The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-04-18

/ by Donald B. MILAN, leader of The
expedition.
There are great scientific problems
to be solved by this expedition" ht
says. IF we are able to determine
definitely the existence and area anC
characteristics of Crscker Land, If We
! can put it on the map and add its
vast area to the known land of the
world, our trip will have been worth
while.
In addition, we hope. that our dis
coHeries will have a direct bearing or
the study of tides, and as such prov,
of great value to the tidal experts a.
Washington.
I'VE may be able to discover the
breeding place of the Grant goose
which has never been found. 1t Is
! highly probable that we shall find
new species of animals.
I'VE expect to find the remains OF
Eskimo encampments, and, If Croker
Land runs as far south as some be-
lieye it does, down as far as the 18th
parallel, it Is even possible that we
may find new tribe.
THE whole history of the northern
country shows that at some time, due
to conditions of cold probably, the
tribes that lived far north were driven
southwark, leaving traces of their en-
thing may have forced the tribes out
of Croker Land, too, and their des-
cendants may be mingled with the
Eskimos that now inhabit Etah
I'VE shall leave Sydney. N. s., dur
ing July, by special steamer and on
the way to our winter quarters at
Flagler Bay we shall lay in our sup
ply of walrus and bear meat, and take
aboard our dogs. AS soon as winter
quarters have been established, we
shall send the ship home.
The work of breaking in the new
men and getting ourselves hardened
for the real work to come in the
spring, will begin at once. We shall
start by taking short trips with the
sledges, working them and our pro-
visions gradually toward Cape Thorn
as Hubbard where the dash to Crock
er Land Is to begin.
For at least II days out of the
month in the Attic winter, there Is
brilliant moonlight, and those days
will be utilized for sledging and con-
ditioning ourselves.
There will be opportunity too to
teach the new men the extremely diff
ficult art of driving a dog team with
the 26-foot whip. 1t is as difficult an
art as | know. The whip stock is
but a few inches long, and to 1t is at
tached a walrus hide thong rs feet
in length and tapering to a point.
THE experienced driver throws the
thong back over his shoulder In much
the fashion that a man casts a fly.
Then he launches it forward and with
a quick jerk of the wrist strikes just
the spot he wishes to hit.
From Cape Thomas Hubbard,
where we start out onto theN ice that
affords us our chance to work across
the 1870 miles OF water to Croker
Land, we shall take 10 sledges with
eight dogs to the sledge and each
sledge loaded with 500 pounds of pro-
visions.
"All the way across the water we
shall take deep sea soundings, and
our discoveries along this line are ex-
pected to be extremely important.
I'VE plan to get from to hours
sleep each night, and to work from 8
to IL hours a day, making from 10 TO
Is miles according to the weather and
the condition of the ice.
THE whole history of Attic ex-
ploration has shown that for drinking
purposes tea is better than coffee and
will stay by man much longer, SO
we shall carry tea.
"The breakfast consists of quart
of tea, into which half a pound of
crackers is broken. Then the penn
mican is cut into pieces with an axe
and added to the rest, the whole be-
ing eaten together.
1T isn't always very platable
meal, but it is nourishing and sufii-
cient to carry a man during a days
work. Time is too precious to allow
for stopping for any midday meal.
The same diet Is slated for supper.
day after day and week after week.
Our personal equipment will con-
sist of light underclothes to absorb
the perspiration, sheepskin shirt
with the wool next to the body. over
that, bearskin trousers lined with red
fiannell. and rabbit skin stockings in
side of deerskin or sealskin boots.
Inside the shoes we put about an
inch of grass, which is taken out at
night and dried. Grass is an excel
lent non-conductor of cold. At night
we wear sleeping socks 80 az to dry