Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-16
SEYENNEARS' SAIL
FO.FIND THE SEAS
.42iUNGHARTED PERILS
Commander Stackh ouse
Tells of His Plans for
Research in the Ship Dis
covey.

Philadelphia scientists are interested in
che seven-year voyage of exploration to
start next spring for the purpose of dis
coverins and charting islands and rocks
sn every sea. and ocean, the exact location
of which Is now unknown.
A. Foster Stackhouse, who will COM
mand the expedition, has been in this
city comforting with the officers and mem
bers of the Geographical Society on the
project for some time.
The international Oceanographical ex-
pedition is the title given to the venture
In England, where 1t originated. Pri-
snarily IL was the intention of Mr.. Stack
house to chart only the multitude of small
Islands and rocks around the entrances
to the Panama Canal At present these
Islands constitute a menace to naviga-
zion, as heretofore there never has been
pecessity for charting them.
The ship Discovery will be used on the
voyage. 1t was built under the super
vision of the British Admiralty which
farly in the planning recognized the i'm
pcrtance Of the charting expedition and
requested the commander to enlarge its
scope New lines of investigation have
been suggested by several other Govern
hents and BY scientific societies.
, Commander Stackhouse has gone to
Washington where he Is staying at the
Cosmos Club. He is expected to return
to this city for further conferences with
scientific men the middle of next month
While no action has been taken so far
by the societies here to appropriate funds
for the expenses OF the voyage, IL Is
understood that the individual members
are well disposed toward it.
: Considerable scientific data that will
! be OF the utmost value to the explorers
, will be provided by the Geographical So
ciety here and its members. Scientists
/ at WASHINGTON also will cooperate.
! The Discovery will sail for this coun-
try from England next spring. 1t has
/ not been decided whether or not 1t will
come to this city. A stop at Washington
of about three weeks to enable those
who Will go on the voyage to study the
; latest American charts will be made
Commenting on this, Commander Stack
house said:
Il expect to obtain valuable information
! as to uncharted islands. rocks and shoals
1n the oceans of tho world from scientific
bodies in Washington.
Every year many a brave ship sets
out from port is spoken perhaps once or
twice at sea and then Is heard of no
more. She vanishes without sign or ex-
phantom. What happens to these vessels?
Britain Ia supposed % rule the waves
ats up to us now to find out what's un-
der them In three years ships have left
port and have never been heard of again,
representing a tonnage of 134,64s and 1879
men.
"of these 67.S69 were British tonnage
and 66'19 foreign. Assuming cargo and
vessel to have been worth 800 a ton,
that means a clear loss of S120CO a day,
TO say nothing of six lives a day.
Near the spot where the Titanic sank
submerged rocks or islands have been re-
ported on three different dates-in 1906.
1sz7 and 1856. They probably represent
a huge submerged rock or volcano, prob
ably the tail of the Great Bank of New
1oundland around which icebergs and
Ice. attracted and held by gravitation.
have gathered. If the tail of the great
bank Is really near where the Titanic
sank, ships would give that place a wide
berth in the future"
Commander Stackhouse says that on
\the maps Of the present day Cape Horn |
1s indicated as anything up to so miles
too far north.
Biographers of British scientists add to |
Commander Stackhouscs name the let
ters F. r. G. s., F.. u. s., F.. r. S. G. s.
and other indications of membership In |
important scientific organizations of the |
world. He is member OF the Royal |
Eastern Yacht Club, one of the few clubs |
which have the privilege of flying the |
blue ensign of the British Royal Naval |
Reserve
Tie captain of the Discovery during the |
expedition, under the leadership of Com
mander SJackhouse. is to be captain |
in the royal navy of Great Britain, Cap
aatn John A. Rupert-Jones. The chief |
navigator is to be an officer of the royal |
INDIAN marine, Lieutenant Richard II.
Garstin Both officers have been assigned
TO the work by the British Government.