The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-09-24
new LANDFOUND
IN ARCTIC CIRCLE
BY STEFANSSON
Explorer, in Frozen North, is
Planning to Make Another
Dash North.
WANTS TO EXAMINE
ISLAND HE DISCOVERED
Pole Finders Relate Experiences
on Great Ice Fields-Face
Hardships.

Nome, Alaska, Sept. 17.-Vilhjalmer
Stefansson, the Canadian explorer,
who was believed to have been lost in
the Arctic, not only is alive and well,
but has discovered a new land in the
North and accomplished practically
every purpose for which his hazard
Gus journey was undertaken, accorc-
ing to word brought here by the power
schooner Ruby, which arrived yester-
day from Herschel Island.
Stefansson, with two companions,
Storker Storkerson and Ole Anderson,
set out from Martin Point, Alaska,
March %, 1914, over the frozen polar
ocean to search for supposed new lands
in the Beaufort Sea.
Capt. S. F. Cottle, master of the
Ruby, says that Stefansson is now on
Banks Land, an island 400 miles east
of the northeastern corner of Alaska,
outfitting for continuance of the ex-
plorations westward to ascertain the
extent of the new land he has discov-
cred southwest of Prince Patrick
Island. Steffanson discovered a con-
tinuance of the continental shelf sew
eral degrees west of Bank Land and
even determined its southern limits,
but was unable to continue his eXplor-
ations to the north and west.
Stefansson told Capt. Cottle that
after leaving the supporting party on
| the ice north of Martin Point he and
his hardy companion set their faces to
the north, but after continuing their
journey for 80 days they decided to re-
turn to land. They turned back and
landed on the mainland at point near
which the power boat Mary Sachs of
the Stefansson expedition was winter
ing. Here the three men outfitted for
another three months trip. They
again went upon the ice, going north
and west and discovering the cohtinen-
tai shelf.
Stefansson spent some time explor-
ing his new find, but at length, owing
to the scarcity of provisions, was COM
PEELED to set out on the return journey
to land. The return to shore was &C
cOmplished with great difficulty. The
men subsisted on the most meager ra-
tions, but kept moving day after day.
The dogs were almost famished. Fl
nally the party arrived at Banks Land
thoroughly worn out. For seven
months they had been on scanty ra-
tions, travelling almost continuously.
Stefansson and his companions made
their way from Banks Land, which is
uninhabited, the Baillie Island, which
is visited by whalers. Capt. Louis
Lang, cruising on his power schooner
Polar Bear, found Stefansson and his
companions making their way along
the southwestern coast of Bailie
Island. They were in excellent health
and spirits, and eager to reach the
southern wing of the expedition, that
they might obtain supplies and con-
tinue their explorations.
Stefansson had expected to fall in
with the Polar Bear just as he did. He
Immediately chartered the schooner
and with Capt. Lane proceeded north
ward at once in the hope of making
further discoveries while the sea was
open and free of ice. The season was
too far advanced, however, and the ex-
plorers reluctantly steered for Her.
schel Island. The Polar Bear was at
Herschel Island when the power
schooner Ruby, which had been trying
for two years to reach Herschel Island
arrived there from Port Clarence with
supplies for the Hudson Bay Co.
Immediately upon arriving at Her.
schel Island, Stefansson, with trem-
endOus energy, began preparations for
continuance of his explorations. He
purchased the Polar Bear for $4,000
from Capt. Lane and bought also the
power boat Gladiator, a small vessel
engaged in trading along the coast.
After fully equipping these vessels
Stefansson sailed with them for Banks
Land, where he probably is now
1t is the intention of Stefansson to
establish a base on Banks Land and
continue his exploration from that
point. The time of the return of the
expedition can not be foretold, as Stef-
ansson intends to continue until he has |
fully ascertained the limits of the new
land he has discovered. He will also
seek other new lands.
Stefansson told Capt. Cottle that, |
except during few days before reach
ing Banks Land, he and his two COM
panions suffered no particular hard
ships. Although on very short rations
during the entire seven months on the I
ice, they always had enough food to |