The search for the North Pole

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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.

Preface

In the North Pole Series the author has endeavored to prepare stories of Arctic discoveries and adventures that shall not only be of interest to his readers, but shall as nearly as possible, as far as the physical features of the regions described are concerned, being in accordance with facts, prove a reliable source of information.

In order to obtain the necessary facts as to the physical features of the regions, as well as to understand the difficulties that have so far prevented any one from reaching the North Pole, the author has freely consulted most of the works on Arctic explorations.

In this series of books the author has attempted to show how the recent great discoveries and inventions in physical science, especially in wireless telegraphy and dirigible balloons, are capable of being employed for overcoming the many difficulties that have stood in the way of success.

In “The Search for the North Pole” the progress of the Henderson-Kransen North Polar Expedition has been traced from New York City to its winter headquarters on the northern shore of Grant Land. In “The Discovery of the North Pole” the author hopes to be able to show that notwithstanding the climatic rigors of the Far North, it is possible not only to live comfortably in these regions, but even commercially to develop fairly extensive portions of their area.

In addition to the aid the author has received from various books on Arctic exploration, especially those of Kane, Greely, Nansen, Peary and others, he desires especially to acknowledge his indebtedness to his friend. Mr. Amos Bonsall, for careful revision of the manuscript.

The author trusts that these books will not only prove of interest to his many boy friends, but will also give them valuable information.

E. J. H.

Philadelphia, January, 1907.

Dogs. The Walrus Hunt. 341

Chap. XVIII. The Fire 359 ILLUSTRATIONS

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The Other Bear Made a Savage Attack

Frontispiece

Map of Polar Regions 9

“Fm a Kid, am I!” 88

Drew the Line Against the Iron Rod 350

CHARACTERS

George I. Henderson, Multi-Millionaire, and Financial Backer of the Expedition.

Prof. Lars Kransen, Commander of the Henderson- Kransen North Polar Expedition.

Dr. Horatio Hanscombe, Chief Physician of the Expedition.

Captain Silas Jones, of New Bedford, Mass., Chief Navigator.

Andree Kransen, Nephew of Professor Kransen.

Eric Hanscombe, Nephew of Dr. Hanscombe, and Andree’s Chum.

Gideon E. Brown, Reporter.

Dr. Henry Stone, Assistant Physician.

Charles Thomas, Chief Electrician.

Anders Jannsen, Chief Mechanician.

Hjalmar Gorgsen, Boatswain.

Hans Minnemann, Hunter.

Heinrich Krandemannj Fisherman.

Joe, Chief Sledge Driver.

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THE SEARCH FOR THE NORTH POLE

Chapter I Professor Lars Kransen And His Nephew, Andree Kransen

THE time was near five o ’clock on a certain day in March. The place was the gymnasium in one of the large private schools in New York City. The school evidently believed in physical culture, for not only was the gymnasium large, but it was equipped with apparatus that could leave little to be desired in the way of construction or variety. There were, at this time, but few students on the floor of the gymnasium, since most of those, who had been there at an earlier hour, had either left for their homes, were cooling off under some of the shower baths with which the gym was liberally supplied, or were enjoying themselves in its large swimming pool.

A group of ten boys, whose ages ranged from sixteen to eighteen, was collected around a mat on the floor of the gym, closely watching a wrestling match between two lads, each of whom was about seventeen years of age. The watchers were in their gymnasium suits. They had drawn on their sweaters, since they had all been engaged in wrestling bouts, and the air of the thoroughly ventilated room was somewhat chilly. The physical instructor of the gym was standing with the others watching the two lads who were wrestling.

The two lads were closely matched not only as to weight, but also as regards their physical development. It soon became evident to the onlookers that of the two wrestlers, the lad they called Andree had by far the greatest skill in wrestling, for he had repeatedly thrown his opponent on his back, making both shoulders touch the mat at the same time. As is common under such circumstances, the onlookers began to chaff the defeated boy.

“ You’re not in Andree ’s class, my boy,” cried one. “ You’d better give in.”

