Evening star., 1912-11-14
TO SEEK CONTINENT
Discoverer of Blond Eskimos
Will Return to Arctic.
NOW is IN WASHINGTON
Stefansson Tells Peculiarities of
New Far North Tribe.
BLUE AND GRAY EYES FOUND
People Believed to Have Some Con-
nection With Lost Scandinavian
Settlers of Greenland.
BLUE AND GRAY EYES FOUND

Vilhjalmur Stefansson of the American
Museum of Natural History, discoverer of
the new tribe of bond Eskimos' in
the arctic, announced today at the Cos
mos Club, where he is a guest. that he
will head an exploring expedition which
will start from either Seattle or San
Francisco in May, 1913, to settle the
question Of whether or not there is, as
many scientists believe, another con-
tinent in the arctic.
The expedition has been voted the
scientific support of the American
Museum of Natural History, and it is ex-
pected that a number of other scientific
bodies such as the National Geographic
Society also will vote it their scientific
support Funds for the expedition will
be furnished from priva e sources.
Mr. Stefansson expects to take with
him a staff of six scientists, some of
whom will be Washingtonians. There
are more applicants for the positions than
there are places to fill, and the personnel
of the party has not yet been settled.
Bases of Operations.
The expedition will proceed from the
Pacific coast up around Bering strait, and
will have its main base of operations on
Cape Bathurst. Two secondary bases
to work from will be established.
One of these bases will be in Victoria
Land, for the purpose of close sclentlnc
study of the peculiar people discovered
by Mr.. Stefansson known as the blond
Eskimos," who are believed by some stu
dents to be possibly the descendants OF
the Scandinavian colony which d.sap-
peared from Greenland. according to his
tory, during or after the year 14l2 A. D.
@-xn lie.hn OF iS H0 q
in Victoria Land will also complete the
mapping Of Victoria Land. no one know
ing how large this country is, although 1t
is known to be larger than all of the
British islands together.
The second base will be established on
the northwest corner of Banks Island.
and the party from this base will devote
its attention particularly to the effort to
establish whether there is a continent in
the Arctic.
auxiliary will ply between these two
subsidiary bases and main base to be
established at Cape Barrow, bringing in
supplies and carrying back scientific col
lections and news. By means of this
schooner the expedition expects to keep
in yearly contact with the outside world.
Mr.. Stefansson's Career.
Mr. Stefansson, who was born in Mani
III
years of age. was brought up in North
Dakota, and Is a graduate of the Iowa
State University. He did three years OF
postgraduate work in anthropology at
Harvard, in preparation for career as
an explorer. He returned from the arctic
early this year. with the announcement OF
the discovery Of the new tribe of blonde
Eskimos," having made the trip on which
he found these peculiar people. under the
auspices of the American Museum Of Nat
ural History, with DR.. r. NJ. Anderson,
zoologist of that body.
Mr. Stefansson is in Washington for the
purpose Of lecturing Friday at the New
Masonic Hall before the National Geo.
graphic Society on these blonde Eski-
mos" He explored the region where
they were found, Coronation gulf. for four
years, afoot, having walked during that
time 10000 miles.
Discussing this new tribe at the Cosmos
Club today, Mr.. Stefansson said:
."There are three or four things which
might explain why the Eskimos 1 found
are blonde. The least Objectionable of
these theories is to suppose that they
have some connection with the lost Scan
dinayian tribe Of Greenland.
Europe More Interested.
I'm America, find. people do not take
SO much interest in these things. In
EUROPE the interest in my discovery has
been much greater. For one thing, peO-
pie in Europe are much more familiar
with the history of the Scandinavian col
ony which was lost from Greenland. and
the mystery and tragedy which surround