IN THE ARCTIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18115, 4 June 1919, Page 4

IN THE ARCTIC.

A NEW ZEALAND DOCTOR’S EXPERIENCES. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 3. Dr Diamond Jenness, a New Zealander who has just returned from Canada, had thrilling experiences Wivfe the Canadian Government's Arctic ana Stefansson’s expedition. Dr Jenness, f aiter turee years in the frozen wastes of the north, was a year with the Canadian troops in l* ranee. In tho beginning or lyfij Dr Jenness, who tuen was in New Zealand, received a came Iroin the Canadian Uovernment asking him to join the expedition to the Arctic- lie accepted and the expedition lelt Esquimauit in June, 1913, and proceeded via JNqme, a mining centre on. tne Aiaakan -coaisix At. -Nome twq gasolene ecnooners and a vessel named tne Karluk were purchased andi equipped with Arctic paraphernalia. The expedition had a twofold purpose, to explore Beaulort Sea in search ox new land and carry out detailed scien* -fcifio mapping of the coastline and making a study, of zoology, biology, etc., in the almost unknown regions of Coronation Gulf. The expedition, therefore, divided into a northern under Stefansson to explore Beaufort Sea ana the southern party, of which Dr Jenness was a member, and whose work was to make a special study of the Eskimos. Stefansson sailed north in the Karluk, leaving the schooners with the southern party for- the time being. The Karluk, however, was fated not to return, for she was jammed in the ice. Of the six scientists with that party three perished during the terrible journey over the ice, and two more suo cumbed to disease after the island had been gained. Of the crew of twentythree two men died, one on the ice and the other on the island. The Karluk being lost Stefansson resolved to carry on his exploration by sledge, therefore he organised a Dew party and set off for Beaufort Sea, where he remained four years to the west and north of Prince Patrick Land. Meanwhile the remainder of the party, marooned on Wrangell Island, were experiencing terrible hardships. The food supply, scant at first, dwindled to practically nil. Captain Bartlett, one of the party, who had .been Peary’s captain when the American explorer reached the North Pole, set out across the ice to the shore and then made his way to an isolated Russian. settlement with news of the terrible plight of the remainder of the party. Nothing more could be done till the following summer, when the icefields broke up. Help then was dispatched by sea and the shipwrecked men on Wrangell Island were rescued in the summer of 1914. The vessels went on their way to Coronation Bay where, says Dr Jenness, “ we spent two fairly peaceable years, a little cold at times.” There specimens, plants, animals and insects were collected and Dr Jenness took up the study of Eskimo life and customs. The geologist with that party discovered enormous deposits of copper, not copper ore, but 99 per cent pure copper, somewhat similar to the great Lake Superior deposits. Dr Jenness made a comprehensive collection of specimens in the Coronation Gulf region, taking hack some eighty cams to CanadaNo* news was received that- war had commenced till November. 1916.