, -unfortunately, lost his way during a storm, and after -wandering about for a night and a day, reached the Lodge -in an exhausted condition and with a frozen toe. This -mishap disarranged Peary’s plans. He had intended to -start from the cache on 1st March. Lee was to free the -cache from the winter’s snows, bag the pemmican, and -construct snow igloos. The delay necessitated a further -supply of dog-meat, which had to be hauled a distance of -at least 50 miles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 6th March eight members of the party, with -five Eskimo and some eighty dogs, started for the ice-cap. -Next day Peary left with two Eskimo carrying several -gallons of boiling hot tea in canteens, and found the party -about 2 miles from the moraine. Peary then returned -to the Lodge, which he finally left on 8th March, and -reached the ice-cap party in the evening.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Next day the cache was reached, and the snow was -found to have drifted about it during the winter to a -depth of 4 feet. The Eskimo formed snow igloos, and -two days were spent here making preparations for the -final start. On the 10th March one of the dogs died -from <span class='it'>piblockto</span>, the dreaded dog-disease of Greenland, and -this was naturally considered a serious incident.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A start was made on 12th March, after considerable -difficulty with the dogs. Lee’s toe had been nipped -again, and at night it was found that he could not proceed -much farther. Astrup also informed Peary that he was -threatened with the illness which attacked him in -September, and that he was not able to go on. This loss -of two of his best men was a serious blow to Peary’s plans. -It had been his intention, should he reach Independence -Bay, to send one party northward, another south to Cape -Bismarck, and thence over the ice-cap to Whale Sound; -while a third party was to remain at Independence Bay -and survey that region while awaiting the return of the -northern detachment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 14th March, Peary, accompanied by Clark, -returned to the Lodge with Lee and Astrup. The Lodge -was again left on the afternoon of the 15th. The night -was passed in a snow igloo, and the party was reached -during the following afternoon. Next day the weather -made it impossible for them to advance, and so continued -for three days. The temperature was from 35° to 40° F. -below zero.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 22nd March a start was made, but the weather -was still unfavourable, and only 3 miles were covered. -The party now experienced a violent storm, which lasted -till the 25th March. The velocity of the wind averaged -over 48 miles per hour during thirty-four hours, and the -average temperature was 50° F. below zero. In Peary’s -opinion this storm was the most severe ever experienced -by any Arctic party.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After the storm was over, half of the dogs were found -frozen fast in the snow, some by the legs, some by the -tails, and some by both. Two were dead.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the storm Davidson had his heel, and Clark a -toe and three fingers, frost-bitten. Davidson had to be -sent back to the Lodge with the doctor. This now -reduced the party to four, and Peary made a cache of -supplies, and readjusted the loads.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Each of Peary’s companions now had a large sledge -drawn by eighteen dogs. During the first march they -advanced 7 miles in a temperature of 46° F. below zero. -On the 27th March they had considerable difficulty with -the sledges: one broke in the bend of one of the runners, -and it was converted into a three-runner sledge by lashing -another sledge alongside it; and a second one was seriously -damaged.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While engaged in repairing the sledges, Entrikin had -the soles of his feet frost-bitten. To make matters worse, -next day he strained his back in making efforts to start -the sledge. During the night the temperature remained -between 55° and 57° F. below zero.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The dogs were now in bad condition: three had been -killed and used as dog-food, another died from the effects -of the storm, and several had frost-bitten feet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the next camp Peary decided to rest two days, so as -to give Entrikin a final chance of recovery, and also with -the object of getting the dogs into better condition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 3rd April, Entrikin’s feet were much better, -and the party pushed on a distance of 15 miles. On -this day, however, one of the dogs was attacked by the -<span class='it'>piblockto</span>, and bit many of the other dogs before he was -shot. On each of the next two days a distance of 15 miles -was covered. During the next three days a storm confined -them to their tent, and two dogs died from exposure.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Another start was made, but only 7 miles were travelled. -Two more dogs died of <span class='it'>piblockto</span>, after biting nearly all -the other dogs. The dread disease had evidently gained -a firm foothold.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 10th April, Peary had reached a point 128 miles -from the Lodge. One man had frosted feet and must -return. Another had both heels and great toes frost-bitten, -and had daily attacks of bleeding from the nose. -The third man had not quite recovered from cramp. -Added to these troubles was the serious condition of -the dogs. Peary now saw that he could not possibly -carry out his plans. He might reach Independence Bay, -but this would consume all his pemmican, alcohol, and -other provisions, and destroy any chance of making -another attempt next spring. He therefore decided to -cache his pemmican and return to the Lodge, and make -another attempt during the following year.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the return journey a great many of the dogs died, -only twenty-five reaching the Lodge. Peary admits that -previous to this experience he believed that the Eskimo -dog was capable of enduring the most severe weather -possible on the ice-cap. It is also evident that the -members of the party suffered greatly from the extremely -low temperatures usually experienced during the month -of March. The serious outbreak of the dog-disease could -not have been foreseen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The party on their return to the Lodge were very much -exhausted, and it required about a fortnight to recover -from the strain and exposure.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Soon afterward, Peary set out to explore and survey -Olriks Bay. He was accompanied by Mrs. Peary. He -found it to be a long narrow fiord 50 miles in length by -about 2½ miles wide.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 16th May he again left the Lodge to search for -the “Iron Mountain” of Melville Bay. He took Lee with -him and ten dogs. On the way to Cape York an Eskimo -was met who undertook to act as guide to the object of -Peary’s search. Cape York was reached in ten days, after -considerable difficulties. Another march brought them to -the meteorite, which Peary measured and photographed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The return journey was made under great difficulties. -Sometimes they were storm-bound and had to dig shelters -in snow-drifts, at other times they were wading through -deep slush; again they were compelled to take to the -shore and climb the bluffs and make long detours overland. -Several glaciers were crossed, and at one place -they were 3362 feet above sea-level. The Lodge was -reached on 6th June.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 31st July news was received that the <span class='it'>Falcon</span> had -returned. During August, Peary endeavoured to obtain -deer, but was not very successful.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 26th August the <span class='it'>Falcon</span> again sailed for America. -All Peary’s party, with the exception of Lee and Henson, -had decided to return home. The <span class='it'>Falcon</span> carried them -safely to Philadelphia, but in returning to St. John’s she -was lost with all on board.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It will be most convenient here to give a brief account -of a sledge-journey made by Astrup after he returned -invalided from the ice-cap. On 6th April he started -out with the intention of exploring the shores of Melville -Bay. He took with him Koolootingwah, the Eskimo. -Cape York was left on the 15th April, and over 40 miles -were travelled the first day. Astrup found the shore, -from Cape York eastward, continually broken by large -and active glaciers. The night was passed in a snow -igloo, and next day 30 miles were covered. On the -third day Thom Island was reached. All the dog-food -was now gone, and Astrup had provisions to last only -ten days. He therefore decided to examine the coast -more closely, and gradually work back to Cape York, -where he arrived on 23rd April. The Lodge was afterwards -reached without special difficulty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary and Matthew Henson, with five Eskimo, accompanied -the <span class='it'>Falcon</span> about 200 miles from the Lodge, -and returned in the whale-boat. Lee remained at the -Lodge. Soon after Peary’s return he made preparations -for securing his winter’s meat-supply. Henson with some -Eskimo went off after deer, and returned a week later -with six animals. Then Peary arranged a walrus-hunt. -Both whale-boats and five kayaks were employed, and -all the able-bodied men and boys of the village of Karnah. -Such an imposing flotilla had never been seen before in -these waters. Peary had decided to use a harpoon like -the Eskimo, and in this he was very successful. Off -Herbert Island several large walruses were obtained, and -the boats returned loaded with meat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary was now anxious to have the nearest of his caches -on the ice-cap visited and rearranged, and proper signals -put up where the original ones might be blown down. -With this object in view, Lee, Henson, and the Eskimo -Nooktah set out on the 2nd October with twelve dogs. -To Peary’s great disappointment, they returned in four -days without having found any of the caches. There -had been a most extraordinary fall of snow, and poles -which had stood 8 and 9 feet above the snow were now -only 1 foot above.