The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-27
ALONE IN THE FAR NORTH
Anxiety Concerning the Fate of
DR.. STEMS Party.
Washingtonian and Two COmpan-
ions Went to Explore EIIesmere
Land - Ship That Was to Bring
Them Home Not to Stop for Them
-Expedition ScantiIy Equipped.

I
fair to add three more victims to the long
list of those who have risked their lives
for the sake of science. and in the fate
q of at least one of the little band Washing
ton is particularly interested. Some
where up on the unknown, inhospitable
coast of Ellesmere Land DR.. Robert Stein.
formerly connected with the Geological
Survey. and two companions are now
waiting for a ship to bring them back to
America Owing to change in plans that
ship will not stop for them this summer
The expedition. hastily conceived poorly
planned, and scantily equipped, promises
to end in another tragedy of the Arctic
Although the party had TO intention of
trying to find the North Pole, that Holy
Grail of the dauntless Galahads of Arctic
exploration, the dangers and hardships to
which they exposed themselves were no
less numerous and severe than those which
have been dared by Kane, Franklin. Peary,
and others.
Over a year ago DR.. Stein left the United
States with two companions on the steam
ship Windward. bound to Greenland. He
was dropped at a point in Southern Elles-
mere Land, where it was his intention 10
explore that country. The steamer went
on TO Smith Sound and northern Greenland
and nothing has been, heard from Stein
and his party in the mean time. Inasmuch
! as no ship will touch at Ellesmere Land
for nearly year and as the party had only
| sufficient supplies to last them till the
present time, 1t is Thought that unless they
can manage to subsist on the scanty forage
! of that northern country they will suffer
| death from starvation or from the rigor
of the winter.
None of the party had had extensive ex-
perience in Arctic travel prior to their de-
parture and the expedition was planned
seemingly with a view to the fame it would
| bring the explorers il they were success
ful enough to make important discoveries.
| Scientific men in Washington and other
places who are coSnizant of the expedi-
tion regard it as an enterprise venture-
/ some in the extreme.
Plans of the Party.
The idea of the party was to penetrate
the western course of Ellesmere Land and
make rough typographical survey of ehe
country. Ellesmere Land lies to the west
of north Greenland and between the seven
| ty-sixth and eightieth parallels of north
! latitude. 1t is little known by Arctic tray-
! elers with the exception of a strip Of land
on the eastern coast. The knowledge con-
corning its outline is SO vague, in fact,
| that the sea coast line is represented only
by blur on the maps There is but sparse
vegetation and the winters are of consid-
cradle duration and extremely cold.
DIR. Stein is by birth a German. He was
educated abroad and came to the United
! States when a young man. Considerable
ability as linguist enabled him to secure
a position in the Geological Survey. Cir
culars and letters are constantly received
| from foreign Governments concerning the
{ work of the survey and Stein acted as
! translator of the documents. ready
/ knowledge of the French German, Rus
sian, and Swedish languages made him a
valuable man. But the dull routine of Of
fee work became irkscme to him. He
was OF nervous temperament and above
| all he was ambitious. He desired to
/ achieve success in manner so signal, that
| he would become famous. The manner
was of secondary Importance.
To the office of the Geological Survey
often came reports from scientists and eX-
| plorers in every corner of the globe. I'm
portant discoveries were often made and
/ the discoyerer received In fame the guer-
don that comes to man who does some
! thing that no other man has done CT some
| thing that other men have failed to do.
| The idea of turning explorer thus forced
| itself upon STEMS mind.
! IN the summer OF lsSG ne went with
( Lieutenant Peary to Greenland and re-
manned there for two months. This was
the only experience he ever had in Arctic
/ travel prior TO the time when he left on
! his trip last year His plan was not to
/ try to find the north pole. that ignis fatuus
of so many explorers. He reasoned that
I 1t would be of more value TO the scientific
world and that he would stand a better
/ chance OF success, if he would 90 into an
I 4u.g.
concerning its topography. outline, and
other features. With this end in view he
( fixed upon Ellesmere Land as his objective
! point Two Western college professors
were interested in the enterprise.
Opinion of Scientists.
A number of scientists regarded the ex-
I Arctic travel with considerable skeptcism
and Stein was advised not to make the at
/ tempt. His confidence in the plan. how
ever, remained unshaken. Preparations
were begun Lack of money was one draw
! back to the scheme. Finally funds were
secured from private individuals. Stein
/ applied for and received leave of absence
for year and half His companions re-
ceived leave of absence from their col
ieges. Arrangements were made whereby
the party could take passage on the Wind
southern part Of Ellesmere Land.
Supplies were procured. There was
lack OF judgment in their selection The
supply of coal taken along was hardly
enough to last through one of the long
winters in the fTigid zone. Sufficient pro-
visions to last for a year in addition TO
what game could be secured were taken on
hoard the Windward. Instruments for
making maps and obtaining the topo-
graphy OF the country were obtained.
While in Boston. prior TO his departure.
Stein inaugurated novel scheme TO raise
funds for the expedition. He called upon
A number Of wealthy persons and informed
them OF his plans and asked them to sub
scribe. In return for their assistance he
offered TO call mountains. bays, and geo
graphical divisions which he discovered
after the names of the donors. The larger
the gift the larger would be the mountain
or bay named after the generous friend
of the enterprise.
Before the Windward set sail Stein
learned that he had been proceeded in the
field of his intended labors by another In
the previous year Captain Sverdrup,
Norwegian. and a companion Of Dr. Nan
sen in several of his polar expeditions. had
made a voyage in NGnsen's ship the
FRAN to the western coast of Ellesmere
Land Nothing daunted, Stein did not
change his plans. thinking that there was
plenty of room for more than one party in
the northern seas.
The Windward departed from Boston
with the party on board in the latter part
OF June, 1893. A stop was made at point
In Greenland. where Stein procured a num-
ber of Esquimaux dogs to aid him in trans
porting his supplies. Some time later the