Another boy shouted:

“Why don’t you look out for yourself? When you let Kransen get that half -Nelson on you, there was very little chance for your escaping a touch.”

The defeated lad, turning to Andree good-naturedly, said:

“Well, Andree, I guess I’m not in your class. You’d better tackle one of the other boys. ’ ’

Andree remained on the mat for about ten minutes longer, during which time he had separate bouts with two other Iboys, both of whom he succeeded in defeating.

‘ 6 Now, boys,” said the instructor, “take a shower, and then cool off by a plunge in the swimming pool before dressing for the street.”

Andree Kransen, the wrestler above referred to, was the only nephew of Prof. Lars Kransen, an engineer of New York City, who was well known for his professional ability in both America and Europe. He had successfully completed several large operations, and was now engaged in investigations on gasoline motors of his own invention.

Prof. Kransen ’s family was very limited, consisting as it did of only himself and Andree. The professor had a brother, named Otto, much younger than himself, who had very happily married, Andree being the only child. Quite recently, however, Otto Kransen and his wife had been killed in a railroad accident. Lars Kransen, who had almost idolized his younger brother, had immediately gone to Sweden, where his brother had lived, and brought back Andree to his home in New York, where he had invited him to live with him for the rest of his life.

Andree had -been with his uncle only about four months from the time our story opens. During this time a strong affection had sprung up between them, so that the great love of the boy for his father and mother was being transferred to his uncle. As for the engineer, he had already learned to love his nephew as if he were his own child.

There was much about Andree to strengthen his uncle’s attachment to him, for the lad possessed many lovable traits of character.

But what especially drew the engineer to his nephew was Andree ’s wonderful resemblance to his father when the latter was a boy. This likeness was so close that Lars would often feel as though his brother Otto were before him in the flesh.

After a splendid swim the boys dispersed in various directions to their homes with excellent appetites for the dinners that were awaiting them.

Andree Kransen was a splendidly built lad as might have been better seen when he was stripped for the shower and plunge bath. The careful manner in which the building of his body had been looked after while in school in both Sweden and in New York, had insured for him magnificent health and development, so that, as he stepped into the crisp, cold air of the street, and started on a rapid walk toward his home, he felt especially pleased both with himself and with the world.

Andree was very affectionate. When his father and mother had been so suddenly taken away from him it seemed as if there was nothing left for him in the world ;

but, as already mentioned, it was not long before the lad had transferred much of this love to his uncle, so that the world began to look brighter and brighter. The thoughts of the lad were therefore very pleasant as he hurried home. Had one been able to hear what he was saying to himself it would have been somewhat as follows:

“I have been now with Uncle Lars for about four months only, but in that short time he has showed again and again how greatly he loves me. How lucky a boy I am to have gained the affections of such a man, and what a wonderful man Uncle Lars is. I remember thinking when father and mother were taken away so suddenly that I could never again be happy, but here I am living in New York City with uncle, a man I have learned to love almost as much as I did father. How happy I am in thinking there is no chance of uncle leaving me in New York, for he told me the other day that as far as he could see, there was nothing that would take him away from the City for the next four or five years. Yes,” continued the lad, “I remember uncle’s exact words :

“ ‘As far as I know, Andree, I shall remain in New York City for the next four or five years, during which time I especially desire that you should obtain as good an education as possible.’

“I will certainly try to do this,” continued Andree, “not only because I myself wish to become educated, but also because Uncle Lars wishes it, and I would do anything for him.”

Andree had become so excited, when he came to the last part of the above soliloquy, that he repeated the words, ‘I would do anything for him, ’ in quite an audible tone. He had become so interested in communing with himself that he* was unaware of the fact that he was talking aloud. He did not even notice where he was going ; for, he suddenly came with great force against a gentleman, who was coming in the opposite direction, and who also seemed to be pre-occupied.

