Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1915-09-24
EXPLORER SAFE;.
FINDS NEW LAND
StefanssOn Spent Seven Months
on The Ice.
FIRST WORD since April Al R||L, 1914
Recounts His Thrilling Quest in the
Frozen Arctic for Shelf of Polar
Continent.

Recounts His Thrilling Quest in the
Frozen Arctic for Shelf of Polar
Continent.
Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the Canad-
ian explorer, who was believed lost in
the Arctic, not only is alive and well,
but has discove. ed new land in the
north and accomplished practically
every purpose for which his hazar'
dous journey was undertaken, accord
ing to word brought to Nome, Alaska,
by the power schooner Ruby, which
arrived from Heschel Island.
Stefansson, with two companions,
Storker Storkerson and Ole Ander'
son, set out from Martin Point, Alas
ka, March %, 1914, over the frozen
polar ocean in search for supposed
new lands in the Beaufort sea.
Captain S. f. Cottle, master of the
Ruby, says that Steiansson is now on
Banks Land, east of the Mackenzie,
outftting for continuance of the eX-
plorations to the westward to ascer-
tain the full extent of the new land
he has discovered southwest of Prince
Patrick Island. StefansSon discoV'
cred a continuance of the continental
shelf several degrees west Of Banks
Land and even determined its south.
ern limits, but was unable to continue
his explorations to the north and
west.
StefangSon told Captain Cottle that
after leaving the supporting party on
the ice rCrlh OF Martin Point he and
MS hardy >>mpaniCns set their faces
to the Eurt,:, tut alter continuing
their journey ninety days they de-.
ci!ed to return to lGnI. They turned
back and landed on the mainland a.
a point near which the power boat
Mary Sachs, Of the Stefansson expedi-
ton, was vint.ring. Here the thr &c
men Quilted for another thre2
months trip. They again went upon
the ice, going north and west and dis
covering the continental shelf.
Stcfansson spent some time explor'
ing his new ind, but at length, owing
20 scarcity Of provisions, was com.
nc!Ied to set cut on the return jour
noy 10 land The men had been on
the ice for nearly seven months. The
return to shore was accomplished
with great difficulty. The men sub
sisted Oh the most meager rat1ons,
but kept moving day after day. The
dogs were almost famished. Finally
the party arrived at Banks Land,
thoroughly worn cut. For seven
norths they had been on scanty ra'
lens, travelling almost continually.
Steransson and his companions
made their way from Banks Land,
which is uninhabited, to Baillie Island,
which is visited by whalers. Captain
Louis Lane, cruising on his power
schooner Polar Bear, found Stefans.
son and his companions making their
way along the southwestern coast OF
Baillie Island. They were in excel
lent health and spirits and eager to
reach the southern wing Of the expe-
tition, that they might obtain sup
plies and continue their explorations.
Ste ansson had expected to fall in
With the Polar Bear, just as he did.
.Ie Immediately chartered the schoon
81 and, with Captain Lane, proceeded
northward at once in the hope Of max
'rg further discoveries while the sea
IS c7ca and free Of ice. The sea.
Il was TOO far advanced, howeve",
I'd the explorers reluctantly steered
tyr Herschcl Island.