Swedes in Antarctica.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue II, 12 January 1901, Page 81

Swedes in Antarctica.

There will be plenty of life in Antarctica during the year 1902, for in addition to the British and German Antarctic expeditions, there is also one in preparation in Sweden, under the leadership of Dr. Otto Nordenskjold, the well-known savant, who was a member of the Danish expedition to East Greenland last summer under Lieutenant Amdrup. Dr. Nordenskjold has also shared in several Swedish polar expeditions. For the purpose of his Antarctic expedition he has acquired, for a nominal sum. the steam-whaler the “Antarctic,” in which the Greenland voyage was performed. This vessel has quite an. historical Arctic record. It was built for whaling in the Greenland seas by a- Norwegian firm, and has performed many voyages in polar waters. She was eventually acquired by Professor G. Nathorst, the celebrated geologist and Arctic voyageur, who lias shared in almost every Swedish polar expedition. Last year, again, the Antarctic was employed in the search for Andree on the east coast of Greenland, when the owner himself was in command of the expedition, but which yielded no result. The vessel has thus again passed into Swedish hands. She was also engaged in an earlier voyage to the seas whence she derives her name by Norwegian speculators, with the hope of re-opening the famous whale fisheries in these parts, but the enterprise w’as an utter failure, not a single sperm whale being even seenThe vessel, which is in splendid condition for navigation in the pack ice. and is, in fact, specially built for that purpose, will now proceed to Gothenburg for her final equipment. As she has cost, so little Dr. Nordenskjold estimates the cost of the expedition at only some £ 10,000 more. Of this sum one-half has already been contributed by Swedish subscribers, and King Oscar has also promised a considerable amount towards this expedition, the first of its kind ever despatched from Sweden. Should circumstances permit, the Swedish expedition will, of course, eo-operate with the British and German. It is hoped that the Antarctic will be ready to sail next August. ,