IN THE ARCTIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17251, 19 August 1916, Page 8

IN THE ARCTIC.

The Stefansson Arctic Expedition, some of tho members of which havo just returned to civilisation, has apparently achieved a groat deal of valuable work although handicapped near the outset by the loss of most of its scientific members. Tho expedition left Port CQarence, Alaska, in July, 1913, with a commission from the Canadian Government to explore tho polar regions to the north of Canada. Three schooners were purchased, the Karluk, tho Alaska and the Mary Sachs. Stefansson and all the scientists of the expedition were aboard the Karluk, commanded by Captain Bartlett, who accompanied Admiral Peary on his successful dash to the North Pole. Tho Karluk met a great deal of ico in her journey eastwards along tho northern coast of Alaska, and on August 5 was caught fast/off Capo Barrow. She drifted for several weeks, and by tho middlo of the following month was off the Colville River, about 150 miles east of Capo Barrow. At this point, as it appeared tliat tho ship w r as lrozen in for the winter, Stefansson, with a small party, which included Dr Jennes (anthropologist) and B. M. Wilkins (photographer), left the ship to shoot caribou. While the party wore absent the Karluk was driven away, and finally brpke up on Herald Island, hundreds of miles westward. Most of tho. Karlnk’s party perished, hut Captain Barslott, and < Mackiulay (mag-uet-ician) with six others were rescued on September 7, 1914; by the United States steamer Bear. Stefansson and his party, undismayed by the disappearance of their ship, decided to explore to the northwards, and sledged for four days over the ico, until they were stepped by open water on September 27, 1913. At this stage Stefansson sent some of his party south to the Alaskan coast, where they formed a base camp at Martin Point, 150 miles east of the Colville River. The loader and his diminished- party pushed onwards to the north until April 16, 1914, when all save Stefansson himself, Dr O. Andersen and Storkcnsen, wore ordered to return to Martin Point, tho little party of three sending hack word that they intended to push' northwards for n further fifteen days. Thoy continued northwards and discovered new land in the uncharted polar sea directly north of Martin Point, after which they returned south. In August of last year Stefansson communicated with the Government at bttawa, annoiincing that after his return south bo had purchased the steamer Polar Bear and proposed to continue his exploration to a point 14odeg W. and 82deg N. Tho next nows to be received of the fortunes of tho expedition is that which has just been cabled to tins country, from which it appeal's that the reunited party sailed eastward from Martin Point in tho Polar Bear and explored Banks Land, Victoria Land, Melville Island and Bathurst Island. In May of this year Stefansson and a party started off again to the unexplored regions of the north, with supplies for two years. Reference is made in the latest cable message to presumably recent movements of tho schooner Alaska, -but no mention has been made at any timo Bince the departure of the expedition in 1918 of tho schooner Mary Sachs. Especial interest attaches to the, announcement of. the discovery of a great field of copper, to tho location of which, however, tho cable messages givo

no clue. Stefansson’s reference to the discovery of “another Greenland’’ indicates that the leader’s explorations to the north in 1915 must have been extensive enough to couvinco him that the new land discovered to th© north of Martin Point is of very considerable area.