The Washington times., 1913-11-18
FEAR STEFANSSON
SLOST IN ARCTIC
Explorer, With Ten Scientists,
and Crew of Fifteen, Last
Seen Before Storm.

SEATTLE, Nov. 1S.-That Vilhjalmal
Stefansson. Arctic explorer and dis
coverer of the blond" Eskimo, to.
gether with ten scientists and ship,
crew Of fifteen, was lost in Northern
waters during the heavy October
weather. is not doubted by sailormer
returning today from the Polar re.
gions.-
Stefansson and his ship were last
sighted off Flaxman Island, August H.
Nothing has been seen of the ship
since that date. in spite of the fact
that extensive search has been made
for the ship and her party.
Left Victoria Last July.
Stefansson. in charge of the Canadian
expedition, left Victoria, British Colum-
bia, last July. The Karluk, in COM
mand of Capt Robert Bartlett. had
sailed a few days before. Stefansson
Joined the ship at Nome during the
latter part of July.
The Stefansson Arctic expedition diff
fered from most of the other polar un-
dertakings in that its objects were prac-
teal and commercial. Its purposes
were to learn whether a polar continent
exists: to map the islands already dis
covered east of the mouth of the Mac
Kenzie river; to make a collection of
the Arctic flora and fauna; to survey
the channels among the islands in the
hope of establishing trade routes; to
make geological survey of the Islands.
which are believed to contain copper
and other minerals, and to study the
blond Eskimos of Coronation Gulf, on
the mainland Of south Victoria Land.
No effort was to be made to reach the
North Pole; that was to be left to
Amundsen, who viii sail into the Arctic
next summer The expedition expected
to return to Nome in September, 19l6.
Two Ships Started.
The stefansson expedition. when it
left Nome, Alaska, on July 20. was
composed Of the old barkentine rigged
wooden whaler Karluk, 247 tons, and
the gasolene screw vessel, Alaska,
thfrty-two tons. From Nome the ships
proceeded north through Behring Strait
into the Arctic Ocean during the brief
period of open water and headed east
To Beaufort Sea
north of the sea, and the Karluk would
steer due north and seek land on which
Stefansson and his main party were to
establish a base. the karluk returning
TO Herschel Island for the winter. The
ice in Beaufort Sea might have taken
hold of the Karluk and carried her
toward Greenland, or it might have
crushed the ship into bits. The expioE-
efs are prepared for either event. II
the Kariuk was able TO make It's way
rorth through the supposed location OF
the continent and no land was found,
II would. If possible, make its way east
TO Prince Patrick Island, and winter
there with the purpose OF making WINTER
~ ava6 oct
With Stefansson on the Karluk in the
northern party were Capt Robert Bart
lett, Peary's old sailing master, and q
picked crew OF Britishers; James Muir
ray. oeeanosrapher; W. T. MShlnoeS G,slno
George Malloch. Canadian government
geologist, and specialist in stiatag-
rsphy.
Most of the scientists joined the
southern. or Victoria Land. party on
the Alaska. From Point Barrow she
hurried westward, hoping to reach a
base on Simpson Bay. Victoria Land.
before winter set in. In this party were
r.. NJ Anderson, zoologfst, commanding; |
ment biologist; J. B. o'Neil, mining |
geologist. member geological survey; !
Kenneth Chapman and ]. r. Cox, Can |
adian topographers; Henri Beauchat, |
anthropologist, Paris; DR.. Jennis, eth |
noiogist; DR.. A. Forbes Mackay, Shac- |
l<Ieton's Antarctic expedition surgeon, of |
Edinburgh University, and photograph
ers and cinematographers. A thorough |
scientific exploration was to have been
made of Victoria Land, which is sup
posed to contain great copper deposits.
Visits were also paid TO the blond Es-
ldrnos on the mainland. There is a
tradition among the continental Eski-
mos that Victoria Land. about which
little is known, is inhabited by Eskimo
tribes.
Stefansson and Anderson were thor
oughly familiar with the country be-
tween Point Barrow, Alaska. and a |
point far to the east of the Mackenzie
river, that having been the scene Of |
their earlier explorations. Both Ste
and Anderson speak the Es-
lSirno tongue. They know all the Es-
Iximos upon a long stretch of coast, and 1
were to obtain dogs from them.