“I beg your pardon, sir,” replied Andree, without especially noting the features of the gentleman. “It was certainly very careless in me to run into you in this manner.” And then recognizing his uncle he added :

“Why, Uncle Lars, please excuse me. I have unintentionally given you a hard bump. I hope I have not hurt you. Have I?” he inquired anxiously.

“Not at all, my boy,” said his uncle affectionately, “but what were you talking about? I distinctly heard you say, ‘I would do anything for him.’ I am glad it was a him and not a her,” continued his uncle, smilingly. “Tell me, who it is that you

would do anything for.”

‘ 4 Well, Uncle,” said Andree, blushing, “I guess that I had better tell you all about it. I did not think I was speaking so loud, but while walking home I had been thinking of how much has happened to me since the death of father and mother, and of all your kindness to me. I was thinking of how you are always trying to make me happy, and was remembering how you said to me the other day that you wished that I should get as good an education as possible.”

“And what determination did you reach, Andree?” inquired his uncle.

“I made up my mind, Uncle Lars, that I would try hard to become a learned man. Of course, not as learned as you, for that I never hope to be, but a learned man, not only because I wish myself to do this, but especially because you requested it, and then I added the words you heard, meaning that I would certainly do this, as you asked me.”

Prof. Kransen was greatly effected by what his nephew had told him.

“So you really care for me, my boy? I am glad indeed to hear it.”

“And then, Uncle,” continued Andree, “I was also pleased because you told me that as far as you knew you would be able to remain in New York City for the next four or five years while I was being educated. You know I am almost alone in this great city, and would be very unhappy should anything take you away from me.”

When Andree thus spoke of there being no chance of his uncle leaving New York City, a worried look came over the man’s face, which his nephew did not fail to observe, and determined to speak about it as soon as they reached home.

At this time, however, they had reached the door of one of the most exclusive clubhouses in New York City whose patrons were men of great prominence. As Prof.

Kransen turned to go into the house, Andree inquired :

“Why, Uncle Lars, I thought you were going home to dinner? Shall I wait here for you?”

“No, Andree,” replied his uncle. “I have important business, so that it will be necessary to take my dinner here. You had better hurry home, so as to be there in good time. So good-bye, and, if I should not see you again before morning, good night.”

“Good-bye, Uncle,” said Andree. “But please tell me, have I worried you by the question I asked about leaving New York City? I hope not. There is no probability of your leaving me alone in this city, is there?” he added anxiously.

“Please don’t ask me that question just now, Andree,” replied his uncle, while the worried look again spread over his face. “Of course, you are old enough to know that one ’s plans must sometimes be changed very suddenly. You can see, therefore, that although as I told you I expected confidently to spend the next four or five years with you in New York City, yet circumstances might arise that would render it necessary for me to be in a different place.

“As you know, the duties of an engineer sometimes require him to go to a distant part of the world on very short notice. But I must go into the clubhouse so I will say good night. Now, by boy, don’t worry. Whatever I may be obliged to do, I will so arrange matters that you will be well looked after while in New York City, and your education shall not be neglected.”

The sudden and unexpected meeting with Andree, coupled as it had been, with the affectionate remark- he had overheard, greatly affected Prof. Kransen, but when his nephew began to rejoice in his belief, that he would not be separated from his uncle for the next four or five years, it became more and more evident that something was weighing heavily on his mind. It will be necessary to explain briefly what this trouble was.

Prof. Lars Kransen was a close student of the literature of Arctic exploration. He had made himself thoroughly acquainted with practically all the efforts that had been made to reach the North Pole, especially with the probable reasons for their failures. He had repeatedly expressed his belief, as an engineer, that the North Pole of the earth could be reached, provided intelligent use was made of the many recent discoveries in applied physics, especially in the direction of wireless telegraphy and aerial navigation. These views were well known to a large circle of friends, and in this way had come to the hearing of a multi-millionaire, with whom, only recently, he had been in correspondence. Indeed, it began to appear possible that he might soon have an opportunity for testing the correctness of his views by actually taking charge of a North Polar expedition. Before the death of his brother, and the coming of Andree to live with him, Kransen would have hailed such an opportunity with joy, but now it was a very different matter.

