The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-01
STEAM SAILING SHIP NEPTUNE IS READY FOR NORTHERN TRIP
This Is Third Vessel to Go to Relief of the Crocker Land Expedition in the
 Polar Regions

New York, June 30.--The steam sealing vessel Neptune is ready today to leave St. Johns. Newfoundland, to make the third attempt to bring back to civiliza- ton the members of the Crocker Land ex- petition, marooned in the Arctic. Capt. Robert A. Bartlett, who accompanied Rear Admiral Peary to the Arctic, regard ed as one of the most skillful of naviga- tors of the frozen regions of the north, ia in command of the Neptune.
 The departure of this--the third relief Crocker Land expedition-marks one of the most costly enterprises of explora- ton. Two other vessels the George B. Cluett and the Denmark" made inef- fectual attempts to bring back the ex- plorerS who, four years ago. went in quest of the mysterious Crocker Land, which Rear Admiral Robert F. Peary believed he had seen in 1906. The expedition was sent out under the joint auspices of the American Museum of Natural History the American Geographical society and the University of Illinois, under the lead- ership of Donald M. Macmillan. What ap- peared to the eyes of the discoverer of the north pole was declared by MT. Mac Milan to be merely a mirage and the I vain.
 CONDUCTING EXPLORATIONS
 The MacMillan party, meanwhile, has been conducting explorations on it's own account and has discovered six new islands, explored new lands, found exten- slye deposits of coal and other minerals and has gathered together vast store of scientific knowledge. These scien- lists are proceeding with their profession al work as calmly as though they were not exposed to dangers of starvation
 Dr. Harrison J. Hunt, the surgeon of the expedition, who few days ago came back to this country after a thrilling journey of If miles over the ice of Mel vile bay. reported that unless help were sent his companions would be in dire ex- tremity by August 1. The scant supplies were even then being rationed out to them. After midsummer they will be obliged to subsist as best they can upon the country and after the manner of the Eskimos. Walrus meat and caribou may possibly be obtained, but they will be dependent largely upon the fortunes of the chase pr. Hunt says that unless help is sent he fears fatality.
 VESSEL WELL EQUIPPED
 The Neptune. which will be soon on it's way to Etah-the base of the Crocker Land expedition-is a vessel especially well equipped for such a mission. The Queen of the Sealing Fleet" as she is called, is one of the stoutest vessels af1oat and her stout ribs may well withstand the pressure of the polar pack.
 In addition to her regular stores she is carrying eight tons of food for the use of the Crocker Land party.
 R. Henry Fairfield Osborn, president of the American Museum of Natural His tory, and chairman of the honorary com mittee of the expedition, said the other day that he considered the scientific re- suits obtained by the expedition fully justified its enormous cost. He expressed the hope that the general public would aid the institutions concerned in bearing the expense. George H. Sherwood, act ing chairman of the committee in charge, says that he feels confident that. barring accidents, the Neptune will be back with the MacN1illan party in the early autumn and that the expedition will reach a tri- un1phant close.
 DEMANDS OF CIVILIZATION
 How many are the demands of civilza- tion is shown in the manifest of the Nep- tune The supplies which she is taking north include hundreds of items. Among some of the stores in the hold are 20O0 pounds of pork, five barrels of sugar, five crates of yellow meal, four cases of oat- meal, five cases of sliced pineapple, two cases of evaporated apples, two cases of evaporated peaches 150 pounds of butter and keg of sour pickles.
 Dehydrated vegetables are especially useful in the farthest north and in the stores are bone-dry spinach carrots, and such material. The solace of nicotine is thoroughly appreciated in the land of Arc- tic nights and, therefore in the consign- ment may be found smoking tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and corn-cob pipes.
 In order to keep up amicabe relations with the Eslimos, candies, jellies and other sweets are found useful, and, for the purposes of exchange. combs, but tons. scissors and the like are held in high esteem.
 The children of the snows are also exceedingly fond of music and that is the reason that there are found in the cargo of the Neptune several photographs with records bearing the liveliest of popu- lar airs.