HANSEN, THE MODERN VIKING 217 



He had a startling theory he desired to prove. This was that in a ship built 

 stanchly enough to endure any amount of ice-pressure, he could drift across 

 the top of the earth, and thus claim the distinction of being first in that latitude. 

 He based his idea on the experience of the steamer Jeannette, which was aban- 

 doned north of the New Siberia Island in June, 1881, and pieces of which were 

 recovered on the shore of West Greenland. 



Nansen said: "It struck me that if objects from a ship could drift this 

 way, a ship, too, might go the same route, provided she was strong enough to 

 withstand the pressure of the ice." 



The theory did not meet with unanimous support from other explorers, but 

 Nansen was encouraged to keep on, and in November, 1890, the ship Fram 

 was christened in Norway. The Fram, which is still in service, is perhaps the 

 strongest boat ever built. Her dimensions are: Length of keel, 102, and 

 water line, 113 feet. Breadth at water line, 34 feet; depth of hold, 17 feet. 

 The total thickness of" the ship's sides is 24 to 28 inches, braced by powerful 

 beams of wood and iron, and all the material used in the construction is the 

 toughest and most durable that could be procured from any part of the world. 



As showing the enthusiasm aroused by the project, the following list of 

 contributions for it is given : 



Appropriation by the Government of Norway, about. .... $75,500 



The King's private purse and individuals 28,500 



Collections by a committee 6,100 



Dr. Nansen's contribution 5,ooo 



London Geographical Society 2,000 



A private gentleman of Riga (not named) i,750 



Interest account 2,700 



Total $121,550 



The Fram left Christiana Fjord, Norway, June 23, 1893, with a crew of 

 fourteen men, and provisions for two years. It sailed to Siberia, where Nan- 

 sen hoped to strike the current that apparently took the Jeannette west. In 

 August the ship gained the open sea and drifted to latitude 79 ; but later the 

 cantankerous current started the other way, and carried the Fram southeast 

 to latitude yy. There she became frozen in, and subject to an enormous pres- 

 sure of ice. This, however, only served to bring out the strength of the vessel, 



