The Raymer enterprise., 1922-06-22

IL sumo the WORK interrupted last year
4 by mishap He started from Norway
under government auspices to explore the Arctic.
After drifting through the Northwest passage his
vessel, Maud had propeller blade smashed In
the Ice off the northeastern Siberian coast. So
the Maud was taken to Seattle for repairs. The
sturdy vessel was thoroughly refitted in Lake
Union. Seattles fresl-water lake. And that's how
Il happens that Amundsen's second start is from
America.
Amundsen visited Washington before his start
and evidently established friendly relations with
Uncle Sam. 1--WE want to find out what Is In
the Arctic circle" he said there. at is believed
that the information which may be obtained from
thorough inspection Of the territory around the
pole will be of value to science"
II am going to retire from the exploring busl.
ness when this trip Is finished" he said II have
been engaged In making explorations ever since
was twenty-one years old, and think 1t Is about
time to rest n little bit. The life Is very hard
one and makes great demands upon strength and
vitality. At any rate, have been at It for a
good many years and have had about enough"
Jules Verne has nothing on RonId Amundsen,
as the Norwegian outlines his plans for exploring
the roof Of the world His expedition will not be
like those which have preceded it. its vision
will not be confined to few miles on either side
take In at glance objects 200 miles away.
1t will not be for years cut off from touch with
the outside world leaving friends and relatives
to wonder IL the northland had smashed In Its
Icy fist the hardy adventures who encroached on
Its Businesses. Instead, II will talk by radio
every day with all the world
1t will not have spent years charting merely a
narrow strip but, with the aid of aviation will be
able to chart 100000 square miles, sketching
tae currents OF the air as web as those of the
sea. He hopes to accomplish with his airplanes
In fve-years' voyage what would take a score
OF years. millions of dollars md many lives II
only ship and dog sleds were employed
Now, here's another view of the expedition
based upon the additional fact that vilhjalmur
S.efansson, the famous Canadian explorer Is also
headed for the Arctic. Capt C. d. Petersen, the
Lone Wolf of the Arctic" skipper of the whaler
Hermann, thinks there's something doing beside
science In these two expeditions Captain Peder-
sen was In San Francisco just before Amundsens
departure from Seattle. He said he was anxious
to SAIL so as to get a rng-side seat under the
aurora boreas. From that vantage point he
wants to watch what he says Is history's great.
est international marathon across the top OF the
world, in which the untold riches of the north.
land will reward the victor
Principals in the international race to the pole
will be Road Amundsen, discoverer of the South
Pole, who'll represent Norway, and vilhjalmur
Stefansson who'll carry the flag of Great Britain.
They'll start as soon as the Ice will let them
Amundsen from Seattle with ship equipped with
alrplanes and RADIO Stefansson from Wrangel
island with the old-fashloned equipment Of dog
sled.
The two explorers tell the world they'll shut
themselves Off from civilization and risk their
lives in Arctic Icepacks for the glory Of discovery
and scientific achievement.
But "Wolf" Petersen says there's more than
that In the expedition. He sees race for vast
treasures hidden behind the Ice barriers.
He says the explorers are seeking for Norway
and England great radlum mines vast oil fields
and coal deposits fossil ivory, diamonds, areas
Of fertile land where reindeer thrive.
Il cannot believe" Petersen says, that Eng.
land and Norway have gone to this great expense
purely for exploration purposes.
"For ! myself have seen oil ooze from the
ground nndpforn lake near Point Barrow-oll
40 pure that natives burn It in lamps without
refining!