During the spring of 1902, several expeditions were at work in the Northern regions, each hoping to be the first to reach the pole.
One of the most important was the Ziegler-Baldwin expedition, equipped by Mr. William Ziegler of New York, and commanded by Mr. Evelyn Briggs Baldwin. This was the largest and probably the best equipped expedition sent out. Baldwin had two ships, four hundred Eskimo dogs, and fifteen Siberian ponies. His flagship, the America, was a stoutly built whaler and carried a cargo of six hundred tons. His other ship, the Fridtjof, carried the scientific instruments.
Through the generosity of Mr. Ziegler, practically perfect scientific apparatus accompanied the expedition, and Mr. Baldwin was assisted by experts in geographical charting, geology, botany, and meteorology. Both the America and the Fridtjof reached Franz Josef land, but very little significant work was accomplished. Instead of wintering in the North as had been planned, Mr. Baldwin returned to Norway. Mr. Ziegler, however, has not faltered in his determination to find the pole, and he has sent out another expedition for that purpose which is now in the North.
A Russian expedition excited widespread interest. Admiral Marakoff constructed an ice-breaking steamship, and
