Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-03
TO seek new LAND|
Noted Explorers Are to Sail fol
Croker Land.
L5sdsrs IT Expsdltlon With Peary
j Ain to Study Polar Territory
That Still Remains Mystery
to aeographers.

Boston, MASS. Auo 1aoL Son.
niderable mass OF unknown land
ON our planet north Of the
EQUATOR is Croker Land, a vast and
vague region bordering the polar sea
northwest Of Grant Land and west.
ward of the route which Peary follow.
ed over the ice to the pole.
Recently brief and preliminary an
nouncement was made Of the expedi'
ton which will set forth during the
coming summer for the exploration OF
this land and for other scientific work
which remains to be done in the far
north, especially In the unknown In
terror of Greenland
The coming expedition will be I'm.
der the auspices Of the American Mt'
scum Of Natural History and the Amer
lean Geographical society with the CO.
operation and Endorsement OF other
scientific bodies, and will be assisted
financially by numerous individuals.
Each Of the two societies named has
contributed $4,000 to the fund OF
100000 which Is being raised. Yale
has contributed $1,000, and Bowdoin
alumni will contribute as much or
more, through their interest and pride
In Macmillan, who was one of Peary's
lieutenants on his successful dash to
the pole.
AS to Croker Land itself, 1t was
given it's name by Peary in the expe-
ditions next before his last one, the
name being in honor of George Crock
err Of New York, leading member OF
the Peary Arctic club. In June, l906,
ON several clear days in succession
Peary was able to make out from the
summit of Cape Thomas Hubbard In
latitude 81, the snow-clad SUBMITS of
distant land in the northwest above
the ice horizon. 1t Is figured that this
land, which no polar explorer has ever
visited, is in 100 west latitude and SO
north latitude, or about 100 miles
from Cape Thomas Hubbard, which is
the northern tip Of Axel Heiberg
Land.
Men Of science feel that the veri-
fcation Of these observations and de-
ductions by making long trip north
westward from Cape Thomas Hubbard
is the last great geographical problem
for solution.
The expedition will leave Sydney
by special steamer on July 20, and
will establish winter Quarters at
Flagler bay in north latitude 10. On
loJn nj rpoot nOI
dogs will be collected and the ship
will be sent home. In September and
through the long arctic night, when
the moon Is favorable. the supplies
will be sledged to Cape Thomas Hub
bard, $50 miles farther on toward the
goal.
When the arctic day begins to dawn
in February. 1913, the expedition will
push over the 1870 miles Of ice to the
unknown Croker Land, and if no
game is found the return to Cape
Thomas Hubbard will be made in the
following May. On the return to the
Headquarters at Flagler bay scien-
tific work will be carried on in Grant
Land, and then the headquarters and
the. collections will be transferred
southwark to Etah. the village OF the
most northerly Eskimos.
In the spring and summer OF 1914
the expedition to the interior Of Green
land will be made and an attempt
made to reach the summit OF the great
Ice cap At the middle Of the widest
part OF the island. No man has ever
been there. On the return to Etan
a ship will be awaited to bring the e1-
pedition back to civilization in the au-
tumn Of 1914.
The expedition viii! he Jointly in
charge Of Donald B. Macmillan and
George Rorup both OF whom were with
Peary. The only white men with
them will be physician and cook