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 8th October, Peary, with Henson, and the Eskimo -Maksingwah, more familiarly known as “Flaherty,” set -out for the ice-cap. On the second day they reached the -vicinity of the first cache, but no trace of it could be -found. Next morning signs of a coming storm induced -Peary to make preparations to meet it, and for some -time it was not observed that Maksingwah had decamped -rather than face a storm on the dreaded ice-cap. It was -afterwards ascertained that it took the Eskimo four days -to reach the Lodge, and he was then in an extremely -exhausted condition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The storm confined Peary and Henson to the tent six -weary days. Peary’s thoughts during this time were far -from pleasant. He saw that this terrible storm was -destroying the last chance of finding his caches, and this -meant not only the destruction of all the work of that -year, but also of the resources on which depended his -chance of success next year.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the storm passed over, a diligent search was -made for the cache, but no trace of it could be found. -Peary had to acknowledge the terrible fact that all his -alcohol and pemmican, which with other provisions weighed -nearly a ton and a half, were buried beneath the ice-cap.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The blow was a severe one, but with his characteristic -tenacity of purpose Peary determined that venison and -walrus-meat must take the place of pemmican, and that -coal-oil must serve instead of alcohol. The idea of -abandoning the journey, even after this overwhelming -disaster, he could not entertain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During December, Peary and Lee made a sledge-journey -to Cape York. One of the main objects was to determine -accurately the positions of some of the capes, but the -weather was unfavourable most of the time. During -the last stage of the return journey Peary was without -food or sleep forty-six hours, and travelled 60 miles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Several other journeys were made during the winter, -for dog-food and various articles of equipment. Every -effort was made to be prepared for the ice-cap journey, -but when the time came to depart Peary was far from -satisfied with his resources.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 1st April 1895, Peary, Henson, and Lee, with six -Eskimo, six sledges, and sixty dogs, left the Lodge. On -one of the sledges, drawn by thirteen picked dogs, were -the supplies for the return trip, and also those for consumption -at and beyond Independence Bay. It had -also the tent and sleeping and cooking-gear, the total -weight being about 1000 lb. Another sledge drawn by -ten dogs held about 750 lb. of dog-food.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the second day’s march the vicinity of one of the -caches was reached, and another determined attempt was -made to find it, but in vain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the neighbourhood of the next cache was reached, -a stop was made, and the Eskimo were sent out to make -a search. In a short time a bag was found attached -to a pole projecting only 3 inches above the surface. -Peary had stopped within 100 yards of it. This cache -contained ten cases of biscuit and a case and a half of -milk, and was very acceptable. During the search, one -of the Eskimo took the opportunity to decamp with his -sledge and dogs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the next three days, journeys of 22, 28, and -30 miles were made, and carried the party well into the -snow-shed of the Humboldt Glacier. They had now -arrived near the pemmican cache, and a twenty-four hours’ -search was made for it, but it ended in failure. Peary -and Henson had their noses frozen, and Lee and Peary -each had a frost-bitten toe. Peary had hoped against -hope that this cache would be found, although he -had made up the rations of the journey without reference -to it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From this point the Eskimo returned along the tracks -made by the sledges. Never before had any of their -tribe penetrated the heart of the ice-cap.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary now took the lead with a sledge drawn by twelve -dogs, and set the course by means of a boat-compass -lashed on the top of the load. Henson followed next -with a sledge and trailer drawn by sixteen dogs; and -Lee brought up the rear with a long sledge and trailer -drawn by fourteen dogs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When near the Petermann Fiord Basin, a storm delayed -them forty-eight hours. At this camp two dogs were fed -to the others. During the next week the long sledge -was abandoned, and the loads rearranged.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>An average elevation of 7670 feet had now been attained, -and breathing was much more rapid on increased exertion. -Henson and Lee frequently bled at the nose. The -maximum elevation was found to be 7865 feet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the 400th mile one of the runners of Henson’s -sledge broke, and the greater portion of a day was spent -in repairing the sledge with a runner from one of the -trailers. This new runner, however, only did duty for -12 miles, when it broke beyond repair. The sledge -was now converted into a three-runner one. On this -day the last of the walrus-meat was fed to the seventeen -remaining dogs. It was now a case of dog eat dog, and -in a few days only eleven were left.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary saw that the land must be reached with all -speed. He therefore dismantled the three-runner sledge -and cached everything except a week’s supplies. They -were now on the downward grade, and on the second day -they sighted land.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They were now over 500 miles from the Lodge in a -direct line, and three of the eleven dogs were thoroughly -exhausted. Peary decided to leave Lee here with the -dogs, and push on with Henson in search of musk-oxen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary and Henson started out from an elevation of -4800 feet above sea-level. Four miles from the tent many -huge crevasses were passed. Peary recognised the group -as one he had seen in 1892. Some miles beyond these -large crevasses a great number of small ones were met, -into which both Peary and Henson frequently fell, but -were always able to save themselves.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the junction of the ice-cap with the land was a -vertical wall of ice impracticable of descent. Finally a -glacier was found over which they had to pick their way -among crevasses.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The land consisted of bare jagged rocks which cut their -boots and bruised their feet. Leaving the sledge behind, -they wandered about the greater part of a day in a -drizzling snowstorm in search of a practicable route, but -failed to find one, or to see any game. Next day they -returned to the tent on the ice-cap.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A serious condition of affairs now stared them in the -face, but after very little discussion all agreed to stake -everything on finding musk-oxen. They therefore started -back for the cache, and when it was reached Peary and -Henson were quite used up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One sledge and scant rations for themselves on the -return journey were left at this camp, and everything -else was taken on towards the north.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When a point about 15 miles from the edge of the ice-cap -was reached, Peary found that they were approaching -the land on a course about 5 miles east of the one on -which he had descended to it in 1892. He was here -able to look over the eastern edge of the Academy Glacier -basin, and make out the summits of the east-coast land -considerably farther to the south than in 1892. Away -due north a magnificent mountain was seen which was not -observed in 1892.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A large cone of detritus passed in 1892 was reached -just in time to take shelter from a storm which held them -prisoners two days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary here decided to leave Lee in the tent to give a -frozen toe a chance to recover, and to take Henson and -all the dogs with him in an attempt to find musk-oxen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After travelling some miles, the sledge was stopped by -a shallow cañon when abreast of Musk-ox Valley. Here -Peary left the sledge and dogs and examined the valley, -but could find no trace of musk-oxen. After making -an attempt to pass down the cañon, and failing, they -climbed out of it and made across country. A few miles -beyond the valley, Peary shot a hare. Previous to this -they were having recourse to the dog-food, but they -now cooked and ate the entire hare. It was the first full -meal they had had in thirty-five days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Next morning they started for a valley between Musk-ox -Valley and Navy Cliff. At the entrance of this valley -traces of musk-oxen were found, and ultimately they were -tracked to near the crest of some mountains. When about -200 yards from the oxen, Peary and Henson lay down -behind a large boulder to regain their breath. It was -almost a matter of life or death with them, and they -quivered with excitement. At last they made a rush for -the oxen, and fortunately, instead of running away, the -oxen formed in line with lowered heads. In a few minutes -several were shot, and the remainder took to flight. So -hungry were the men that as they skinned the animals -they ate the meat raw and thought it delicious.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After resting, they took up the trail of the remaining -oxen. Having followed them for twenty hours, Peary’s -chagrin may be imagined when the oxen were ultimately -found near the camp he had left. Being now -thoroughly tired, they decided to take a few hours’ sleep -before attacking them, but when they awoke the oxen -had gone. The trail was again taken up, but after a -chase of several miles a snowstorm came on, and completely -obliterated all tracks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They now returned to the sledge, and using the musk-oxen -skins, they formed a kind of tent into which they -crawled, and were soon asleep.