EXPLORERS PERISH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1775, 13 June 1913, Page 5

EXPLORERS PERISH.

ILL-FATED EXPEDITION.

LOST IN SPITZBERGEN.

SCHROEDER-STRANZ PARTY.

By T*lejtras)lir-Prcos Association— Gopyrisrkt ' (Rec, June 12, 10.20 p.m.) Christiania, June 12. The survivors of the expedition to Spitzbergen, have arrived. They state that friction was rife amongst the members from the outset of tho expedition. When the ship was frozen up in Spitzbergen, the German members left tho Norwegians on board and pushed towards Mossel Bay, and eoon after broke into two parties. Dr. Dettmers and Dr. Moeser apparently perished. The others, under Ritscher, were obliged to leave Herr Rave with Dr. Ruediger, who had been frostbitten. The remainder went on to. Advent Bay for medical aid, but were delayed by terrible blizzards. Finally, Eberhardt Rotvoid, and Stenersen refused to continue, and it was determined to return to the ship. Ritscher, with one dog, struggled on to Advent Bay. He subsisted on a handful of barley daily for a whole week, and then had nothing. He at last arrived at Advent Bay, crawling on his hands and knee 3. Ruediger and Rave waited foi sevon weeks, their meal every day consisting of mildewed oats and salt meat. Their last shirt was used as bandages. Then-they forced themselves to make a final effort to reach the 6hip. Ruediger's foot was frozen, and crumbling bit by bit. Rave constructed a mechanical boot, with a wooden ski and fragments of lea'ther and cloth, enabling Ruediger to totter along. He also made a cake from the scrapings of barrels, rotten flour, and decayed' meat. After amputating tho forepart of Ruediger's left foot and part of his fingers, Rave dragged him to the ship. Eberhardt, Stenersen, and Rotvold met with terrible weather when crossing from Wijde Bay to Salmon Lake. Eberhardt complained of pains in his head, and said: "I cannot move." Stenersen replied: "You must do all yxra can; it's not far. We have no sleeping bags." , The three kept together' for an hoar. When Rotvold and Stenersen reached the top of the hill and looked back, Eberhardt had disappeared.