The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-06-17

+ .3 i Z ( 3 u I + /. n
Victoria, 3. G., June 1.-THE stef-
fanson Arctic expedition, whose ex-
penses are paid entirely by the
Canadian government set sail from
Victoria today. The expedition diff
fers from most of the other polar
undertakings in that it's objects are
practical and commercial. Its pur-
poses are to learn whether a polar
continent exists; to map the islands
already discovered east of the mouth
of the Mackenzie river; to make col
lection 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 be-
lieved to contain copper and other
minerals, and to study the blonde
Eskimos Of Coronation gulf, on the
mainland south of Victorialand NO
effort will be made to reach the North
Pole; that will be left to Amundsen,
who will sail into the Arctic next
summer. No attempt will be made 10
bring back any Of the blonde Eskimos.
or TO open their country to civiliza-
tion. which Steffanson says would
destroy them. The expedition expects
TO return to Nome in September, 1915,
but may be carried to Greenland
crossing the north pole on the way.
| The Steffanson expedition, when it
leaves Nome, Alaska, on July 20, will
be composed of the old barkentine
rigged wooden whaler Karluk, BAT
tons, and the gasoline screw vessel
Alaska, thirty-two tons, which is al
ready in the north and will meet the
Karluk at Nome. From Nome the
,sstssps vii HI through Ber-
sdng strait into the Arctic ocean DUR
ing the brief period of open water
and head east to Beaufort sea. 1T is
reported that continent exists north
to the sea and the Karluk will steer
due north and seek land on which
Steffansons and his main party may
establish a base, the Karluk return
ing to Herschel island for the winter
The ice in Beaufort sea may lay hold
of the Karluk and carry her toward
Greenland, or it may crush the ship
into bits. The explorers are prepared
for either event. If the Karluk is
able to make its way north through
the supposed location of the continent
and no land is found, it will, If pos
sible make it's way east to Prince
Patrick island, and winter there with
the purpose of making winter sledge
| Journeys north and east.
| With Stefansson on the KarIuk, in
the northern party, will be Capt. Rob-
! ert Bartlett, Pearey's old sailing mas
ter, and picked crew of Britishers:
James Murray, oceanographer; w. r.
| Mckinley, magnetician, University of
Glasgow; George Malloch, Canadian
geologist, and specialist in stratog-
raphy.
Most of the scientists will join the
southern or Victoria land party on the
| Alaska. From Point Barrow, she will
hurry westward, hoping to reach a
H., Il. -.
before winter sets in. In this party
will be r. M. Anderson, zoologist, COM
Imanding; Fritz Johansen, u. S. gov
ernment biologist; J. B. O'Neil, min
ing geologist, member geological sur
vey; Kenneth Chapman, and J. r. Cox,
canadian topographers; Henri Beau
chat. anthropologist, Paris: DIR. Jen-
| mis-, ethologist: DIR. "A. Eorbes Mackay,
Shakelton's antarctic expedition sur
geon of Edinburgh university, and
photographers and tographers
| A thorough scientific exploration will
be- made of Victoria Land, which is
supposed to contain great copper de-
pesits. Visits will also be paid to the
blonde Eskimos on the mainland. There
is a tradition among the continental
Eskimos that Victroia Land. about
which little is known, is inhabited by
Eskimo tribes. q
| Stefansson and Anderson are thor
oughly familiar with the country be-
tween Point Barrow, Alaska, and al
point far to the east OF the Mac Ken
zie river, that having been the scene
/ of their earlier explorations. In their
former journeys they were separated
most of the time. and each man lived
alonn except as they fell In with bands
of Easkimos. Steffansson says there is
no fear of starvation, for there is plen-
| ty of fish and game in the north. Elk
b.. Ge f11s.- .sx,I. "
will carry. the. party will subsist as
the Eskimos do, on flesh of wild ani-a
males, with a few berries in the sum
mer. Both Stefansson and Anderson
speak the Eskimo tongue. They know
all three Eskimos upon a long stretch
Of coast and will obtain dogs from Them
ssi is