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Next day, Henson was sent back with the sledge and a -load of meat to the moraine where Lee was. On the way -there he came across the musk-oxen, but the dogs gave -chase and thoroughly frightened them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About the fourth day, Henson and Lee joined Peary, and -an attempt was now made to reach the sea. Several days -were spent in incessant climbing, scrambling, and jumping -over rocks, but at the end of it they found themselves -still some 3000 feet above sea-level. To reach the bay -ice it would be necessary to carry supplies on their backs -for some distance over rocks, then down a precipitous -shore, across a glacier’s lateral cañon, and then over several -miles of crevasse-riven glacier.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary now found himself compelled to retrace his steps. -A sharp look-out was kept for fresh traces of musk-oxen, -but no signs were discovered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To reach the moraine was a hard struggle, but they -were able to leave it on the 1st of June to begin the -homeward journey over the ice-cap. On the second day -they were fortunate in finding the cache without much -trouble.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary had now nine dogs and fourteen days’ rations for -them. For himself and his two companions he had thirty -days’ half-rations of tea, biscuit, and oil, and several days’ -rations of frozen venison.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 3rd June the distance travelled was 25¼ miles, -but all the party had trouble with their feet and legs as -a result of the severe work among the rocks. On the -6th June, Lee was ill and quite used-up, but by means of -a line from the sledge to support himself by, he managed -to struggle along. On the 7th two dogs were quite -exhausted, and were fed to the other seven. On the 8th -the larger of the two sledges was abandoned. On the -9th, after 4 miles’ travelling, they were obliged to camp -on account of Lee. After fifteen hours’ rest and an extra -supply of milk, Lee was able to travel 20 miles during -the following march. Another dog fell exhausted on the -11th, and another on the 12th, leaving five. On the -13th the five had been reduced to four, and on the 16th -only three were left. On the latter date the last of the -dog-food was consumed. On the 21st June the remainder -of the venison was given to the two remaining dogs, and -on the 22nd one of the two dogs died. On the 23rd the -summits of the land appeared. The remaining dog was -now given a pair of seal-skin boots and several yards of -raw-hide line. Peary and his companions had four biscuits -remaining for supper and breakfast. The Lodge was -reached on the 24th June, and found to be intact.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The only dog to reach the Lodge was Panikpah, and it -was fed by Peary before he ate anything himself. The -memory of the famine-days on the ice-cap remained with -the dog long after, and he might be seen at all times -hiding away every bit of meat or blubber, and every bone -he could find about the place. These noble dogs saved -the lives of the party.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The journey of 500 miles across the ice-cap, from -moraine to moraine, was made in twenty-five marches of -an average of 20 miles. The weather on the whole was -exceptionally good, or it would have been impossible to -cover the distance in so short a time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Early in the morning of the 3rd August the <span class='it'>Kite</span> arrived -to take them home. On the way south two of the Cape -York meteorites were successfully removed and shipped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary made a summer voyage in 1896 for the purpose -of obtaining the third and largest of the meteorites. -Before, however, it could be got on board, the ship had -to leave, in order to avoid being crushed by the ice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Still determined to obtain the meteorite, Peary made -another voyage in the summer of 1897, and was successful -in shipping the meteorite and taking it to the United -States. This meteorite is the largest known, and its -estimated weight is between 90 and 100 tons.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 12th January 1897, Peary announced his plan for -reaching the North Pole. A sufficient sum was to be -raised to continue the work of exploration for five years, -if necessary. A ship was to be taken north through -Robeson Channel to the highest latitude possible along -the Greenland coast. Stores were then to be landed -and advanced in stages until the northern terminus of -the North Greenland Archipelago was reached, and from -this point a dash to the Pole would be made. Should -the ship be unsuccessful in the passage of Robeson -Channel, the party was to land at Hayes Sound and -devote the first year to explorations of that unknown -region.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the spring of 1897, Morris K. Jesup suggested the -formation of the “Peary Arctic Club,” which raised funds -for the expedition. At the end of 1897, Alfred Harmsworth -offered the <span class='it'>Windward</span> to Peary, who accepted it. -As it could steam only at the rate of 3½ knots at most, -Harmsworth offered to have the <span class='it'>Windward</span> re-engined, -but unfortunately this could not be done owing to an -engineers’ strike. In consequence of this, Peary had -also to charter the <span class='it'>Hope</span> as an auxiliary ship.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Windward</span> left New York on 4th July 1898, but -Peary sailed from Sydney, C.B., in the <span class='it'>Hope</span> on the 7th. -As soon as the Whale Sound region was reached, Eskimo -were engaged, and the work of hunting walrus for dog-food -was prosecuted by both ships.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Etah, on 13th August, the two ships separated, -the <span class='it'>Hope</span> bound for home, and the <span class='it'>Windward</span> for the -north. After a good deal of trouble with the ice, the -<span class='it'>Windward</span> reached Cape D’Urville, near Cape Hawks, -on the 18th, but was here stopped by a large floe, and -before the ship could get farther it was frozen in.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As soon as Peary saw that preparations for winter -would require to be made, he landed a year’s supplies at -the cape. He then took steps to secure fresh meat, -and in a short time a considerable number of musk-oxen -were obtained. He also began to survey the region near -Hayes Sound. He discovered that Bache “Island” is a -peninsula, and that “Hayes Sound” does not exist.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary now decided to utilise the winter moons in -pushing supplies north as far as Fort Conger, where he -purposed to take his party in February. From Fort -Conger he intended to make an attempt on the Pole in -the spring.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now commenced a series of desperate sledge-journeys. -Snow igloos were formed at several of the capes. At -the end of October, Peary advanced some supplies as far -as Cape Frazer. At the end of the November moon -about 30 cwt. of supplies had been sledged as far as -Cape Wilkes, on the north side of Richardson Bay. The -mean daily minimum temperature was more than 40° -below zero, and on four successive days it was 50° below -zero.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the first light of the December moon, Peary with -Henson and the doctor and four Eskimo left the ship -with the intention of reaching Fort Conger. On the -28th all the supplies had reached Cape Lawrence on -the north side of Rawlings Bay. Next day Peary started -from Cape Lawrence with light sledges for Fort Conger. -On the way the cold was so intense that it was too -much for one of the Eskimo, who had to be left in a -burrow in a snow-drift with a companion to look after -him. Before Fort Conger was reached the moon had -departed, and Peary had to grope and stumble in -complete darkness across Lady Franklin Bay. On the -6th January 1899 the party passed through the doorway -of Fort Conger. Biscuit from the table where it had -lain fifteen years formed a lunch. On reaching Fort -Conger, Peary had a suspicious “wooden” feeling in his -feet, and on having them examined it was found that -both were frost-bitten. He ultimately lost eight of his -toes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The party remained at Fort Conger until the 18th -February, when a start was made for the <span class='it'>Windward</span>, -which was reached in eleven days. The mean minimum -daily temperature during this period was the astonishing -one of −56.18°F., and on the day the <span class='it'>Windward</span> was -reached the temperature went down to −65° F.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During April the supplies left at Cape Lawrence were -moved to Fort Conger. On 19th April, Peary again left -for Fort Conger, although he could not move without -crutches, and Discovery Harbour was reached on the -28th. Early in May he attempted to make a reconnaissance -of the Greenland north-west coast, but found -Robeson Channel impracticable.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 23rd May, Peary and his party started for the -ship, and covered the 250 miles in six days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In July, Peary crossed Ellesmere Land to the west -coast. Soon after his return from this trip, the -<span class='it'>Windward</span> was able to make its way to Etah, where -Peary communicated with a relief expedition in charge -of Bridgman. At the end of August both the <span class='it'>Windward</span> -and the relief ship were sent home, and Peary and his -party were left at Etah, where the winter was passed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 19th February 1900, Peary sent off a division -of seven sledges to Fort Conger; on the 26th February -six other sledges left; and on the 4th March he followed -with nine sledges. He reached Fort Conger on 28th -March, and learned that the advance parties had killed -twenty-one musk-oxen close to Conger.