Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-31
IN THE ARCTIC ICE
Amundsen and Stor-
kerson Both AhOat

Seattle, Oct. 3O.-Two Arctic ex-
plorers. ROAD Amundsen, noted Ner-
wegian, drifting in his locked
boat eastward from the Atlantic, and
Storker Storkerson. lieutenant Of
v!lhjamur Stefanson, Canadian ex-
plorer. floating westward from the
Pacific on an ice pack, are both be-
lieved approaching the New Siberian
Islands, which 5ut out Of the Arctic
Ocean off the mouth of the Lena
River in Siberia. Authorities cred
tied with knowing the Arctic cur
currents believe the two will reach
the islands early next year.
No other explorers are now in the
Arctic and it is thought very likely
that neither Amundsen or Storkerson
knows the other has the same goal
in mind. They probably will not
meet, for Storkerson is expected to
arrive ahead of Amundsen and
probably will land far west of Am
undsens course.
Amundsen, the discoverer Of the
South Pole and navigator Of the diff
fcult northwest passage, is on the
first lap of a journey to. the North
Pole. He expects to make the last
lap by airplanes. Storkerson is
bound back in the general direction
of civilization, after spending several
years in the Arctic. Both are seek
ing new lands and studying the
1f hn
ocean.
When Amundsen reaches the ST.
berian Islands, the current, it is be-
lieved, will turn and carry him north.
He is expected to remain with the
drift until it lands him on the i'm
movable ice far up towards the Pole.
There. according to his plans, he will
establish a base and attempt to fly
the rest Of the distance to the top Of
the globe.
Storkerson, according to his plans.
will leave his ice pack when it reach
es the Siberian islands. With his
five men he will come ashore and
make his way back to Alaska. His
friends expect to hear Of him landing
sometime next summer near the
Lena. However, they say he may
change his plans and come ashore
before that time.
Steffansson, when he was in the
north last winter, planned to make
the trip Storkerson is now on. After
he completed arrangements and
purchased all the necessary supplies
and dogs, illness forced him to come
outside. When he left he put Stork-
erson in charge.
The Canadian thinks Storkerson's
tic feats ever undertaken. HE is up
there, camped on the ice, and prac-
tically living off the ice pack" Stef-
ansson says. "Other explorers do
their work from their ships. Ships
are little less than floating hotels.
Storkerson has no ship. Is Storker-
son doesn't get homesick we should
hear from him next year."
Storkerson and his five men were
la ded last May on the ice pack
about $50 miles northwest of Hers
chel Island. Rough estimates show
that the ice at times drifts more than
ten miles a day. This current,
Steffansson thinks, carried Storker-
son westward until in October he
probably was about 200 miles due
north from Wrangel Island, off ST.
IBERIA and east of the New Siberian
Islands.
The Karluk, Stefansson's first
boat, which was lost. was carried
westward from off Alaska. When it
was crushed in the ice, it was off
Wrangel Island. Storkerson expect
ed to get caught in the same current
and go on beyond Wrangel to the ST.
berian Islands.