The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-09-02
sx JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN.

f7ONALD B. MACMILLAN Is of for
Bafin Land-just about now he is
saying good-by to civilization away up
on the coast of Labrador. And what
| 1 does the veteran explorer expect to
& find? Probably he himself doesn't
know. But Bafin Land offers that
strongest Of lures-the lure Of the
unknown. And II Macmillan reaches
Its interior Its west coast and gets back to tell
the tale. two three years from now we may be
hearing something new-and seeing 1t, for he In
tends to bring back moving pictures. Anyway, he
and his schooner, the Bowdoin, are of for Baf6n
Land
The truth is that Bafiin Land is undiscov-
cred country. 1t was discovered" away back In
the Seventeenth century (15841622) by William
Rafsin--that is that hardy English explorer dis
covered and charted Baffn bay, which lies be-
tween Greenland and Bafhn Land. So he neces
sarily discovered the east coast Of Baffn Land
But no man has ever sailed around Baffn Land
And white man has ever penetrated to its In
ter1or.
Macmillan therefore does not know what's
ahead Of him. But the Eskimo who live the
big island have told him wOndrous tales Of tower
Ing mountains with great glaciers; vast lakes;
birds new to science and of great size; beautiful
towers; herds Of reindeer. The island, 1t is
timated, is about LOCO miles from north to south
from Lancaster sound to the Gulf Of Boothia. 1t
is anywhere from 200 to 800 miles wide east to
west. Its coast line is an ice-capped plateau
with an altitude Of from 5000 to 5000 feet. The
interior supposed
with ice. The western coast, vaguely indicated
on the maps is drawn from statements made by
Eskimo.
This western COAST, according to stories told
Macmillan by Eskimo Is inhabited by people who
have never seen white man. &c. one of the re-
suits of the expedition may be moving pictures Of
primitive people untouched by civilization.
Macmillan thinks there is coal, oil and mineral
wealth of various kinds the island Then
there is terrestrial magnetism to be studied from
kryvn, ttA tlo Ian
the aurora borealls Is to be photographed.
Macmillan is a veteran In Arctic exploration
He was born In Provncetown, Mass, In 1874, and
was 'eS track and gridiron star at Bowdoin.
In early life he taught the young idea how to
shoot. He in the Peary Arctic Club North
Polar Expedition Of 190S-O9; frozen feet put him
out Of consideration for Pearys final dash to the
pole He was a member Of the Cabot Labrador
party In 1910 and did chronological work among
the Eskimo Of Labrador in 1911 and 1872 He
headed the Crocker Land exploring expedition in
1918. After four years during which time two re-
lief parties were dispatched in search of him and
third formed. word came through that the
little party safe at Etah, Greenland. He
had learned that Crocker Land largely n
myth
The Bafin Land Arctic Exploration-the official
title Of the little company that Macmillan will
commands being financed by group Of
Bowdoin The plans provide for alb
sepce Of two years. The plans do not provide
for relief expedition. II the Bowdoin Is crushed
in the ice the party will retreat by sledge to For,
Churchill the trading post at the foot of Hudson
bay and return to civilization by way Of North
srn Canada.
Macmillan has carefully selected his compan
IONS The members of the expedition. In mos
instances, he has known for years and several o.
- shem have been his shpmates on previous voy
ages His mate is Jonathan Small ("Jot') o.
Provincetown, Mass, who with him for fou
years ON the Crocker Land expedition and whom
the explorer describes through and through
sailor and the best story teller ever met" An
other former shipmate is Thomas McCue Of Bri
rus Newfoundland, the cook who with tn,
explorer trip through Hudson bay last year
Harold Whtehouse Of Boothbay harbor, anothe
experienced sailor. Is engineer.
Ralph r. Robinson Of Hayerhill, Mass, will b.
me espasEer's general assistant during the expe