Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-09-08
ev JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN.

1 on the coast OF LaDraQOr Anu WndI
- does the veteran explorer expect to
- find? Probably he himself doesn't
I know. But Bafin Land offers that
strongest of lures-the lure of the
unknown. And if Macmillan reaches
It's interior its west coast and gets back TO tell
the tale, two or three years from now we may be
hearing something new-and seeing it, for he in
tends to bring back moving pictures. Anyway, he
and his schooner, the Bowdoin off for Bafin
Land.
The truth is that Bafin Land is an undscov-
cred country. 1t was discovered" away back in
the Seventeenth century (15S4-1622) by William
Bafhn-that is, that hardy English explorer dis
covered and charted Baffin bay, which lies be-
tween Greenland and Bafin Land. So he neces-
sarily discovered the east coast of Baffn Land.
But no man has ever sailed around Bafin Land.
And no white man has penetrated to its in
terior.
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
flowers herds of reindeer The island, 1t is
timated, is about 1000 miles from north to south
from Lancaster sound to the Gulf of Boothia 1t
is anywhere from 200 to 500 miles wide east to
west Its east coast line is an ice-capped plateau
with an altitude of from 5000 to 5000 feet The
interior is supposed to be largely Of rock covered
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. So, one of the re-
suits of the expedition may be moving pictures of
primitive people untouched by civilization
Macmillan thinks there is coal, oil end mineral
wealth of various kinds the island. Then
there is terrestrial magnetism to be studied from
observations taken the magnetic pole. Also
fhQ lie ic IN hQ nhntnU aTNho
Macmillan is veteran in Arctic exploration
He was born in Provncetown Mass, in 1874 and
'98 track and gridiron star at Bowdoin
In early life he taught the young idea how to
shoot. He was in the Peary Arctic Club North
Polar Expedition of 190S-09; frozen feet put him
out of consideration for Peary's final dash to the
pole. He was 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
1913. After four years during which time two re-
lief parties dispatched in search of him and
"a third was formed word came through that the
little party safe at Etah, Greenland He
had learned that Crocker Land was largely a
myth.
The Baffn Land Arctic Exploration-the official
title of the little company that Macmillan will
commands being financed by a group of
BowdOin men. The plans provide for an alb
sence of two years. The plans do not provide
for relief expedition. If the Bowdon is crushed
in the Ice the party will by sledge to Fort
Churchill, the trading post at the foot of Hudson
bay, and return to civilization by way Of North
sern Canada.
Macmillan has carefully selected his compan-
ions. The members of the expedition, in most
instances. he has known for years and several of
them have been his shipmates previous voy-
ages. His mate is Jonathan Small ("JotO of
Provincetown, Mass, who with him for four
years the Crocker Land expedition and whom
the explorer describes as "through-and through
sailor, and the best story teller 1 met" An
other former shipmate is Thomas McCne of Bri-
gus, Newfoundland, the cook, who with the
explorer a trip through Hudson bay last year
Harold Whitehouse Of Boothbay harbor another
experienced sailor. is engineer.
Ralph p. Robinson of Haverhill, Mass. will be
the explorers general assistant during the expe