The San Francisco call. [volume], July 27, 1913, Image 12

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA

                
NEW SEARCH for a NORTH POLAR CONTINENT
WHILE there are deeds of daring to be done
men will be found to do them. Captain
Scott's terrible story of his hardships, pri
vations and finally his tragic death are still fresh in
the minds of all, but it in no way deters others from
following his noble example. The North Pole was
discovered by Peary in 1906, but science is not yet
satisfied. Peary reported that he sighted land and
that, in his opinion, there was an Arctic continent.
What is this continent made of? Are there any in
habitants? If so, what are their language and cus
toms? What are the fauna and flora of this unknown
region? Two men arc heading expeditions at present
with the purpose of answering these questions and
are willingly risking their lives and those of many
Others to, satisfy the demands of science. And these
two men are Vilhjalmar Stefansson and Donald
McMillan.
On June 18 the Stefansson expedition set sail
from Victoria, 8.C., under the command of Captain
Burtlett, Peary's old sailing master. Its first port
was Nome, Alaska, where it was joined by the
chief explorer himself and other members of his
party and from which it headed for the Arctic
regions. i
The expedition consists of two parties, the
northern and southern, so called from the routes
they intend to take. The first goes on board the
ship Karluk, the second on the Alaska, the latter
being in charge of R. M. Anderson, Stefansson'a
comrade on his last expedition.
On leaving Nome they both proceeded by way
of Bering Strait to the Arctic Ocean while it is
free of ice. Thence they will head for Beaufort Sea,
where the two sections are to part company. The
northern party on board the Karluk will face due
north toward the region where the Arctic continent
is reported to exist. The danger of the ship being
caught in the ice and crushed into pieces is imminent,
but they are prepared for all such emergencies. If
the continent is found the parly will disembark and
the ship return to Herschcll Island. If not found
they will make Prince Patrick Island their head
quarters and make winter sleigh journeys north and
east. The time to be spent on the expedition is by
no means definite, but in all probability it will bo
about three years.
la, Neither part of the expedition has any intention
Two Great Expeditions Go
Forth in Search of Crocker
Land, the Mysterious Arctic
Continent Described by
Peary. Canada is Backing
Stefansson, Who Has Sailed
from Nome. New York
Scientific Institutions Are
Behind McMillan.
of trying to reach the Pole. The aim is practical
and commercial in addition to being scientific. In
all there are eleven scientists going on the trip, the
greater number being on the Alaska.
Stefansson's definite aim is to find the Arctic
continent, to explore it and collect specimens of the
fauna and flora. He even thinks it possible that he
may find a new race as on his last expedition, when
he discovered the blond Eskimos. With him goes
James Murray, a noted oceanographer who accom
panied Shackleton on his Antarctic expedition, as
well as two other distinguished scientists, W. T.
McKinlay, a magnetieian of Glasgow, and George
Mallock, a Canadian geologist.
The purpose of the southern party is even'more
definite still. They are to explore known lands—to
map the islands east of the mouth of the MacKcnx.io
River, make a collection of the fauna and Dory, take
a survey of the channels in the hope of establishing
trade routes and thoroughly explore the lands of the
blond Eskimos of Coronation Gulf and Victoria
Land, which lies south of Banks La.id.
Stefansson and Anderson both know their terri
tories between Alaska and the MacKenzie River and
their crews are men well used to the Arctic regions.
The scientific staff is the best to be had, being drawn
from all parts of the world, and many of the men
have also been on similar expeditions in the Arctic
and Antarctic regions. One of the most important
people in the southern expedition will be the official
photographer, who will also make cinematograph
films showing the life and customs of the natives of
the countrie3 they explore. No trouble, no expense
is to be spared. The total cost will be defrayed by
the Canadian Government and the sole management
is in the hands of Stefansson.
But this is not the only Arctic expedition on its
•way. There it another, known as the Crocker Land
expedition, which set sail July from New York.
The aim of this party is to explore the Arctic conti
nent sighted by Peary in 1906.
This expedition is in charge of Donald B.
McMillan, who was one of the Peary expedition.
With him go six other men, all well known, and a
crew of twenty-eight. This trip is financed by the
American Museum of Natural History, the American
Geographical Society and by private sub
scription.