Julius Payer

New Lands Within the Arctic Circle Volume 1; Narrative of the Discoveries of the Austrian Ship Tegetthoff, in the Years 1872-1874 Julius Payer

Publisher Marketing: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 Excerpt: ...us in the little "docks" of the land-ice, and caused the Isbjorn VOL. I. I. to heel over. In the evening a bear came near this vessel, which was shot by Professor Hofer and Captain Kjelsen. On the following day, with the help of the dogs and sledges, we removed over the land ice to "the Three Coffins" the provisions which were to form the depot: 2,000 lbs. of rye-bread in casks, 1,000 lbs. of pease-sausages in tin cases. These were deposited in the crevice of a rock and secured against the depredations of bears. We felt assured of the conscientiousness of Russian or Norwegian fishermen, that they would make use of these provisions only under the pressure of urgent necessity. This depot was intended to be the first place of refuge, in the event of the ship being lost. 18. Both ships were dressed with flags, and round one common table we celebrated the birthday, Aug. 18, of the Emperor and King, Francis Joseph I. Aug. 19, we fetched some drift-wood from the land, and saw from a height an "ice-hole" stretching to the north at no great distance from the coast. As we returned to the ship we came across a bear, which, being assailed by so many hunters at once, took to flight. Aug. 20, some changes in the ice seemed to make navigation possible, and we forthwith went on board the Isbjorn to bid adieu to our friends. It was no common farewell. A separation to those who are themselves separated from the world moves the heart to its depths. But besides this, in bidding adieu to Count Wilczek, we felt how much we were indebted to him, as the man who had fostered the work we were about to undertake, who dreaded no danger while providing for our safety in the event of a catastrophe to the expedition. Our high-minded friend was at this moment...