Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-06
AR CTiC EXPLORERS LOST
MEMBERS OF STEFANSON PARTY
VANISH IN FAR NORTH.
Ship Duchess Of Bedford Founders.
Adventures Seek New Continent
North Of Mackenzie River.

ATHABASCA LANDING, Canada, Sep
tember 6.-The steamer Midnight Sun ar
rived here from Grand Rapids on Tuesday
bringing Hudson Bay Companys furs from
the far north. Among the passengers was
Alfred Harrison, who has been in the arctic
circle for the last two years and who has
made successful trip to Banks Land.
He reported that Mr.. With jalmuz Stefansson
arrived at Herschel Island from Port Anx-
1ous Island. reporting that the Duchess of
Bedford, the ship belonging to the Anglo
American expedition, that hoped to find
new continent north of the Mackenzie river,
mad filled with water and they had removed
everything to the main shore, and that the
ship had probably sunk
Capt. Mikelson, Mr.. Leff1ngwell and ]. NJ.
Marks had left the ship in February. with
sixty days provisions for the supposed
land TO the north and had been gone
seventy days and no news had been received
from them: One of their teams Of dogs re-
turned, and 1t is likely the party will never
be heard from again.
Capt Mikelson is Dane who fitted out
his ship and left Vancouver, B. c., where
he purchased his vessel early last year,
accompanied by some prominent young
Americans. His plan was to sail his ship
into Boring sea about August. and thence
to sail down the Alaskan coast and estab-
lish depot at Princess Royal Island on the
coming winter.
Plans Of the Expedition.
This summer she would proceed back
through Boring strait up the Siberian coast
and leave the party with 14O days provi-
sions to march west northwest in search of
new land and to make soundings through
cracks to learn the conf1guration of the
seas bottom.
The schooner Duchess of Bedford, COM
Ing home to refit, was to meet them at
Wrangle Island in 1908.
Many difficulties were encountered, how
ever which SO delayed the ship In Its voy-
age eastward from Bering strait that Point
Barrow had not been passed on August 10
Of last year and Mikelson had little hope of
reaching the proposed winter quarters in
the western part Of the arctic archipelago
before being frozen In.
His plan was. however, to stay out for
two or three years. If necessary The expe-
d1tion was supported by British and Ameri-
can funds
NEW YORK, September 6.-stefansson
was an Instructor In ethnology in the Pea
body Museum al Harvard University when
he started On his search of unknown land
In the fall Of 1906. He made his way to
Athabasca Landing, in Alberta, accom-
panied by Thomas Anderson of the Hudson
Bay Company. From Athabasca Landing
northerly post of the Hudson Bay Company
At Fort Mcpherson Mr.. Stefansson lbade
goodbye to Mr.. Anderson, and Esauimaux
messengers with dogs took him to Herschel
Island, go miles north of the arctic circle
At least, it was his plan to reach this point
and await the arrival of the rest of the eX-
ploring party
Scientists Backed Project.
The expedition was composed Of scientists
of all nationalities, and the universities of
Harvard and Toronto undertook to defray
large part Of the expenses. Capt. Mikel-
son and the others in the party were to pick
up Mr.. Stefansson at Herschel Island and
sail across the Prince Of Wales strait,
northwest Of Prince Albertland. where a
depot Of provisions was to be established on
Princess Royal Island.
Capt. Mikelson commanded the schooner
Duchess Of Bedford, rechristened in honor
of the woman who financially aided the
expedition. 1t was Mr.. Stefansson's plan
to cut adrift from the others at Mimic inlet
and work wholly with the Esquimaux Stef-
ansson had considerable knowledge Of the
language of this race.
Stefansson Is Canadian born, but spent
most of his life in the United States. He
roughed it as a cowboy in North Dakota
and Montana. He became a student in the
North Dakota State University and went
from there to Harvard. He has twice made
trips to Iceland before starting on this last
expedition.
At-Athabasca Landing an interviewer said
to Mr.. Stefansson:
Il have long been anxious to see real
live arctic explorer
Well replied Stefansson dryly. "if you
want to see a real live one, of course it's
always safest to see him before he starts"
Asked what sort of outfit he would take
with him when he cut loose to journey
alone with the Esquimaux the Harvard man
answered:
Besides a few trinkets for the Esuui-
maux, nothing in the world but my camera,
rife and notebook"