Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-16
TO THE NORTH POLE
Plans Are Now Being Made for Still
Another Expedition
BY Two MEN FROM TIE KLONDlKB
Will Go Overland and Make the
Trip by Easy Stages.
CON FIDENT OF SUCCESS
BY Two MEN FROM TIE KLONDIKE
CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS


Copyright. 1900 by r. L. Jones)
Written for The Evening Star.
Mark Rumsey and Harold Sorenson, now
in Seattle, but fresh from the Klondike
country. rich in arctic enthusiasm and with
abundant means acquired In gold digging,
have just completed plans for novel eXpe-
dition to the far north. They reject all for
mer plans for reaching the pole as entirely
unavoidable. AS they express it,they propose
to go back TO first principles and deal with
the matter along simple. practical lines.
They Will travel overland using sledges
drawn by dogs, and will establish stations
along their route sufficiently close together
to insure open line of communication
at all times Supplies sufficient for all con-
tingencies will be stored in the stations, and
some of them Will be tenanted for protract-
ed periods by one or more men each
Rumsey and Sorenson believe their
scheme to be the only one that promises
certain success. One might as well en-
deavor to sail across the plains of our west
ern states. says Rumsey, as to try to cross
the polar seas in ships. This has been
proved by the signal failure of every sailing
expedition to the far north. Many of the
vessels have been hopelessly locked in the
Ice foes and many have been crushed, while
the hopes of those who expected to drift
northward in the pack have failed in every
instance.
Not without Experience.
Though wholly unknown as explorers,
Rumsey and Sorenson are by no means
without experience as arctic travellers.
They have journeyed hundreds of miles
over the icy regions of Alaska in search of
the precious metal. traversing hills, p1a-
teaus and frozen rivers, with no human
companion save an Esquimau guide. with
thelr supplies carried on dog sledges, and
they are basing their hopes upon their own
experiences. Snow and ice have lost their
terror for these men. All they want Is
sufficient fresh fcod and pack of good
dogs.
With these they claim they will be able
10 travel indefinitely. The question of hui
man endurance on a trip such as they pro-
pose has been settled by the intrepid
Ptary, who twice forced a path of
more than a thousand miles across the
bleak reaches of northern Greenland
Moreover. DR.. F. A Cook. whose expert
enCe in both arctic and antarctic explora-
tons qualities him to speak authoritativeiy
on 1.-The subject. has recently stated that
the only way the. north pole will ever be
reached is by walking to it. But while the
plan Of Rumsey and Sorenson includes
practically the same idea. it is safe to say
1t was developed by them long before DR..
Cooks scheme was publicly announced.
Besides, their plan includes some points
not indicated by DIR. Cook. They dispense
entirely with the old sailboat idea, start
ing overland and, like railroad builders
pushing their way across new continent
or a well-managed army invading hostile
territory, they will keep open a certain
and safe route for retreat If necessary and
will be followed by constantly advanc-
Ing stream Of supplies.
An Able Leader.
Mr. Rumsey may fairly be considered the
leadeS of the expedition. He is a man of
wide reading and is particularly well in
formed in the history of arctic explora-
lie HOY he int aly irtar Cd
in the adventures of Sir John Franklin
and DIR. Kane. and even then resolved to
lead an expedition TO the frozen north if
fortune should ever allow him to make
the attempt. He is now forty-five years
old. and his interest in the cherished idea
of his youth has grown stronger with age.
Sorenson is a young man of Scandinavian
descent who met Rumsey in Alaska. They
were members of the same camping
party. and when the cold and ice of the
Klondike made their companions give up
further travel. they cast their fortunes
together and started alone on their trip
over the tnhospitable country
At first their search for gold met with
little success: so they resolved to go on
further, where few white men had ever
set foot. and finally found the yellow
metal in sufficient quantities to make them
indepe ndently rich. Their experiences
quickened their desire for further eXplora-
tons and they made up their minds to
travel northward to the utmost limit. Find
ing that they could not accomplish all they
desired single handed they retraced their
steps. resolved to return to civilization and
prepare for an expedition to the pole along
the lines they had personally found prac-
teal.
During their travels in the far northwest
they acquired much information which will
aid them in their coming work. They Wis
Tied several of the military posts and forts
which the British maintain in that country.
From the officers these forts and from
the surrounding Indians they secured INTEL
Egence regarding the frozen country he
yond 1t is 4 part of the plan to the
British outposts as the southern basis of
supplies while the explorers are pursuing
their travels to the north and the British
ed in the expedition have promised hearty
cooperation.
supply stations and Route.
The more southerly stations will be built
OF heavy timber and each will contain large
stores Further north, of necessity, they
will be built Of snow and ice, and will be
much smaller. Structures of this character
are easily erected and can be shifted If
occasion demands. 1t is irnnaterial where
they are built or where they are moved 50
long as the party ahead is Informed of
their whereabouts.
The route of the expedition so far as
mapped, is about follows: From Seattle
they Will go by boat to Juneau, Alaska, the
real starting point Proceeding east they will
avoid any hard mountain work by going to
the south of Chilkoot Pass. crossing the
Lewis river near Katchee lake. From there
they go around the Blue mountains at the
north. breaking through the range in the
narrow valley where lies Lake Franses
AT Fort Franses on the banks of the lake
they will establish the first permanent sta.
ton. The second station will be at For,
simpson. which IS little more than twc
hundred miles to the north. Here they will
cross the Mackenzie river and go east fol
lowing the waters of Lake La Matre. Al
the headwaters of this lake they design tt
htrf1d Sror rty