Arctic Expedition

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 574, 19 November 1902, Page 4

Arctic Expedition

The following is an Recount ot uu Arctic 1 expedition given by t!ie second mate of the Torgauten, Mr Ellepen : —• The expedition was organised and j equipped by an American gentleman named Mr Wellman, a real white man—every time, as our informant says. Tho other members of tho party consisted ol Mr Baldwin, second in command, l)r ifofma, another American gentleman, and.five Norwegians, including MvEllepcn, The members of the expedition embarked on board the “ Frithjof,” which was to take them"as far as possible and then return. They left tho town of Vardo in Norway in Juno, 1597. The expedition stopped for a short time at I’rince Josef Land ; hut beyond the killing of seals, walruses, and bears, to supply food for the Bii Russian dogs on board nothing of any importance occurred. The party arrived at Gape Heller, and there the ship left its hand of bravo and hardy adventurers on that bleak and desolate coast and returned to Tromsoe in Norway. On arrival at Cape Heller sledges were constructed ot strong wood called “ ask,” their shape being a long oval. No nails or screws were used in building them, their place being taken by the dried skin of the white whale. The provisions, consisting chiefly of bear flesh, were packed in small bags to facilitate transport. A large supply of tobacco was placed on the sledges, as this is almost a necessity in that rigorous climate. On February 17th, 1898, Mr Wellman and threo Norwegians commenced their journey, tho others being too sick to accompany them. A BLEEP WITH A DEAD BODY FOR SIN WEEKS.

This small band journeyed on over the unbroken ice, nothing of importance occurring till they reached 81, tylicrc their two comrades had spent tho winter. Here a gruesome sight met their gaze. They found the dead body of Benson, one of the two left in charge of the provisions. His mate told the ghastly story of how Benson and lie in childhood had promised to stand by one another, and when death claimed its victim the survivor kept his promise by keeping tho corpse in tire hut for six weeks rather than that it snould he scratched out of its shallow grave by the hunry wolves. Mr Eilesscn remarked <• that it was an occurrence unparalleled in tho history of man.” The body received a decent burial at tho bauds of Mr Wellman and his party. These hold adventurers, although almost overcome by the hard work and exposure, managed to strugglo on trying there utmost to excel the noble efforts of Yanson, tbe temperature during this heart-breaking journey being oil an average 2b degrees below zero. The furthest point north they were fortunate enough to reach was 82, and here they had sumo thrilling experiences, which proved fatal to tho further progress of the expedition. They had camped there but a short time, when early one morning, about 2 o’clock, they discovered that the ice had commenced to break-up around tho camp. Everything was destroyed, save one sledge and ten dogs, and Mr Wellman, when escaping tho wreck, had the misfortunate to sprain Ids ankle sevoroly. Tho provisions being now exceedingly short, the party were compelled to return to Capo Heller, Mr Wellman having to be carried on tho sledge,thus making progress very slow. They remained at Cape lleller until the arrival of tho Copella in the beginning ol August, which took them back to Trornso. Mr Ellcssen states that Mr Baldwin has indicated his determination to surpass Nansen.

Mr Ellesson came to the colonies twelve months ago on the Torgauten, on which he now holds tho position of second mate. With regard to the stimulants taken on the expedition, our informant remarked that nine bottles were on board when they left Norway, and seven of these remained untouched when they again reached Trornso.

Shortly after arriving the party divided. Fivo Norwegians and one American, having packed a large quantity of stores on a sledge, started off to place the stores in a cacique, in order that they might he picked up in the following spring. This party, amongst which was Mr Ellcssen, reached as far North as Sldeg. Hero two of the small party remained in a hut, which had been hastily constructed, the other members returning to Cape Heller to prepare sledges, provisions, etc-, for tho campaign in the following spring. “ Wiuit must have been the feelings of those two stout-hearted heroes when they saw tho lust link connecting them with the outside world ? ” queried our representative.

His only reply was, “ They were Nor wegiaus.' 1