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Fort Conger, Peary decided to make a sledge-journey -along the north coast of Greenland. He left on -the 11th April with seven sledges, and followed very -much the same route taken by Lockwood, but did not -go overland. The northern part of Cape Britannia Island -was reached on the 4th May. From here he sent back -the last of the supporting party, and pushed on north -with Henson and one Eskimo. Lockwood Island was -reached on the 8th May, and from the cairn erected -by Lockwood, Peary took the record, which had been -perfectly preserved. From here one march carried the -party to Cape Washington, the farthest point seen by -Lockwood. On rounding this cape, Peary saw another -headland still farther north. Near this cape were very -large glaciers which Peary believes are the birthplaces -of the “floebergs.” Still farther north another cape was -found, to which Peary gave the name “Cape Morris Jesup.” -This was the most northern point of the Greenland -Archipelago. From this point Peary started over the -ice-pack towards the north, but found the ice impracticable. -He reached 83° 50′, and returned. He then -travelled eastward along the coast, which soon began to -trend to the south-east. In the same latitude as Cape -Washington was found a magnificent cape, which Peary -named “Cape Bridgman.” Two marches beyond this cape -brought Peary to a point from which he recognised a -mountain he had seen from the ice-cap south of Independence -Bay. The weather was now very foggy, and Peary -was compelled to stop at what he believed was an island -in the mouth of a large fiord. To this island he gave -the name “Clarence Wyckoff Island.” He had now reached -the 83rd degree on the east coast. After waiting two -nights and a day for the fog to lift, he found it necessary -to start on the return journey. He left records at this -camp, and also at Cape Morris Jesup and Cape Washington. -Quite a large number of musk-oxen were seen -along this most northern land.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The return journey was begun on the 22nd May, and -Cape Morris Jesup was passed on the 26th. They -reached Fort Conger on 10th June.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The most northern point of the land to the north of -Greenland had now been determined, and Peary arrived -at the conclusion that it was not a favourable one from -which to reach the Pole. The ice was very much broken, -and there was a comparatively rapid motion towards the -East Greenland current.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary now decided to winter at Fort Conger and -make another attempt on the Pole, starting from -Cape Hecla, on the north coast of Grant Land. -During the autumn no fewer than 101 musk-oxen were -killed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 5th April 1901, Peary left Fort Conger with -Henson, one Eskimo, two sledges, and twelve dogs for -his northern trip. A few days after starting, he found -that the condition of the party and of the dogs was -such that he could not hope for success, and he therefore -returned to Fort Conger.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 17th April he started for the south with his entire -party, and found the <span class='it'>Windward</span> at Payer Harbour on -6th May. He soon commenced to form new caches along -the coast towards Conger; and in July no fewer than -128 walruses were killed for dog-food.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The winter of 1901−2 was passed at Payer Harbour, -where six of the Eskimo died. On the 3rd March 1902, -Henson was sent north in charge of six sledges, and on -6th March, Peary followed with seventeen sledges. The -temperature was from 43° to 49° F. below zero. The -distance of 300 miles to Fort Conger was covered in -twelve marches.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 24th March 1902, Peary started north from -Fort Conger with nine sledges for Cape Hecla. Finding -deep snow near Cape Joseph Henry, Peary preferred to -take the ice-foot route round it rather than cross -Feilden Peninsula. At the very extremity of the cape -the sledges had to be passed along a shelf of ice 3 feet -in width and 75 feet above the sea.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 6th April, Peary, Henson, and four Eskimo left -Crozier Island, and when opposite Cape Hecla turned -north over the polar pack. Now began a desperate -struggle over rough ice. The route was a continual zigzag, -and the pickaxe had to be used constantly. In deep -snow the dogs floundered and were almost useless, and a -sledge had now and again to be dug out of a hole among -snow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 12th April they were storm-bound by a gale -from the west which caused leads to form. Under great -difficulties the journey was continued till the 21st April. -On this date the latitude was 84° 17′ 27″. The ice was -still very rough, and the snow so deep that it was almost -impracticable. The entire pack seemed to be in slow -motion towards the east. Peary here decided to return. -He hurried his departure in order to utilise as much of -his outward tracks as possible. He found, however, that -the movement of the ice had faulted the trail in various -places, and it was only with great difficulty that it could -be followed. Crozier Island was again reached on 29th -April, and Fort Conger on 3rd May.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Fort Conger was left on 6th May, and Payer Harbour -was reached on the 17th. The <span class='it'>Windward</span> arrived on -the 5th August, and conveyed Peary and his party to -America.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The year 1905 saw Peary again on his way to the -north. His expedition sailed from New York on 12th -July 1905 on board the <span class='it'>Roosevelt</span>. Etah was left on -16th August, and after various encounters with the ice -the <span class='it'>Roosevelt</span> succeeded in reaching Cape Sheridan on -5th September. The vessel here suffered severe pressure, -which did considerable damage. It was not floated again -until the following summer, and this position perforce -became headquarters. The winter proved much milder -than that which the <span class='it'>Alert</span> experienced in the same region.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During October many of the dogs died, and it was -found that the cause of the trouble was cured whale-meat, -several tons of which had to be thrown away. To make -good this loss, many musk-oxen were obtained in the -Lake Hazen district and along the slopes of the United -States Range.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the end of February 1906, Peary started on a -sledge-journey with the object of reaching the Pole. -In three marches he reached Cape Hecla, where his whole -party assembled. From here he advanced over the pack-ice -with one main and several supporting parties. Open -leads and rough ice made progress slow, and a considerable -portion of the track had to be cut with pickaxes. -At latitude 84° 38′ a broad lead extending east and west -as far as it could be seen completely barred the way. -After a delay of six days, Peary’s party managed to cross -on young ice which bent beneath their weight. Three -days later a gale began to blow, and lasted six days. -The ice was broken up, and Peary and Henson were -driven 70 miles to the eastward on a large floe. Peary -could now receive no aid from his supporting parties, and -he decided to make a dash northwards. His party now -numbered eight. Everything was abandoned that was -not absolutely necessary, and every energy was bent on -establishing a record. The character of the ice was now -much better than farther south, but cracks and narrow -leads increased. By forced marches Peary reached 87° 6′ -on 21st April. By this time his sledges were nearly -empty, and the ice was still in motion towards the -east. He was therefore compelled to start on the return -journey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On reaching latitude 84° a lead was encountered -over which no crossing could be found, and they were -forced to camp on a large floe which drifted steadily -eastward. Here some sledges were broken up to cook -dog-meat for the party. On the 5th May two Eskimo, -sent out as scouts, reported young ice a few miles distant. -It was decided to attempt to cross it. The thin ice bent -beneath them, but by using snow-shoes the crossing was -effected in safety.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the next week the party had to cut their way -through a terrible chaos of ice, and on the 12th May they -reached the Greenland coast at Cape Neumayer. Here -they succeeded in obtaining four hares.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Near Cape Neumayer sledge-tracks were found, and as -these had no doubt been made by one of the supporting -parties, Peary sent two Eskimo to follow the tracks. -They returned next day with Clark and his three -Eskimo, who were in a terribly famished condition. -Fortunately, seven musk-oxen were secured, and for two -days the party ate and slept.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The remainder of the march back to the <span class='it'>Roosevelt</span> was -accomplished without any special difficulty. Peary now -called in the relief parties who were still out. After a -short rest, a trip was made to the west of Grant Land. -New land, named “Crocker Land,” was seen to the north-west. -On the 30th July, Peary again returned to the -<span class='it'>Roosevelt</span>, which next day started on the return journey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary had decided that the ship was so badly damaged -that it could not safely remain another winter exposed -to the ice. He therefore determined to return home for -repairs, and to sail again for the north during the -following year. At Lady Franklin Bay it was feared -that the ship would have to pass the winter there, but -it fortunately managed to get free, and the voyage was -resumed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Etah the <span class='it'>Roosevelt</span> was beached four days for -repairs. Again the journey was resumed, but severe -storms were encountered, and it was not till 13th October -that the vessel reached Hebron, Labrador.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 6th July 1908 the <span class='it'>Roosevelt</span> left New York to -carry Commander Peary and his party once more to the -Arctic regions. The necessary repairs to the ship had -not been finished in time for an expedition in 1907. -Sydney, Nova Scotia, was left on 17th July, and Etah on -18th August. The usual course was taken across Smith -Sound to Cape Sabine, and then northward. Fog and ice -were soon encountered, but the <span class='it'>Roosevelt</span> slowly worked -her way north as far as Lincoln Bay, where she had to -shelter several days. On 2nd September Cape Union -was passed, and on the 5th of this month the <span class='it'>Roosevelt</span> -went into winter quarters near Cape Sheridan—a little -north of the position of three years before.