But he had not yet made up his mind as to what answer he would give should the opportunity be offered him of heading such an expedition, and it was, therefore, with no little anxiety of mind that he entered the clubhouse, and after a hurried dinner went into the reading room to look over the daily newspapers.

Chapter II

REACHING the reading-room of the club, Kransen looked over a number of newspapers without, however, very closely following their contents, for his accidental meeting with his nephew, coupled as it was with his uncertainty what decision he should make concerning a possible North Polar Expedition, had left him very unhappy. At last, however, something in one of the papers attracted his attention, so looking up from it, he remarked to a number of gentlemen sitting around the table:

“Poor fellow! Of course, there is practically no hope at this late day of either the man or his companions being alive. I agree, however, with the writer, that efforts 24 should continue to be made to find traces of the men, or of the balloon and its contents.’ ’

“To whom do you refer, Kransen?” asked Leavitt, a stock broker.

“To S. A. Andree, and his two companions, three of the many other brave men who have faced the rigors of the Arctic regions, and the dreary loneliness of their long winter nights, in vain attempts to reach the North Pole.”

“Are you familiar with Andree *s attempt to reach the North Pole, and the efforts that have been made to learn his fate?” asked Leavitt.

“Yes, I think I know nearly all that is known, not only because I am greatly interested in Arctic explorations, but also because I am a distant connection of Andree. If you care to hear about it come to another room, where we will not disturb the gentlemen who are reading and who may not be interested in Andree.”

On hearing this remark, one of the gentlemen said:

“ Don’t leave, Kransen. We would all like to hear the story, would we not?” he inquired of the remaining gentlemen.

“Yes. Let us have it here, Kransen.”

Kransen, offering no further objection, said:

“In June, 1897, S. A. An dree, of Sweden, with two companions, left Danes Island, a small island off the coast of Spitzbergen, in a balloon in an attempt to reach the North Pole. Andree appears to have first conceived the possibility of doing this as early as 1882. Obtaining financial aid from Oscar, King of Sweden, Baron Oscar Dickson, and Mr. Alfred Nohl, and others of Sweden, he fitted out an expedition that left Sweden for Spitzbergen in 1896. A balloon house was erected on Danes Island, but by reason of contrary winds, as well as from the too rapid leakage of gas from the balloon, the ascension was postponed, and the expedition returned to Sweden.

“ Greatly improving the construction of his balloon, so as to enable it better to retain its gas, Andree returned to Spitzbergen in June, 1897, accompanied by Dr. S. T. Strindberg and Herr Prsenckell.

“ Andree ’s balloon was sixty-seven and a half feet in diameter, and had a capacity of 70,000 cubic feet. It carried a load of some five tons consisting of food, arms, scientific instruments, and ballast. The improvements effected in its gas-tight powers were such that Andree believed that it would be possible to keep the balloon suspended in the air for at least thirty days. He calculated that, with a speed of from 12 to 15~ miles per hour, he should reach the North Pole in six days.

“The balloon, with Andree, Strindberg and Fraenckell was freed from the ropes that held it, at 2:30 P. M., July 11th, 1897, and was carried by the wind over the mountainous island of Vogelsang, at an elevation of about 15,000 feet, moving rapidly toward the northeast, and remaining in sight for about one hour, when it disappeared below the distant horizon.

“Two days afterwards, a message from Andree was received, by means of a carrier pigeon, saying that on July 13th, at noon, the balloon was in latitude 82° 2' north, longitude 15° 5' east, and that all were well. This was the last that was ever heard from the unfortunate man and his two companions. Various reports have come from different directions, but they have all been vague and unsatisfactory. A buoy was afterwards picked up off the northeastern coast of Spitzbergen, and identified as one Andree had taken with him. The fact that it had an anchor attached to it makes it believed that these articles were thrown out in order to lighten the balloon and to keep it afloat. It would appear, therefore, that the balloon was lost in the ocean.”

