Note 154 — Chapter XXXVI · THE NORTH EAST PASSAGE — NORDENSKIÖLD — WIGGINS — DE LONG

In 1892 these two young Swedish enthusiasts started with the object of exploring the part of Ellesmere Island between Jones and Smith Sounds. They bought a small cutter of 37 tons at St John’s, Newfoundland, and went up Baffin’s Bay to the Cary Islands. In 1893 a whaler found her driven on shore at one of the Cary Islands and full of ice. There was a record written by Björling asking that, if nothing was heard of them in 1893, relief might be sent to Clarence Point on Ellesmere Island. They went away in an open boat. I appealed for funds and collected £100 as a help to Nordenskiöld’s fund for sending a steamer. She went, but nothing more was ever found or heard of these gallant youths.