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Commander Peary had decided to set out on his final -attempt to reach the Pole from Cape Columbia. The -winter was occupied in transporting supplies to this -point.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 15th February 1909 the first of the sledges left -the <span class='it'>Roosevelt</span>, and Peary brought up the rear on 22nd -February. The total of all divisions was 7 men of Peary’s -party, 59 Eskimo, 140 dogs, and 23 sledges. A start -was made over the ice from Cape Columbia on 1st March. -Bartlett had been sent on ahead to make a trail. From -this point the party consisted of 17 Eskimo, 133 dogs, -and 19 sledges, in addition to the 7 men in command. -On the first day’s march 10 miles were covered, and on -the second the record made by Markham in 1876 was -passed. A wide lake of open water was encountered on -4th March, and here the party were delayed till the 11th. -A sounding taken here gave 110 fathoms. On the 14th -the temperature registered minus 59° F. The first -supporting party was sent back on the 15th in charge of -Dr. Goodsell, and on the following day Peary found it -necessary to send back Professor McMillan, who was -suffering from a badly frost-bitten foot. A sounding -taken at this camp gave a depth of 825 fathoms, so -that the Continental Shelf had now been passed. When -latitude 85° 23′ had been reached, the second supporting -party, commanded by Borup, turned back. The advance -party had now been reduced to 20 men, 10 sledges, and -70 dogs. Leads were frequently met, but good marches -were made daily. The third supporting party returned -from latitude 86° 38′ with Professor Marvin in command. -This reduced the advance division to 9 men, 7 sledges, -and 60 dogs. The character of the ice was now favourable -for long marches, but still there was danger from -open leads. At the end of the second day’s march -progress was stopped by open water, and during the -night the party found themselves in imminent danger. -The ice had broken Bartlett’s igloo adrift, and others -were threatening to follow suit. It was with great difficulty -that the party managed to save themselves and the -dogs. There was considerable commotion in the ice during -the remainder of the night and the whole of the next -day. The ice then closed together and allowed the party -to proceed. North of this point the surface improved, -and consisted mostly of heavy old floes covered with hard -snow and comparatively level. From latitude 87° 48′ -the fourth and last supporting party, commanded by -Bartlett, turned back.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary had now with him his servant Henson, who had -been his faithful companion on nearly all his journeys; -Ootam, who had been with him when he made his record -three years before; two of the Eskimo who had been -with Clark when they narrowly escaped death from -starvation; and a fifth man was a young Eskimo who -had shown great eagerness for the work. Forty of the -best dogs were selected, and five of the best sledges. -The supplies were ample for forty days, and Peary -believed that with the dogs he could make them last -fifty days more.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A determined effort was now to be made to reach the -Pole. During the first march of ten hours 25 miles were -covered, and after a few hours’ sleep another march of -ten hours covered another 20 miles. Again a few hours’ -sleep, and a further march of 20 miles brought the party -within sight of latitude 89°. The temperature at this -time was 40° F. below zero. After a short sleep, the -fourth march was made against a bitter wind, and the -distance covered was estimated to be at least 25 miles. -The party were now getting much fatigued, and it was -found necessary to take a longer sleep before beginning -the fifth march.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During these four marches the weather had been -brilliant, but with the fifth it changed to a dense pall -overhead, and the ice beneath was a ghastly white with -no relief. The surface, however, was even better than -before; there was scarcely any snow on the old floes, and -a rise of temperature to 15° F. below zero reduced the -friction of the sledges. In twelve hours no less than -40 miles were covered without a sign of a lead. A hasty -noon observation was now made, and the latitude was -found to be within 3 geographical miles of the Pole. -Thirty hours were spent in making observations, in going -some 10 miles beyond the camp and about 8 miles to the -right of it. Flags were planted, photographs were taken, -and the horizon was carefully searched through the -telescope for possible land. The minimum temperature -during the thirty hours was 33° F., and the maximum -12° F. below zero.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary had now at last reached the goal of his ambition—the -goal he had been fighting to reach through many -years and under tremendous difficulties. His dogged -perseverance and stern determination must excite the -warmest admiration of every one. During the twenty-three -years from 1886 to 1909 he passed fifteen summers -and eight winters in the Arctic regions. No matter -what view we may take of Dr. Cook’s great achievement, -we must admit that Commander Peary, much more than -any other man, deserved the great honour of being the -first to reach the North Pole.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The return journey was begun on the afternoon of 7th -April. The distance from Cape Columbia had been -travelled in thirty-seven days, but Peary in returning -wished to cover five of the outward marches in three, -and he practically succeeded. For a large part of the -way he was able to return on his former track, and he -had therefore the further advantage of not requiring to -build snow-huts. Cape Columbia was reached on 23rd -April, so that the distance of 475 English miles from -the Pole had been travelled in the astonishing time of -sixteen days—an average of about 30 miles per day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On arrival at the <span class='it'>Roosevelt</span>, Peary learned that Professor -Marvin had been drowned. Returning in command of -the third supporting party, Marvin had reached within -45 miles of Cape Columbia. He had gone on ahead of his -Eskimo, and had broken through young ice covering a -recent lead. When the Eskimo arrived, they found -Marvin’s body floating in the water some distance out -from the ice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 18th July the <span class='it'>Roosevelt</span> left her winter quarters, and -reached Cape Sabine on 8th August.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peary’s final expedition brings out in a striking manner -the contrast between his methods and those of the British -Expedition of 1875−76. Commander Markham and Sir -George Nares were emphatic in their opinion that it was -utterly impracticable to reach the North Pole over the -ice from the north of Grant Land. Peary’s route was -considerably to the west of Markham’s, and no doubt -escaped much of the crushed-up ice encountered by the -British, but the fact that the full distance to the Pole -was covered in thirty-seven days, on at least eight of -which Peary was detained by open water, proves that -the methods adopted were incomparably superior.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/map-9.jpg' alt='' id='map-9' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/> -<p class='caption'>CHART OF NORTH POLAR REGIONS.</p> -</div> - -<div><h1 id='ch14'>CHAPTER XIV<br/> <span class='sub-head'>DR. COOK’S EXPEDITION (1907−9)</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='bold'>[</span>Dr. Cook’s statements, both as regards Mount McKinley -and his discovery of the North Pole, have been seriously -called in question. The writer prefers to accept his statements -until his opponents prove that they are false.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>According to the latest reports, a committee of the -American Explorers’ Club have examined Dr. Cook’s data -regarding his ascent of Mount McKinley, and have come -to the conclusion that his data do not stand the test to -which they were submitted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Council of the Copenhagen University, to whom -Dr. Cook sent certain documents for examination, have -decided that from the material supplied no proof can be -adduced that he reached the North Pole.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Dr. Cook’s instruments and most of his astronomical -observations were left behind at Etah, and are still there -in consequence of Peary’s refusal to allow them on his ship, -it is impossible at present to pronounce a final judgment.<span class='bold'>]</span></p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Frederick A. Cook first took part in Arctic exploration -as surgeon and ethnologist to Peary’s expedition of -1891. He was then twenty-six years of age. Before the -expedition reached Greenland his services were required -in a critical emergency. Peary received a fracture of -both bones of his leg, and it was to Dr. Cook’s skill -that he owed a rapid and successful recovery.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Cook was one of the party on the ice-cap as far -as Humboldt Glacier, and when Peary asked for a -volunteer to accompany him to the farthest north, Dr. -Cook was the first to offer his services. Peary decided -to take Astrup, probably because he wished Dr. Cook -to take charge of the base camp where Mrs. Peary and -the remainder of the expedition had to wait anxiously -till his return. Peary states that “to Dr. Cook’s care -may be attributed the almost complete exemption of the -party from even the mildest indisposition, and personally -I owe much to his professional skill, and unruffled patience -and coolness in an emergency. In addition to his work -in his special ethnological field, in which he has obtained -a large mass of most valuable material concerning a -practically unstudied tribe, he was always helpful and -an indefatigable worker.