“Do you believe, Kransen,” asked one of the gentlemen, “that any of these men are still living?”

“It seems to me incredible that any of them are still alive at this late date. Of course, their previous Arctic experience might have enabled them to prolong a miserable existence for a few years on some lonely spot, yet so long a time has now passed as to make this extremely improbable. I am, therefore, reluctantly compelled to say that in my opinion, the men have long ago miserably perished.”

“Is it not curious,” said a lawyer named Judson, “that with all the recent advances in the physical sciences, it has so far been impossible to reach the North Pole. I understand, Kransen, from my general reading, that many such efforts have been made from very early dates.”

“True, Judson. Omitting the two voyages of Sebastian Cabot in 1497 and 1498, there are the voyages of the Portuguese, Gaspar Cortereal, in 1500, who sailed along the coast of North America as far as 60° north latitude, and of his brother, Miguel Cortereal, in 1501, who reached what is believed to have been Hudson Strait.

“You must not suppose, however, that it was in the search for the North Pole that these early voyagers perished. They were endeavoring to find the so-called northwest passage, a short route across the North Pole to the Indies. Indeed, it was in the endeavor to find this passage that most of the early voyages to the Arctic regions were undertaken. In a similar manner, the efforts to find a northeast passage from England to the Indies, in order to enable that country to compete with Spain and Portugal in the trade with the Orient, led to the many Arctic expeditions from England.

“But without troubling you with details, I will merely name some of the many illustrious navigators and explorers of the earth’s Arctic regions, such as Willoughby, in 1553; Frobisher, in 1576-1578; Davis, in 1585; Barentz, in 1594; Hudson, in 1607- 1609 and 1611 ; Baffin, in 1616 ; Behring, in 1616; Phipps, in 1773; Cook, in 1776; John Ross, in 1818; Barrow, in 1818; Parry, in 1819; Wrangell, in 1820 and 1823; Sir John Franklin’s various voyages in 1819 to 1822, and his last unfortunate voyage in 1845, in the Erebus and Terror, from which he never returned; Parry, in 1819-1821; Scoresby, in 1821 and 1822; Ross, who spent four years from 1829 to 1833, in the Arctic regions; De Haven, in 1850, and Kane, in 1853 and 1855.

“As regards the more recent attempts at Arctic explorations, with which you are probably familiar, I will merely mention Nordenskjold, in 1878-1879; De Long, in

1879-1881 ; Greely, in 1881-1882 ; Schwatka, in 1883 ; Nansen, across Greenland, in 1881, and Ms subsequent adventurous voyage in the ‘Fram,’ as well as on sledges, across the ice pack in 1896; Peary, in his various expeditions in 1891, and subsequently Andree’s unfortunate voyage in 1897, and finally, Arbruzzi, in 1901. I have necessarily omitted many names of distinguished Arctic explorers, having referred only to the few who have come uppermost in my thoughts. I have said enough, however, to let you see how many efforts have been made, and how many lives have been sacrificed in attempts to penetrate this small unexplored portion of the earth. ’ ’

“And all of these expeditions,” remarked Judson, “have proved failures, have they not?”

“What do you mean by failures?” inquired the engineer.

“That none of them have succeeded either in finding the northwest or northeast passages, or in reaching the earth’s North Pole.”

“The earth’s North Pole is still to he found. A northwest passage has recently been made by a Dane, though not across the North Pole. As regards the northeast passage, however, a vessel known as the Chancellor succeeded in making a passage from the west coast of England to the White Sea in Russia. The route so discovered was afterwards employed to the great benefit of the commerce of both England and Russia. While, of course, these were not the northeast or northwest passages across the North Pole, still they were northeast and northwest passages.”

“Then,” said Judson, “all these efforts have been unsuccessful, have they not?”

“Yes, Judson,” was the reply. “In that sense they have been unsuccessful.”

