BACK FROM THE ICE

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4824, 29 November 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

BACK FROM THE ICE

THE STOISV 0? THE BALDWINZXEGLEII EXPEDITION. A DESPERATE STRVGGLE WITH ENCHAINED ARCTIC !■ URGES. In an interview with Reuters representative, Mr Evelynßaldwin. the leader of the Baldwin-Zieglcr Arctic Expedition, which lately returned to Norway, saiil hu was disappointed at not having achieved his object, as, thanks to Mr /hosier's generosity, the expedition had been so splendidly fitted out. With regard to certain reports that had appeared, he> said there had been some disagreements, as in most other expeditions of this sort, and this was scarcely surprising when a number of men were cooped together under the most distressing and depressing conditions through the long Arctic night, but these were unduly magnified, and it was not from this cause that the failure to reach the Pole was to be attributed, and ho wanted to say that no leader of an' expedition had. with one or Iwo exceptions, a more willing, loyal and competent staff. Mr Baldwin continued; In the course of nearly a year and a half’s incessant work we have accomplished more than the unfavourable conditions which surrounded us really warranted. For the first time in the history of-North Polar explorations a photographic record has beep seemed of the ice and snow conditions of the Arctic, and of the animal life of those regions, so complete as to be practically exhaustive. WHY THE ATTEMPT PAH,ED. I admit that our primary object was to plant the -American flag at the North Pole, and we still hope to do so, and believe more fully than ever that this can be done iu accordance with our original plan. The first cause that prevented us from reaching tiie Pda was the exasporalingly forbidding character of the ice in the Franz Josef Land Archipelago in the autumn of 181)1, which prevented the navigation of the America fur enough north to bo of practical advantage in establishing headquarters so as to facilitate sledge work in tho winter and spring of the present year. X felt- from previous experience and knowledge of Arctic literature that at least one of the numerous -wave ox navigating the Franz Josef Laud Archipelago would be open to navigation some time during either the summer or ’autumn of 1901, but last year proved to be an exception, and we were compelled to go into winter quarters at Camp Ziegler, the station which wo established upon our first arrival in Franz Josef Land in 80 deg. 23min. N., whereas our original plan -was to spend Hie winter at least a degree further north, if not actually off the coast of Rudolf Laud itself. This was tho first disappointment. Then followed the sickening and death of many of tho dogs, even before the cold -Arctic night begun. This was owing, as the careful investigations of our three physicians conclusively proved, to tho ravages of three distinct internal parasites. which ultimately proved fatal to more than half the pack. These two causes rendered anything more than an attempt to beat the record of tho farthest north absolutely Impossible, and this, although I believe we could have accomplished it beyond any doubt. I would not undertake, as such a course would have involved, the destruction of our equipment and tho consumption of our stores, and this precluded the carrying out of our original project. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. We have now the satisfaction of pointing to the establishment of our depots, from which it will be possible to despatch parties from Rudolf Laud without it being necessary tu endanger a ship at a greater latitude than Camp Zeigler. Altogether, wo have formed four large stations, for tho transport of which an ordinary Arctic vessel would be required. In the establishment of these depots we were obliged to travel over the same ground at least ten times. , ESCAPE FROM THE ICE. On Sth .Imre tho America, which had been at Camp Ziegler since our first arrival, was set free, and compelled the use of our reserve supply of coal at least six weeks earlier than I had anticipated. At this time the ship was iu imminent peril of being crushed hy f a fleet of icebergs whch drifted about bv wind and current in the open water space, and there' was nothing for it but tu use all_ available steam iu order to avoid collision with tile bergs. Wo were thus compelled before our coal was exhausted to leave Camp Ziegler and to escape with the ship into tho open sea. On Ist July wo bade good-bye to Camp Ziegler. , .' . „ . , This was the beginning of a never-to-be forgotten struggle with the ice. For the first fifteen miles wo had for the most part to hack the ship and deliberately charge tho ice. or to blast with dynamite or out with heavy saws a lane through the ice, which was often three feel thick. Tins idvuired sixteen days of incessant toil. Before reaching open water, which lav between the southern coast of the Archipelago and the heavy pack-ice of the Barents Sea, the America was caught in a violent storm and ice-screw, in .which wo only narrowly escaped destruction. Our rudder was twisted and tho propeller frame broken. A ship less strong than the America would have been lost. ENLIVENING THE ARCTIC NIGHT. I am glad to bo able to say that not only has every member of the expedition safely returned, hut that we never had a serious case of illness. The depression during tho long Arctic night was, of course, great, but wo were really too busy to pay much attention to cur moods. In the intervals of work we did our best to keep up our spirits. Fortunately, we were a musical company, and the bears must often have been surprised as the strains of tho “Star-Spangled Banner” were wafted through the icy darkness. During tho whole winter we were working day and night. 'At times the entire company was told oft into two shifts, there being always plenty to do in caring for the animals, making sledges and equipment, and in taking observations. The presence of so many dogs—we “.ad at one time over 200 during the winterkept the camps greatly clear of bears, but sometimes they ‘ would surprise ns. On one occasion two of our members, while sledging ice with one of the ponAs. were set upon by a huge beast which came upon them unawares. They were quiet unarmed, and were remarking at the absence of game, when they espial a few feet in front of them a great white bear, which immediately charged. Their pony forthwith stampeded, dragging the sledge with it, and leaving the two men quite defenceless. With great presence of mind they availed themselves of a neighbouring iceberg, to the top of whicli they clambered, while the bear was momentarily watching tho precipitate flight of the horse. Then ho turned, and, growling viciously, followed the men up the berg. The latter succeeded in escaping by the opposite side, bnt were closely followed by the bear, which, however, refused to approach, when they neared the safety of the ship. HOW TO REACH THE POLE. In conclusion. Mr Baldwin said;—"The old idea of an open Polar sea is baseless. We know that land extends as far as the S2nd docreq on the Franz Josef Land side, and it is from here that I believe tho Pole will be reached. I quite agree with Lieutenant Peary that practical way of attaining the Pole is 1 y sledging from this point. This is indeed the plan on which our expedition worked/* Mr Baldwin is now on his way to New York to consult with Mr Ziegler as to future operations.