New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-12
Stefansson Waited Some 40
Days for Expedition
TO Come Back.
SHIP MAY PROCEED
WITH ALLOTTED WORK
Man Who Planned to Live OF
Country Will Now Have to
Carry Plans Into Effect.


Ottawa, Dec. l1.-Fragmentary re-
ports from the Northwest Mounted Po-
lice and other sources available TO the
government indicate trouble for Stef-
ansson and his expedition, due partly,
it is said, to his plan for living off the
country instead of carrying supplies as
outlined in his exclusive interview TO
The Tribune last spring.
II is now feared that Stefansson may
not see his expedition again for a long
time. as it is possible that the men on
the ship may not take the trouble to
look up their nominal leader until they
have completed the work the eXpedi-
ton set out 10 accomplish.
There was trouble in the party before
il got out Of touch OF civilization. II
developed early that the views OF
Stefansson did not coincide with the
views of some of the men he was
Obliged to take with him.
objection was made to the cXpedi-
ton being called the "Stefansson cX-
petition" The party consisted chiefly
Of scientific specialists. and some of
them were reported to be as vain and
as jealous as grand opera stars.
other members Of the party, not relish
ing the prospect of living on blubbcr.
insisted that more prepared provisions
be obtained. Stefansson had purchased
prepared food in large quantities i'm
Nome. in fact. nc had TO obtain an
additional vessel To carry the addi-
tional food The result was that the
expenses OF the expedition were greatly
increased.
The dispatches from Stcfansson show
that one Of the first things he did after
turning the corner" Of Alaska was 10
set out with few men after blubber.
Within two days his vessel was gone
and he was left facing the wilderness
with his few companions. There is no
suggestion that Stcfansson was delib-
cratcly abandoned. hut tho belief is
entertained here that the party on tn"
vessel was not sorry that it happened
and did not regret losing tho dlscoyerer
OF the blond Esqumaus.
The commander Of the Karluk. Cap
tain Bartlett. who had command Of tho
Roosevelt, when Admiral Peary discov
cred tho Pole, is not the sort Of man
" no Mould be A party 10 any plot 10
run away from the man 10 whom tho
government had given command Of the
expedition
II ice and adverse winds should carry
tho Karluk "A long distance there would
be n conference Of the leading men on
the ship. and she would thereafter be
directed iu her movements by the
council. The work Of sounding. map
ping and exploring generally would be
continued and an effort would he made
10 locate the unknown land 20 the north
OF the Canadian coast land which has
never been seen, but the existence OF
which Is indicated by the study OF
ocean currents. Stefansson would be
forgotten.
II the vessel had been going 70 return
there was plenty Of time for her To
have done so between the time that
Stefansson left her and the time he
sent out his messages from Point Bar
row. He left the vessel on September
20. He says that gale sprang UP on
September %. and that on September
q. when the weather cleared. there was
nothing TO be seen OF the Karluk or
the ice field in which she had been held
lie wrote his message on October 80
having waited in vain almost forty
days for his expedition TO come back.
Either the Karluk has been crushed
or f. still trapped in tho ice, or the
expedition is not inclined again to pick
nm Stefansson. The belief here Is that
L. ,a