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After his return from the Arctic, Dr. Cook had a great -ambition to try the Antarctic, but did not obtain an -opportunity till 1897, and he then had to go on very -short notice. The Belgian Expedition had considerable -trouble and some disappointment in connection with the -surgeons appointed. The first candidate was put aside, -after acceptance, for personal reasons, and the second -declined to go at the last moment for family reasons. -Without a knowledge of this difficulty, Dr. Cook cabled -to Belgium from America, volunteering his services, though -at the time he had not previously written a line, nor was -he acquainted with a single individual of the expedition -or its representatives. In reply, he received the instruction, -“Meet us at Rio, end of September.” He had only a -few days to prepare himself and his outfit for a journey -which might take one year or several. French was the -language spoken on the ship, but Dr. Cook could not -speak a word of it. The Commandant, however, could -speak English, and all the scientific staff could speak -German, with which Dr. Cook was familiar. This expedition, -after doing some valuable work, was beset in -the ice, and drifted throughout the whole winter. After -an absence of fifteen months, it returned to civilisation in -the spring of 1899.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Cook’s next venture was an attempt to reach the -summit of Mount McKinley, in Alaska, the highest -mountain in North America. His first attempt was made -in 1903, and although he reached a height of only 11,400 -feet, he explored a good deal of new territory. His -second attempt was made in 1906, and was successful. -He began the ascent with two companions, but one of -them became afraid of the crevasses in the glaciers and -returned to the base camp. The summit, 20,390 feet above -sea-level, was reached by Dr. Cook and Edward Barrille on -16th September in a temperature of 16° F. below zero.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the following year, 1907, Dr. Cook quietly made -preparations for a daring expedition to the North Pole. -He was fortunate in having a wealthy friend, John R. -Bradley, who paid all expenses. A strong fishing schooner -was purchased and well stocked with suitable supplies. -Mr. Bradley was especially interested in Arctic game, and -a considerable time was spent in hunting walruses and other -large animals. At Annootok, 25 miles to the north of -Etah, a large settlement of natives was found, in a most -prosperous condition, and here Dr. Cook decided to make -his winter quarters. Rudolph Francke was chosen to be -his only companion. The necessary supplies of food and -fuel were landed from the schooner, and a winter house -was soon erected. Steps were at once taken to secure a -large supply of meat and blubber to support the Eskimo -during the winter, and to make provision for the families -during the absence of the men accompanying the expedition -in the spring. The whole of the winter was occupied in -preparing furs and equipment of all kinds.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cook had an abundance of the best hickory wood, and -the sledges were made of a pattern combining the qualities -of the Yukon and the Eskimo. Unlike many others, he -did not abandon the old-fashioned iron shoes for strips -of German silver. For dog-harness the Eskimo pattern -was adopted, but in order to prevent the dogs eating the -harness, the shoulder-straps were made of folds of strong -canvas, while the traces were cut from cotton log-line.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Pemmican, made of pounded dry beef, sprinkled with -a few raisins, some currants, and a small quantity of sugar, -was selected as the staple food both for men and dogs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Early in January 1908 some sledges were sent across -Smith Sound to explore a route and to advance supplies. -These advance expeditions were only partly successful, -however, owing to storms having rendered the moonlight -of little service.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The main expedition left Annootok on 19th February -1908. It consisted of eleven men, one hundred and three -dogs, and eleven heavily loaded sledges. The crossing of -Smith Sound to Cape Sabine was found to be about the -most difficult part of the whole journey. The temperature -was low, and as the season was early, there were only a -few hours of sunlight daily. From Cape Sabine a course -was made into Flagler Fiord. From the head of this fiord -Ellesmere Island was crossed to Bay Fiord. In crossing -the land the temperature went down to the astonishingly -low figure of 83° F. below zero.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In Bay Fiord a large number of musk-oxen were -obtained, which enabled the party to save their provisions. -From Bay Fiord the expedition entered Eureka Sound, and -proceeded northward along the coast of Heiberg Island. -The ice was fairly smooth, and long marches were made. -Caches of food and ammunition were left along Heiberg -Island for the return journey, which Dr. Cook intended -to make by way of Cañon Fiord. As an abundance of musk-oxen, -bears, and hares were obtained, it was found unnecessary -to use the provisions taken from Greenland. This also -supplied them with sufficient fat to use as fuel in the snow-houses -which were nightly built for sleeping-quarters.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Svartevog, at the north end of Heiberg Island, was -reached on the 17th March. A distance of nearly 400 -geographical miles had been covered in twenty-eight -days. This included the difficult and dangerous crossing -of Smith Sound, and the crossing of Ellesmere Island. It -was a remarkable feat, and justified the leader in daring the -remaining 525 miles which lay between him and the Pole.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Svartevog a cache was made in which were placed -not only a large quantity of food, but also many discarded -articles of equipment. Dr. Cook had decided -to take only two Eskimo with him on the final part -of the journey to the Pole. The two men chosen -were Etukishuk and Ahwelah, each twenty years old. -Twenty-six dogs were picked, and provisions for eighty -days were loaded on two sledges. The sledges were made -of hickory and had iron shoes. The provisions consisted -of pemmican, musk-ox meat, tea, coffee, sugar, condensed -milk, biscuits, and pea-soup. By way of fuel, 40 lb. -petroleum, 2 lb. wood-alcohol, 3 lb. of candles, and 1 lb. -of matches were carried. Each sledge carried 600 lb., -which included the following articles of equipment: -pails, cups, and teaspoons made of aluminium; 1 tablespoon, -3 tin plates, 6 pocket-knives, 2 butcher-knives, -1 saw-knife, 2 rifles, 110 cartridges, 1 hatchet, 1 Alpine -axe, a 12-foot folding canvas boat, 1 silk tent, 2 reindeer -sleeping-bags, and screws, nails, and rivets. The sledges -weighed 52 lb. each, and the weight of the canvas boat -was 34 lb. In addition to these, Dr. Cook had 3 compasses, -1 sextant, 1 glass artificial horizon, 1 pedometer, -3 pocket chronometers, 1 watch, 3 thermometers, 1 -aneroid barometer, and a camera with films.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the march Dr. Cook wore woollen drawers, a bird-skin -shirt, a blue-fox coat, bear-skin pants, kamiks and -hare-skin stockings. A band of fox-tails was fastened -under the knee and about the waist. A seal-skin coat and -some extra clothing were also carried in the personal bag.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the morning of 18th March six of the Eskimo left -Svartevog on the return journey. Koolootingwah and -Inugito were taken on by Dr. Cook as a supporting party -to give assistance over the rough ice of the pack-edge. -Shortly after noon Dr. Cook started over the polar floes, -on a course slightly west of north. The first day’s march -covered 26 miles. Next morning the temperature was -minus 56° F. Some troublesome crushed-ice was encountered -on the second march, but yet the party added 21 miles to -their credit. The difficulties increased on the third day, -and the distance travelled was reduced to 16 miles. Here -Dr. Cook sent his two supporting Eskimo back. They -returned with empty sledges, and although their dogs had -received no food during the previous three days, they -hoped to cover the 63 miles to land in one long day’s -travel! They carried a letter instructing Francke to wait -until 5th June 1908, and if Dr. Cook had not returned he -was to place Koolootingwah in charge and go home, either -by the whalers or by Danish ships to the south.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Cook believed that he had now passed beyond the -zone of ice crushed by the influence of land-pressure. On -the morning of the fourth march the temperature was at -the low figure of 63° below zero F., but fortunately there -was no wind. Heiberg Island was now nearly lost to -view. A march of fourteen hours carried the party 29 -miles. Soon after the usual snow-house was built, a storm -arose, and a further start was not made until the afternoon -of the following day. From minus 59° the temperature -rose to minus 46°, but the wind made the party feel the -piercing cold very keenly. This march brought them to -a great lead several miles wide. It was covered with ice -too thin to be crossed with safety. A partially bridged -place was, however, discovered about a mile from camp, -and the low temperature during the night had strengthened -the ice sufficiently for an attempt to be made to cross it. -On snow-shoes, Dr. Cook led the way with spread legs. -In two crossings all the supplies were landed on the -other side.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This was probably an extension westwards of the same -lead encountered by Peary, and may indicate the dividing -line between the central polar pack and the land-ice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A course was now set to reach the 85th parallel -on the 97th meridian. At noon on the 24th March -a satisfactory observation gave the position as latitude -83° 31′; longitude, 96° 27′. From here a glimpse was -obtained of what was believed to be Crocker Land away -to the west.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The bright light of the sun now began to trouble the -eyes, but amber-coloured goggles were found to be a very -satisfactory protection.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 25th March a hurricane was experienced, and -during the storm the temperature rose to minus 26° F. The -ice cracked with thundering noise, and Dr. Cook sank into -a crevasse which formed under the floor of the snow-house -where he was lying in his sleeping-bag. He was, however, -quickly pulled out by the Eskimo.