New-York tribune., 1913-06-18
STEFANSSON SHIP SAILS
Exploration Party Ready for
Three Years in the Arctic.
CAPT. BARTLETT IN CHARGE
The Karluk to Call at Nome
About July 7 to Pick Up
Heads of Party.

Victoria. p, c.. June 1.-THE Cana
dian polar exploration expedition. which
will spend three years i'm the Arctic un-
der the direction of Vilhjalmar Stefans-
son. discoverer OF the blond Esquimaus,
set out to-day. when the old whaler Kar-
LUX, under the command of Captain Rob-
ert Bartlett with ten scientists and a
crew Of fifteen men. steamed from Vic
toria for the Far North.
The karhk's first port Of call will be
Nome. Alaska wher she Is expected TO
arrive about July I. and await the COM
ing Of Dr. Stefansson and Or. r. VI. An
dcrson. who will travel from Seattle by
mail steamer Stefansson does not ex-
pect to leave Nome until July %.
Dr. Stefansson called attention to-day
10 his letter Of instructions from the
Canadian government. which is financing
the expedition. The letter says:
while every precaution should be
taken for the lives Of the party. the
safety Of the vessel is not so important"
This means. DR.. Stefansson pointed out,
that the government thoroughly under
stands the nature Of the work, and is
prepared for risks He added that at
tainment OF the object of the expedition
IS OF greater Importance than the safety
Of the vessel or even the safety Of the
men.
TIE Stefansson Arctic expedition differs
from most of the other polar undertake
ings. In that its objects are practical and
commercial. Its purposes are to learn
whether polar continent exists: to map
the islands already discovered east Of
the mouth OF the Mackenzie River; to
make collection Of the Arctic fora and
fauna. to survey the channels among the
Islands, in the hope Of establishing trade
routes; to make a geological survey Of
the islands which are believed TO contain
copper and other minerals, and to study
the blond Esqumaus OF Coronation Gulf,
on the mainland south Of Victoria Land.
No effort will be made to reach the
North Pole: that will be left TO Amund-
sen, who will sail into the Arctic next
summer 40 attempt will be made to
bring back any of the blond Esquimaus,
OF TO open their country 10 civilization.
which, Stefansson says. would destroy
them. The expedition expects TO return
to Nome in September, 1916, but may be
carried to Greenland, crossing the North
Pole on the way.
The Stefansson expedition, when II leaves
Nome. Alaska, on July %. will be com
posed Of the old barkentine rigged wooden
whaler Karluk. 2i7 tons, and the gasolene
screw vessel Alaska, thrty-two tons.
which is already in the North and will
meet the Karluk at Nome.
on the Karluk with Stefansson and
Bartlett will be a picked crew OF British
experts, James Murray. oceanographer
W T.. Mckinley. magnetician, University
Of Glasgow. and George Malloch, Cana
dian government geologist.
Stefansson and Anderson are thoroughly
familiar with the country between Point
Barrow. Alaska and a point far TO the
east Of the Mackenzie River. that having
been the scene Of their earlier eXplora-
tions In their former journeys they were
separate most Of the time. and each man
lived alone except as they fell I'm with
bands of Esquimaus. Stefansson says
there IS no fear OF starvation. for there
Is plenty Of FISH and game In the North.
Except for some danties. which the ship
will carry. the party will subsist AS the
Esquimaus do. on flesh OF wild animals,
with few berries I'm the summer. Both
Stefansson and Anderson speak the Esqui-
mau tongue. They know all the Esqui-
maus upon a long stretch Of coast. and
will obtain dogs from them.