MIKKELSEN'S ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8529, 6 September 1907, Page 5

MIKKELSEN'S ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

REPORTED TO BE LOST,

Received September 5, 8.27 a.m. OTTAWA, September 4. A message from Winnipeg reports that Mikkelsen's Arctic expedition has been losL (On March 21st it was reported that Mikkelsen's Anglo-American Polar expedition, in the schooner Duchess of Bedford, was frozen up 200 miles off Port Barrow, Alaska. Preparations were at that time being completed to explore the unknown country to the north, where there were said to be indications of the existence of a large island not far from the mainland. Mr Mikkelsen, in charge of the expedition, was a Dane. He was accompanied by several trained observers. Many difficulties were early encountered, owing to the unfavourable season, which so delayed the ship (a small vessel) in its voyage eastward from Behring Strait that Point Barrow had not been passed on August 18th of last year, and the leader had little hope of reaching the proposed winter quarters in the western part of the Arctic Archipelago before being frozen in. His plan was, however, to stay out for two or three years, if necessary, and there were hopes of some light being thrown on the quest ; on of the existence of land in the hitherto un • traversed ocean to the north, besides valuable observations on various branches of science. Mr Mikkelsen's expedition was supported by funds contributed in England and America.)