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the next three marches it was estimated that -53 geographical miles were travelled. A cold wind was -blowing from the west, and added much to the misery of -the party by forming icicles on every hair about the face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the night of 28th March a violent storm swept -away the dome of their snow-house and buried them -under a considerable quantity of snow, from which they -extricated themselves with difficulty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Next day the weather improved, and on the 30th March -the clear atmosphere enabled them to discover land some -distance to the west, extending parallel to the line of -their route. The position at this time was found to be -84° 50′, and longitude 95° 36′. This land gave the impression -that it probably consisted of two islands, and was -named by Dr. Cook “Bradley Land.” It was seen to -extend from about 83° 20′ to about 85° 11′ near to the -102nd meridian. It was buried under snow, and resembled -the high lands of Heiberg Island.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Cook has stated that from latitude 83° 31′ a -glimpse was obtained of what was believed to be -Crocker Land away to the west. He now states that -Bradley Land extends as far south as 83° 20′. If this is -correct, Bradley Land must include Crocker Land.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The weather again changed on the 31st March, and hid -the land from view. Strong winds made progress rather -slow for several days. On 7th April the sun was first -observed above the horizon at midnight. The journey -had now lasted from the time the sun first appeared above -the horizon at midday until it did not set during the -twenty-four hours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 8th April the position was ascertained to be 86° -36′, longitude 94° 2′. In nine days 106 miles had been -covered, in a temperature ranging from 36° to 46° F. -below zero. Dr. Cook at this time remarked that in -dreams Heaven was hot, and the other place was cold.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 11th April the latitude was 87° 20′, and the longitude -95° 19′. Ice conditions now improved, and good distances -were made. For two days the march was over old -ice without pressure-lines or hummocks. The winds, -however, were still bitterly cold, and on 13th April -Ahwelah nearly collapsed. The position on the 14th was -99 miles from the Pole. Some of the dogs had already -been killed to feed the others, but a sufficient number -remained to enable the party to make a determined effort -to cover the remaining distance to the Pole.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On to the 89th parallel the ice was in large fields -and comparatively smooth. The noon observation on -19th April gave the latitude as 29 miles from the Pole, -and the longitude 94° 3′. The next march was made -under great excitement, and when camp was pitched it -was within 14 miles of the goal, in longitude 94° 52′. -Shortly after midnight of 21st April the party again set -out, and when the pedometer had registered 14½ miles -camp was made. The observation here gave latitude 89° -59′ 45″. A distance equal to the 15″ was advanced, the -tent was pitched, and a snow-house was built so that the -party might stay long enough for two rounds of observations -to be made. The temperature was 38.7° below -zero.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The North Pole had at last been conquered. The -struggle which had been carried on more than three -centuries was finally over. It had cost many lives and -unparalleled hardships before man’s ambition was satisfied. -And what a desolate spot to have aroused the competition -of nations! No land was in sight, no life had been -seen within a long distance of it, and nothing but endless -fields of ice and snow stretched away to the horizon. -Yet here was the most interesting geographical point on -the surface of the earth; here was the axis on which the -world turned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Soon after midnight of 22nd April, Dr. Cook and -his two companions began their return journey. They -set their course along the 100th meridian, and during -the first few days, with fair weather and good ice, -they succeeded in making long marches. On 30th April -the latitude was found to be 88° 1′, and the longitude -97° 42′. As this showed a drift to the eastward, a -more westerly course was set. The temperature still -remained between 30° and 40° below zero, and the wind -was again troublesome. Dr. Cook, with compass in hand, -marched ahead of the sledges. Near the 88th parallel -very heavy ice was crossed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 6th May they were stopped by a very severe -snowstorm. An attempt was made to build a snow-house, -but the wind swept the blocks away. An effort was then -made to put up the tent, but this was found impossible. -In sheer despair, they crept under the tent without -erecting the pole. For several days the wind was too -strong to allow them to travel, and the atmospheric conditions -made it impossible to take observations. Added -to these difficulties was the fact that the food-supply was -running short.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 24th May the weather cleared sufficiently to enable -Dr. Cook to make an observation, which placed them on -the 84th parallel, near the 97th meridian.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The temperature now gradually rose to zero, and caused -the formation of a fog which proved a serious obstacle to -progress. It was Dr. Cook’s intention to make for his -cache in Nansen’s Sound, but when next the sky cleared, -after a long struggle, the party found themselves far -south, in Crown-Prince Gustav Sea. Open water and -broken ice made it impossible for them to reach Heiberg -Island.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Cook was still anxious to return home in 1908, and -when he saw that he was cut off from Annootok, he -decided to make for Lancaster Sound, where he hoped to -find one of the Scottish whalers. This allowed him to -take advantage of the southerly drift of the ice. Passing -through Hassel Sound, the party were fortunate in securing -both bears and seals. Dr. Cook states that from this -point they travelled southward over Norwegian Bay into -Wellington Channel.<a id='r3'/><a href='#f3' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[3]</span></sup></a> Here, however, they found the ice -so much broken up that sledging was impossible, and -early in July they crossed the island of North Devon -into Jones Sound. Open water was again met, and the -party were forced to take to the folding canvas boat. -As there was no food for the dogs, they were left behind -to shift for themselves. One of the sledges had also -to be left, and the other was taken to pieces and -carried in the boat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now followed a long struggle, partly by boat and -partly by sledge. Birds formed their chief food, and in -securing these the last of the ammunition was expended. -Baffin’s Bay was reached early in September, but it was -found impossible to return to Greenland or to reach a -place of safety farther south. The only alternative was -to make a winter-hut and endeavour to secure sufficient -food to carry them through till the following spring. -They returned westwards to search for a suitable place -to winter, and found it at Cape Sparbo, in Jones Sound. -Here an underground hut was made of stones, bones, and -turf; and by means of primitive weapons they succeeded -in killing a sufficient number of animals to enable them -to live through the winter, and to provide food and -equipment for the return journey to Greenland.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On 18th February 1909 the winter quarters were left, -and Annootok was reached on 15th April. Anxious to -return home as speedily as possible, Dr. Cook set out for -the Danish settlement at Upernavik, where he arrived -on 21st May. From there he travelled to Copenhagen -by Danish steamers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This journey by Dr. Cook is unparalleled in the history -of Arctic exploration. The bare idea of attempting to -reach the North Pole, in one season, from the latitude of -Annootok, was daring in the extreme. It is probably -correct to say that no Arctic authority could expect that -he would have the smallest chance of success. Many -expeditions with much greater resources than Dr. Cook -possessed had in the same region made the attempt from -points hundreds of miles nearer the Pole, and had suffered -utter defeat. Markham’s starting-point was about 240 -geographical miles nearer the Pole, and his farthest north -was 400 miles from the Pole. Lockwood’s base was over -200 miles nearer the Pole, and his record was only 4 miles -farther than Markham’s. Dr. Cook was well aware that -Commander Peary himself, by far the most experienced -of Arctic explorers, had repeatedly made attempts from -a base much nearer the Pole. Starting from Lockwood’s -base in 1900, his farthest point reached was 370 miles -from the Pole. A second attempt from the same point -in 1902 reached a latitude 343 miles from the Pole. In -1906 his third trial was made from a ship situated more -than 240 geographical miles nearer the Pole than -Annootok, but the farthest north attained was still -174 miles from the Pole.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This was the position when Dr. Cook decided to make -the attempt from Annootok. It is not surprising, therefore, -that those acquainted with the history of the subject -should find a serious difficulty in at once accepting Dr. -Cook’s statement that he had accomplished such an -extraordinary achievement.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His idea of avoiding the route through Kennedy -Channel and adopting a course sufficiently west to escape -the crushed-up land-ice was no doubt a good one, but -making every allowance for this advantage, the contrast -between his expedition and Commander Peary’s expedition -of 1909 is very great. Commander Peary had relief -parties to assist him until he was within 132 geographical -miles of the Pole. His problem then was to travel these -132 miles and return to land 413 miles distant. Dr. -Cook, on the other hand, was about 462 miles from the -Pole when his last supporting party left him. To reach -the Pole he had therefore to travel 462 miles against -Peary’s 132, without being able to obtain any further -supply of food. The return journey, again, was very -different. Dr. Cook expected to find his cache 525 -miles distant, but in reality the first land reached was -more than 670 miles from the Pole. The total distance -in latitude covered by Peary with the supply he was able -to carry on his sledges was therefore 545 miles, whereas -Cook states that he covered the extraordinary distance of -1132 miles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Cook has still to satisfy experts, but no one will -question the fact that Commander Peary has reached the -North Pole; so that, no matter what the result of the -unfortunate controversy may be, to the American nation -belongs the great honour of winning the coveted prize.