Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-17
B0WD0IN STUDENTS
HEAR MACMILLAN
ON ARCTIC TRIP

Brunswick, Oct. 16.-Donald B. Mac
MILAN, explorer and scientist, : adj
dressed the student body of Bowloin
and many townspeople at chapel Fri
day morning on his recent trip to the
Arctic regions. He was introduced by
Dean Paul Nixon. Commander Mac
Millan's pleasing personality @and
splendid ability to picture the wonders
of the Northland were much appre-
ciated by the students.
The speaker carried his listeners
through the entire summers expert
ences. calling attention to the marvel
Gus advance science has made whereby
through the use of the radio he was in
constant touch with the civilized
world. Commander Macmillan told of
early attempts to reach the land
which was first noticed many Years
ago and which had never been reached.
1t was finally placed on the map far
out in the Polar Seas. Either there
is a great mass of land there or. else
the ice is on the bottom said Mac
MILAN.
Commander Macmillan told Of the
Importance to the world in the study
tides, and illustrated what was indi-
Gated to scientists in his report. There
is a land somewhere beyond thosetvast
ice fields and great Polar Seas. bat no
adequate reparations have yet sheen
made on any expedition to discover it.
In 1914 his expedition travelled for
many days toward big white hills,
and when they made their snow House
and lay down at night they seemed
less than a days journey away, In
the morning the hills had disappeared
and the company went on, and at hight
they again seemed near at hand, hut in
the morning no longer existed.
Whether it was a mirage or what,
the speaker was unable to say. II
this land is to be reached, 1t must
be reached through the air, but the
heavier than air machines were not
adapted to the work and the expedi-
ton from this standpoint was afail-
ure.
1.-THE land followed us all thesway
home" said the speaker. 1T must
be reached by the air for it cannot
be reached by boat or dogs" It was
a difficult task for the Peary, aAship
of 1923 feet in length, with beam of
"a feet, drawing Is feet of water,
to transport these planes and there
were many times when there was
danger of losing both ships and
planes. 1t was due to the captains
experience and skill that the Peary
made the expedition in salty. The
three planes weighed $500 pounds
each. He paid the highest compile
ment to the men who made the trip.
AS a proof of this he cited the incl
dent that in three days the three
planes were assembled. 1t was
difficult task to find either open
water or solid ice. In one night
place that was covered with ice was
swept clear. One plane went up
10000 feet tbut no new discoveries
were made.
Finally when two planes We're out
of commission Macmillan after much
consideration and against the pleas
of his men abandoned further work
with them. On the return trip the
Bowdoin ran onto ledge and rip
ped off her shoe splitting her keel
Thirty nine drums of gasoline We're
thrown overheard and the ship final
ly came off the ledge under her own
power. The crew later picked up 80
of the drums. A record trip was
made to South Greenland. At last
an iceberg nearby capsized. creating
a great wave and the ship fioated or
on the crest of the wave.
The most primitive songs OF the
world from Etah in the farthcst
northland were received and broad
casted so that they were heard IN
the United States. A most interest
ing part of the lecture was the de-
scription of the discoveries made OF
former homes and settlements of the
Mortimer and Vikings. The Eskimo
recites interesting stories of these
brave men who explored the seas IN
open boats The norsemen who lived
in Greenland had farms. MACMILLAN
discovered many of these farms,
communities that existed fully 1900
years ago. In the work of these
Norsemen and in their fearless eX-
petitions are found the first chapter
in American history. The speaker
described a church found in that far
northern country. which was built TO
serve not only as place of worship,
but as fort.
When the Peary and Bowdoin were
at Monhegan, the barometer reachel
a lower point, said the speaker, than
at any time in his experience VITA
but one exception.
1t is always wise for a man to have
more than one objective. The botany
of Labrador is unknown, said the
speaker. Scientists who accompan-
led him brought back no different
kinds of beautiful flowers. and 5000
photos of bird, animal and plant life.