Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-07
Another Trip to
Arctic Next Year
MacMillan's Promise

sydney. n. s., Oct. 6.-(APJ-Don-
aid E. Macmillan came out of the
northland today after three months
OF the worst summer known to men
in the Arctic" and announced that
he would return TO Labrador next
summer to search for evidences of
the route the Norsemen were SUP
posed to have taken in coming to
New England.
Macmillan drove his little auxiliary
schooner Bowdoin into Sydney and
sailed away again in four hours to
join the Peary, sister ship of his lat
est Arctic expedition, for the last leg
of their journey to Wiscasset, Me-,
MacMillan's home port Macmillan
stayed here only long enough to take
on 20 barrels of fuel Oil and TO tell
newspapermen he was convinced
that the dog still was king of the
Arctic" and was more valuable as a
means of transportation above the
circle" than the airplane. He also
said he was certain lie had found
evidence of N->rsemen visiting the
American continent many years ago.
The Peary and Bowdoin are ex
pected to reach Monhegan Island,
off the coast of Maine. by Friday
evening. Saturday they will sail to
Wiscasset, where friends already are
gathering to welcome the explorer
and his crews.
AS Macmillan steered the Bowdoin
into her berth at sydney today his
first words to those who waited for
him were THE best crew I've ever
had" and then he added, 1T was the
worst summer known to men in the
Arctic"
Every one of the fellows on board
has been cheerful and willing" he
continued. To prove his point. Com
mander Macmillan urged two of the
men to relieve the crowded condi
lions of the Bowdoin and return to
Wiscasset by train, but they object
ed. They wanted to stick until the
granted.
The explorer said his party had
found a stone church at Gotthaab.
Greenland, which he was convinced
was built by the Norsemen. for use
both as church and fort.
ANY old building on Greenland
must be either Eskimo or Morse. and
since am familiar with Eskimo con-
struction / am convinced that this is
beyond question one of the white
mans habitationS on the American
continent. My special interest on this
trip was in these ruins for l am go
ing back to Labrador next summer
to search for evidences Of the route
the Norsemen are supposed to have
followed in coming to New England.
| know that there are more at an
island near Main, Labrador. in about
Sc north latitude, and next year |
plan to do further work in that vi
entity"
Airplanes, Commander Macmillan
said, would be useful in exploring the
interior of Labrador and Baffin
Land, or 'in fact any land south OF
the Arctic Circle" The difficulty ex-
perienced with planes was in land
ing. as the rough ice on the surface
and cakes in the water meant sure
destruction.
"Of course" he continued. "the
planes this summer met with far
worse conditions than were to be OK
pected and the weather was never
suited for flight. The planes. Of
course, covered in a day lands which
dogs, but / still am of the opinion
that the dog is king of the Arctic
and that more can he learned when
he is employed"
Commander MacMillan's trip down
from Greeland was difficult. The
Bowdoin reached Labrador in a
smothering snowstorm. Then she
ran into n gale at New Foundland.
At st. George Bay conditions were
impossible so the schooner took ref
use in lee off Red Island.
SO crowded was the ship that Dr..
Paul koele, fish and birdk expert. was
sleeping in the hold so he could use
his bunk az a spread for the speci-
mems he collected in the Arctic.