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During more than three centuries the record was held -by the British. It was then captured by America in -1882. In 1895 it passed into the hands of the -Norwegians, who held it until won by the Italians in -1900. America regained it in 1906, and now must keep -it finally.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The chief records are as follows:—</p> - -<table id='tab5' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 6em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 6em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 4em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 2em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 2em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 4em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 2em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle4'>British</td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle4'>{Parry</td><td class='tab5c3 tdStyle4'>82° 45′</td><td class='tab5c4 tdStyle5'>on</td><td class='tab5c5 tdStyle0'>25th</td><td class='tab5c6 tdStyle5'>July</td><td class='tab5c7 tdStyle4'>1827.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle4'>{Markham</td><td class='tab5c3 tdStyle4'>83° 20′</td><td class='tab5c4 tdStyle5'>”</td><td class='tab5c5 tdStyle0'>12th</td><td class='tab5c6 tdStyle5'>May</td><td class='tab5c7 tdStyle4'>1876.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle4'>American</td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle4'> Lockwood</td><td class='tab5c3 tdStyle4'>83° 24′</td><td class='tab5c4 tdStyle5'>”</td><td class='tab5c5 tdStyle0'>13th</td><td class='tab5c6 tdStyle5'>”</td><td class='tab5c7 tdStyle4'>1882.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle4'>Norwegian</td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle4'> Nansen</td><td class='tab5c3 tdStyle4'>86° 13′</td><td class='tab5c4 tdStyle5'>”</td><td class='tab5c5 tdStyle0'>7th</td><td class='tab5c6 tdStyle5'>April</td><td class='tab5c7 tdStyle4'>1895.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle4'>Italian</td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle4'> Cagni</td><td class='tab5c3 tdStyle4'>86° 34′</td><td class='tab5c4 tdStyle5'>”</td><td class='tab5c5 tdStyle0'>24th</td><td class='tab5c6 tdStyle5'>”</td><td class='tab5c7 tdStyle4'>1900.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle4'>American</td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle4'> Peary</td><td class='tab5c3 tdStyle4'>87° 6′</td><td class='tab5c4 tdStyle5'>”</td><td class='tab5c5 tdStyle0'>21st</td><td class='tab5c6 tdStyle5'>”</td><td class='tab5c7 tdStyle4'>1906.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle4'>American</td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle4'>{Cook</td><td class='tab5c3 tdStyle4'>90° 0′</td><td class='tab5c4 tdStyle5'>”</td><td class='tab5c5 tdStyle0'>21st</td><td class='tab5c6 tdStyle5'>”</td><td class='tab5c7 tdStyle4'>1908.</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle4'>{Peary</td><td class='tab5c3 tdStyle4'>90° 0′</td><td class='tab5c4 tdStyle5'>”</td><td class='tab5c5 tdStyle0'>6th</td><td class='tab5c6 tdStyle5'>”</td><td class='tab5c7 tdStyle4'>1909.</td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class='footnotemark'/> - -<div class='footnote'> -<table summary='footnote_3'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 3em;'/> -<col span='1'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td style='vertical-align:top;'> -<div id='f3'><a href='#r3'>[3]</a></div> -</td><td> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Cook seems to have made a mistake here. His route was -evidently west of Norwegian Bay.</p> - -</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:4em;margin-bottom:4em;font-size:.6em;'><span class='it'>Printed by</span> <span class='sc'>Morrison & Gibb Limited</span>, <span class='it'>Edinburgh</span></p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:1.5em;'>SOME RECENT PUBLICATIONS.</p> - -<p class='hang'><span style='font-size:larger'>WITH CLUB AND CADDIE.</span><br/> -Verses and Parodies by <span class='sc'>E. M. Griffiths</span>. Fcap. 8vo, -cloth extra, t.e.g., <span class='bold'>2s. 6d.</span> net.</p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='pindent'><span style='font-size:smaller'>“Since the Granta days of Calverley and J. K. Stephen, I am doubtful -whether so many excellent parodies have been gathered together in one -little volume. . . . Although parody is not a form of poetry that readily -enters into permanent literature, yet there is something of freshness and -something of intimacy in the style of these verses which might well find -them a place on any bookshelf beside such volumes as ‘Fly Leaves’ and -‘Lapsus Calami.’ ”—<span class='it'>Vanity Fair.</span></span></p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='hang'><span style='font-size:larger'>OUR LITTLE TOWN.</span><br/> -And other Cornish Tales and Fancies by <span class='sc'>Charles -Lee</span>, Author of “The Widow Woman,” etc. Crown -8vo, cloth, <span class='bold'>3s. 6d.</span></p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='pindent'><span style='font-size:smaller'>“The reader of ‘Our Little Town’ makes acquaintances whom he will -not willingly forget. Knowledge, tenderness, truthfulness, humour, these -qualities are stamped on every page of ‘Our Little Town,’ which is as -good work as Mr. Lee could wish to do.”—<span class='it'>Scotsman.</span></span></p> - -<p class='pindent'><span style='font-size:smaller'>“Our readers should keep this delightful volume by them—they will -want to dip into it again and again.”—<span class='it'>Academy.</span></span></p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='hang'><span style='font-size:larger'>RUBÁIYÁT.</span><br/> -By <span class='sc'>Omar Kháyyám</span>. Translated by <span class='sc'>Edward Fitzgerald</span>. -Ornamental Borders and Illustrations in -Colour by <span class='sc'>Frank Brangwyn</span>, A.R.A. Post 8vo, -inlaid cloth extra, <span class='bold'>3s. 6d.</span> net.</p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='pindent'><span style='font-size:smaller'>“One, a fancy portrait of the poet himself, sitting reading in his garden, -is practically monochrome, the rest are fine pieces of colour, sometimes, as in -the picture of the potters in the market-place, low in tone, in other cases, -an opulent scheme of reds, ambers, and russets. The Eastern character -of the poem, its profusion and richness, are happily reflected in these -pictures.”—<span class='it'>Yorkshire Post.</span></span></p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='hang'><span style='font-size:larger'>DULALL, THE FOREST GUARD.</span><br/> -By <span class='sc'>C. E. Gouldsbury</span>, late of the Indian Police. -Crown 8vo, cloth extra, <span class='bold'>3s. 6d.</span></p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='pindent'><span style='font-size:smaller'>“A pleasant tale of sport and adventure in the forests of Bengal. The -author’s own experience of an Indian forest, and knowledge of the way in -which tiger hunting is carried on with the aid of elephants and beaters, -has enabled him to indite some realistic descriptions and to give the proper -local colour to his story. The narrative is so complete in detail as to be -sufficiently convincing.”—<span class='it'>Field.</span></span></p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='hang'><span style='font-size:larger'>TALES AND ROMANCES.</span><br/> -By <span class='sc'>Theophile Gautier</span>. Translated by <span class='sc'>Lafcadio -Hearn</span>. Frontispiece in Colour. Crown 8vo, cloth -extra, <span class='bold'>3s. 6d.</span><br/> - <span class='sc'>Contents</span>:—One of Cleopatra’s Nights—Clarimonde—Arria -Marcella—The Mummy’s Foot—Omphale—King -Candaules.<br/> - This is a new volume in our series of Representative -French Fiction, in which the same author’s ‘Mademoiselle -de Maupin’ has already appeared.</p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='pindent'><span style='font-size:smaller'>“Gautier is an inimitable model. His manner is so light and true, so -really creative, his fancy so alert, his taste so happy, his humour so genial, -that he makes illusion almost as contagious as laughter.”—Mr. <span class='sc'>Henry -James</span>.</span></p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='hang'><span style='font-size:larger'>A HANDBOOK TO KERAMICS.</span><br/> -By <span class='sc'>William Chaffers</span>. Extracted from “The -Keramic Gallery” by <span class='sc'>H. M. Cundall</span>, I.S.O., F.S.A. -350 Illustrations, and forming a most useful guide to -collectors. Crown 8vo, cloth, <span class='bold'>6s.</span> net.</p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='pindent'><span style='font-size:smaller'>“This volume of illustrations from the standard work represents a very -happy thought. It may be relied upon with confidence, for it covers the -whole ground—British, Continental, and Oriental—and should be -distinctly useful in helping the collector to ‘place’ unmarked specimens.”—<span class='it'>Birmingham -Post.</span></span></p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;'><span class='sc'>London</span>: GIBBINGS & COMPANY LIMITED.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<h2>TRANSCRIBER NOTES</h2> - -<p class='pindent'>Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. -Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been -employed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious -printer errors occur.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some illustrations were moved to facilitate page layout.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A cover was created for this eBook.</p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='noindent'>[The end of <span class='it'>The Siege and Conquest of the -North Pole</span>, by George Bryce.]</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Siege and Conquest of the North -Pole, by George Bryce - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIEGE, CONQUEST OF NORTH POLE *** - -***** This file should be named 50976-h.htm or 50976-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/9/7/50976/ - -Produced by Larry Harrison, Cindy Beyer and the online -Project Gutenberg team at -http://www.pgdpcanada.net with images provided by The -Internet Archives-US - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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