Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-07-01
THIRD ATTEMPT To
RESCUE EXPLORERS
OF CROKER LAND

sealing vessel Neptune is ready today
to leave Sr. Johns, Newfoundland, te
make the third attempt to bring back
to civilization the members Of the
Croker Land expedition, marooned in
the Arctic. Captain Robert A. Bart
lett. who accompanied Rear Admiral
Peary to the Arctic, regarded as one
OF the most skilful of naVigators OF
the frozen regions of the north, is in
command of the Neptune.
! The departure of this-the third re-
lief vessel to be sent to the rescue OF
the Croker Land expedition marks
one of the most costly enterprises OF
exploration. Two other vessels, the
George B. Ciuett" and the "Danmark
made Intellectual attempts to bring
back the explorers who four years
ago went in quest of the mysterious
Croker Land, which Rear Admiral
Robert E. Peary believed he had seen
in 1906 The expedition was sent out
under the joint auspices of the Amer
lean Museum of Natural History, the
American Geographical society and the
University of Illinois, under the lead
ership of Donald B. Macmillan. What
appeared to the eyes of the dlscoverer
of the north pole was declared by Mr..
Masmillan to be merely a mirage and
the party has looked for Croker Land
in vain.
The Macmillan party, meanwhile
has been conducting explorations on
its own account and has discovered
six new islands, explored new lands,
found extensive deposits Of coal and
other minerals and has gathered to-
gether a vast store of scientific know
ledge. These scientists are proceed
ing with their professional work as
calmly as though they were not eX-
posed to dangers of starvation.
/ DR.. Harrison j. Hunt, the surgeon
of the expedition, who a few days ago
came back to this country after
thrilling Journey of fourteen miles over
the ice of Melville Bay reported thai
unless help were sent his companions
would be in. dire extremity by Angus!
/. The scant supplies were even then
being rationed out to them. After mid
summer. they will be obliged to sub
sfst as best they can upon the country
and after the manner of the Eskimos.
WaIrus meat and caribou may possibly
be obtained, but they will be depend
ent largely upon the fortunes of the
chase. DR.. Hunt says that unless help
is sent he fears fatality.
The Neptune" which will be soon
en- its way to Etah--the base of the
Croker Land expedition 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 afloat 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 Croker Land party.
R. Henry Fairfield Osborn, presi-
dent of the American Museum of Nat
sural History and chairman of the hon
orary committee Of the expedition, said
the other day that he considered the
scientific results obtained by the ex-
redition fully justified its enormous
cost. He expressed the hope that the
general public would aid the institu-
lions concerned in bearing the eX-
pense. George H. Sherwood. acting
chairman of the committee-in-charge,
saws that he feels confident that, bar /,
ring accidents the Neptune viii be
back with the Macmillan party in the
early autumn and that the expedition
will reach triumphant close.
How many are the demands of civil
ization is shown in the manifest of the
Neptune" The supplies which shefis
taking north include hundreds OF
items. Among some of the stores in
the hold are 1900 pounds OF pork, .
barrels of sugar, 8 crates of yellow
meal, crates of oatmeal. cases OF
sliced pineapple, cases of eyaporated
apples, 2 cases of evaporated peaches,
i5u pounds of butter and a keg of sour
pickles.
uchydrated vegetables are especial
" useful in the farthest north and IN
tie stores are bone-dry spinach, car
rots and such material. The solace of
r.i1ctine is thoroughly appreciated in
the land of Arctic nights, and there
ftre in the consignment may be found
smoking tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and
corn cob pipes.
In order TO keep uD amicable rela-