ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12646, 6 November 1905, Page 8

ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

HARDSHIPS OF A POLAR

EXPEDITION

Anthony Elate,, of Brooklyn, New York, tlhe leader of the Ziegler polar expedition, it/he members of which were rescued by the relief ship Terra Nova, under <fche command of William S. Champ, secretary of the late William Ziegler, arrived at Hull on August 22, on HuLs ■way to the United States. He oame ahead of the Terra 'Nova, which ■was expected next day. Mr Fiala said: _ " Thus has (been another in the long list of failures to reach the pole, unless the three determined attempts to reach high latitudes should foe considered .as not having proved altogether futile. Altfhoiugh the great question of tihe pole remains unsolved, we have brought back data which should prove of scientific value, and have explored and surveyed the archipelago from Crown Prince Rudolph .Land to Cape Flora, discovering four new channels and three large islands. " Failing to find an opening in the ice in longitude .58 degrees 57 minutes east, latitude. 79 degrees 57 minutes north, we decided to force a way tlhrougih at the 78th parallel. Here we were imprisoned for four days, fin/ally getting through with the use of gun-cotton. At tihe end of August, 1903, we reached Teplitz Bay, the most northern 'harbour of Franz Josef (Land; where a base and camp were established.

" The America had a narrow escape on Octdber 22nd, 1903, when dhe broke adrift, finally, however, 'being brought back to 'her anchorage, where she was crushed about a month later. A shelter was guilt on shore, and the memibers of tihe expedition were kept busy .during the winter preparing for <the spring eledge journey and in scientific work, which.was retarded by severe storms.

" The first sledge party left on March 7th, 1904, but -was compelled to return owing to injuries received by several of the men after reaching Cape Fligely. A second attempt, made on March 25th, likewise resulted nn failure, the sledges being smashed when only a short distance from land. Leaving the party at the base, I returned to Cape Flora,- the trip occupying sixteen days. " Relief failing to arrive, I, accom-

Eanied by William J. Peters, of the nited States Geological Survey, and a small sledge party, started back in September, 1904, to the base, which was reached on November 22nd, 1904, aftre a most eventful and dangerous trip, rough do© having to be crossed in dense darkness, and the men and dogs falling into holes and crevices and running against walls of ice. Crossing Hooker Island two of the men fell into a crevice 65 feet deep, and were wedged between walls of ice. Their rescue was attended with the greatest difficulty, one being so injured that he had to be lashed to a sledge

"With the exception of a ISorweguin fireman, who died, we found all the party at the base in good health, and preparations were begun for another sledge trip to the northward. Tihe weather delayed the party until March 16th. 1905. On this day the party left tlhe base, which we re-named Cape Abruzzi, for the ice-pack to the north. Crossing <a glacier east of Cape Rath, we forced our way to the northward, but our progress was slow, the ice being rou^h and the men having first to cut a wary and then assist the teams over the rough (road. " High temperature and fogs also helped to delay our progress. For two days and three nights we were in a temperature of 34 above zero, when it ehould 'have been below zero, and the ice was constantly cracking under the tents.

" Under these conditions, and with the pressing need of sending supplies to the party of Cape 'Flora, together with my poverty in dogs, I decided to return. Conditions on the southward trip were worse than on the northward one, but a fortunate drop in the temperature allowed us to cross a network of open lanes, and we. reached Cape Abruzzi on April Ist. Mr Porter, third in command of the expedition, was sent south to explore the archipelago, while the rest of the party worked at the moving of stores south to Cape Ziegler, making provision in case we should *be compelled to spend a third winter in the Arctic. Meanwhile" the scientific work continued without • interruption. "On July 30th news came of the arrival of the relief expedition, and we made a trip of more than twenty miles on rotten dee to .join the Terra Nova." Mr Fiala has not decided on the date of his departure for the United^ States.