Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-06-17
ARCTIC PARTY
LEAVES FOR
NORTH
/ DR.. STEFANSS0N AND COMRADES
LEAVE FOR THREE YEARS. STAY
IN ARCTIC OCEAN. WILL SEARCH
FOR ARCTIC CONTINENT.
EXPEDITION FITTED
OUT BY CANADA

Victoria. b. c., June 17-Adjust-
ment of her compass was all that re-
manned to be done on board the whaler
karluck this morning before she left
to carry DR.. Nillijar Stefansson's geo
graphic and exploring expedition into
the arctic for a three years stay
Captain Robert Bartlett who conn
manded Peary's ship Roosevelt, mas
ter of the Karluck, said his ship
would be steamng north before night,
through the inside passage toward
Gross Channel, where she will turn
westward and head for Unimak Pass,
the entrance to Behring sea,
The Karluck's S first port of call will
be Nome, Alaska, where she is ex-
pected to arrive about July Z and
await the coming of DR.. Stefansson
and DR.. r. M. Anderson, who will
travel from Seattle by mail steamer.
iStefansson does not expect to leave
Nome until July 90, as the ice con-
ditions in the Arctic ocean would pre-
vent the expedition making much
headway if it passed through Berng
istrait before then.
DR.. Stefansson called attention to-
day to his letter of instructions from
the Canadian government, which is
financing the expedition.
The letter says: "While every pre-
caution should be taken for the lives
of the party, the safety of the vessel
is not so important"
bic np Sfnfo inf fnd
out, that the government thoroughly :
understands the nature of the work
and is prepared for risks. He added
that attainment of the object of the
expedition is of greater Importance
than the safety of the vessel, or even
the safety of the men.
The Stefansson Arctic expedition
whose expenses are paid entirely by
the Canadian government, differs from
most of the other polar undertakings,
in that its objects are practical and
commercial It's purposes are to learn
whether a polar continent exists; to
map the islands already explored east
of the mouth Of the Mackenzie river:
to make a collection of Arctic fora
and fauna; to survey the channels
among the islands in the hope of es-
-ablshing trade routes; to make
geological survey Of the islands, which
ire believed to contain copper and
other minerals, and to study the
Blonde Esquimos Of Coronation Gulf,
IN the mainland south of Victorialand.
10 effort will be made to reach the
.orth pole, that will be left to Amund-
en, who will sail into the Arctic next
ummer No attempt will be made
o bring back any of the blonde es.
uimos, or to open their country to
which, Stefansson says.
would destroy them. The expedition
xpects to return to Nome in Septem-
er, 1916, but may be carried to Green.
and crossing the north pole on the
yay.
The Stefansson expedition is COM
osed Of the old barkentine rugged
'ooden whaler Kartuck, 247 tons, and
ne gasoline screw vessel, Alaska, 80
ons which is already in the north
nd will meet the Kartuck at Nome.
rom Nome the ships will proceed
orth through Bering strait into the
rctic ocean during the brief period
open water, and head east to Beu.
'rt sea. It is reported that a CONT
ent exists north of the sea and the
artuck will steer due north and seek
lis land.