“For my part,” said another of the gentlemen, a merchant by the name of Ensinger, ‘ ‘it seems that the sending out of polar expeditions is very unbusinesslike. I doubt whether any real good has ever come from them. Certainly not enough to warrant the sacrifice of human life, or the enormous expenditure of money.’ ’

“ There you are mistaken, Ensinger,” warmly replied Kransen. “It does not follow, because no immediate good attends certain efforts, that they are failures. In point of fact, it can be shown that the benefits, which have resulted from Arctic explorations, have been both many and farreaching.”

“If I am wrong,” replied Ensinger good naturedly, “I am willing to be convinced.”

“Then listen,” said Kransen. “I assume it to be a truth you will not question, that the world profits by any increase in the sum total of its knowledge. Now it has been by reason of these Arctic expeditions that much important knowledge has been gained as to portions of the earth lying within the limits of the Arctic Circle. I will name only some of these.

“It was within the limits of the Arctic Circle it has been discovered that the earth’s Northern Hemisphere possesses more than a single magnetic pole. As you know, this is a matter of great importance for the safe guidance of the navigator in all parts of the world.

“It has been within the limits of the Arctic Circle that certain facts have been discovered respecting variations in the atmospheric pressure, from a knowledge of which it has been possible the more accurately to determine the causes of coming changes of climate in the three great northern continents of North America, Europe and Asia.

“It has been within the limits of the Arctic Circle that careful studies in the temperature of deep sea soundings have been made, that "have thrown considerable light on the unequal expansion of water, one of the principal causes of the great movements of the oceanic waters between the equator and the poles.

“It has been within the limits of the Arctic Circle that careful studies have been made of the great changes in the earth’s climate, that have occurred during the geological ages.

“Finally, it has been within the limits of the Arctic Circle that the study of the ice fields has proved of great value in investigations of the earth’s glacial phenoiiiena.”

“You have given me an excellent answer, Kransen. It shows how unsafe it is to make general statements based on insufficient knowledge. Still, regarding it from a purely financial standpoint, can you give me any figures as to the actual value in dollars and cents that has resulted from Arctic explorations?”

“I can do that without much difficulty, Ensinger. To begin with, take the case of the northern whale fisheries. These were the direct result of the early voyages of Scor.esby and others in the far north. While these fisheries continued, they netted enormous sums of money. The Dutch whale fisheries, in the frozen seas of the north, netted a money value from 1668 to 1778 of more than $100,000,000. The estimated value of the American whale fisheries, between the years 1804 and 1877, was $332,000,000, while that of the British whale fisheries has been placed at $250,- 000,000, thus making the total of the three nations reach the enormous sum of $682,- 000,000.

“Then again, the Hudson Bay Fur Company, which is, as you know, an exceedingly rich company, was established as the indirect result of Arctic explorations.

“But, coming nearer home, let us take tlie wonderful results that have been reached in the case of the Territory of Alaska. It was not many years ago when the wisdom of the purchase of this immense region from Russia by our government was bitterly attacked by practically all the newspapers, yet, as you know, the marvelously great value of this territory is now acknowledged by all.

When Kransen completed his remark, there was a general laugh at Ensinger, who joined in it, and acknowledged that he had again been mistaken.

“I had no idea that such great money results had come from Arctic explorations.”

“But what is going to be the result, Kransen,” asked another of the gentlemen, who had thus far only been listening to the conversation.. “Is the world never to have more accurate knowledge concerning the condition of things in the immediate neighborhood of its northern axis? Should it not be possible, with the recent discoveries in physical science, to attack this problem so as to command success ?”

“I am glad to answer your question, Dr. Hanscombe,” said Kransen. “'I firmly believe that if the problem be properly attacked, the North Pole of the earth will be reached beyond the possibility of doubt. But to do this, all elements of chance must be eliminated. Advantage must be taken of all discoveries that would be of use in enabling man to make his way against the forces that have so far successfully prevented him from entering the immediate neighborhood of the poles. I have, indeed, thought out the details of a plan whereby this may be done. But, gentlemen, I must ask you to excuse me, as I have a telegraphic appointment with the gentleman who is now entering the room.”