CHAPTER XXX 



Abruzzi, the Royal Italian Explorer 



IN the year 1899 a new nation entered upon the work of polar 

 exploration. Hitherto the work had been confined to the 



Americans, English, Scandinavians and Russians and the 

 people of the south of Europe had taken no part in it. But now 

 Italy stepped into the field, in the person of the ambitious and adven- 

 turous Duke of the Abruzzi, a cousin of King Victor Emmanuel 

 of Italy. In 1897 the duke had begun a career of exploration by 

 proceeding to Alaska and climbing to the lofty peak of Mount St. 

 Elias, which he was the first to reach. He now grew eager to reach 

 another peak, that of the earth at its northern extremity. 



Realizing, however, that the Italians had had no experience in 

 the ice-clad seas and had no vessels specially adapted to the kind of 

 navigation before him, he wisely availed himself of the experience 

 and equipment of the Norwegians. Buying the old sealing steamer 

 "Jason,"' of Norwegian build, he had it refitted for polar work, 

 giving it the new name of "Stella Polare" "Polar Star." He also 

 availed himself of the valuable aid of Dr. Nansen in arranging his 

 plans and preparing his equipment and very wisely added a quota 

 of Norwegians to his crew, it being composed of ten of the sons of 

 Italy and ten of those of Norway. His plan of action was to sail 

 as far north as possible, establish winter quarters upon some far 

 northern coast, and seek in the spring to reach the vicinity of the 

 Pole by sledge journeys. 



Abruzzi was availing himself to the utmost of the work of his 

 predecessors. In addition to the valuable advice and aid of Nansen, 

 he took advantage of the camp established in Franz Josef Land by 



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