Crocker Land Party Safe 



CABLEURAl^rS VIA COPENHAGEN F]Um J.EADER OP THE EXPEDITION 



DURING the past three years, while 

 many iiiillioiis of men, crowded into 

 the relatively few square miles which 

 constitute the seat of war iu Europe, have 

 beeu reducing the reserve resources of the 

 world with incredible speed, it is reassuring 

 that a few other men in the Arctic far to 

 the north of us, a mere handful in the mil- 

 lion and more square miles of unexplored 

 laud and sea, have been adding to the Avorld's 

 resources. They have made discoveries of 

 coal and metals and rich animal life, even 

 of new lands, and while these are not avail- 

 able for civilization today, there is no doubt 

 that they will be made available, as have 

 those of Alaska, when needed in the future. 

 On June 4 Henry Fairfield Osborii, chair- 

 man of the Crocker Land committee,! received 

 a cablegram fiom the leader of the Crocker 

 Land Expedition, through the American 

 Minister in Copenhagen, as follows: 



"Spring trip, 191 (i, very successful. 

 Reached Finlay Land. Mapped unexi)lore(l 

 shores North Cornwall. Museuin records left 

 at many important points. Many si)ecimens 

 secured". Plan for further exploration in 

 March [1917]. Would advise good steamer 

 be chartered for relief." 



The announcement that the men are safe 

 and have had a large measure of success was 

 a matter for rejoicing. The good news coun- 

 terbalanced the disappointment of 1915 

 when Peary's "Crocker Land" was proved to 

 have been a mirage, and ended the fear felt 

 in many quarters, especially for Dr. E. O. 

 Hovey, of the American Museum, who Avas 

 in poor health when the last Avord came, 

 about one year ago. The satisfaction Avas 

 increased by a second cablegram giving 

 many details. The relief ships of 1915 and 

 1916 failed to reach Etah, but Dr. Hovey 

 and Captain George E. Comer, of the first 

 vessel, succeeded in covering the distance 

 from North Star Bay to Etah in a motor 

 boat. Thus all had been together and well, 

 Avith a "good warm house, plenty of fuel and 

 an adequate supi)ly of food to last until 

 August, 1917." 



The trip to Finlay Land passed over "ex- 

 cellent sledging surfaces throughout," and 



^ Composed of representatives of the American 

 Museum of Natural History, American Geograph- 

 ical Society, and University of Illinois. 



346 



through a "woiichrful (jdnic coaitlrij, icith 

 frolf, caribou, musk ox, seal, hare, ptarmigan, 

 Icmminf), fox, and polar hear." There Avas 

 "nnirli coal all ihrou(jli the region." Finlay 

 Land was reached on April 19 after tAventy- 

 nine days' sledging. It seems that game 

 failed Avest of the ninety-seventh meridian 

 and so when Finlay Laud Avas reached "lack 

 of dog food compelled retreat." 



On returning toAvard Etah, North Corn- 

 Avall Island Avas visited and its shore mapped 

 along the north, east, and southeast; also 

 five islands, not heretofore recorded, just 

 off the coast of North Cornwall, Avere put on 

 the map; also discovery was made of an 

 island ofl" the eastern coast of Amund Ring- 

 nes Island. Return to Etah shoAved "1350 

 statute miles covered in 56 days" — Avhich 

 means the very high average for Arctic 

 travel of tAvcnty-four nules per day. The 

 return was made iu considerably less time 

 tlinn the advance, in 24 days as against 29, 

 allowing for the stay on Finlay Land of the 

 3 days mentioned in the cablegram. The 

 message further makes mention of various 

 lines of scientific investigation, and speaks 

 confidently of success. This Avord Avas sent 

 out from Etah- during the Arctic night, 

 1 1 8 days after the disapi)earance of the sun. 



The Crocker Land committee will proceed 

 Avith all rapidity in its plans for sending the 

 steam sealer "Neptune" as a third relief 

 ship. If this ship fails to reach the men, 

 they Avill be compelled to resort to "Eskimo 

 methods of living — an igloo for shelter, skins 

 for clothing, and meat for food." The 

 "Neptune" Avill be in charge of Captain Rob- 

 ert A. Bartlett, of fame in connection Avith 

 the Peary expeditions. The cost of the ex- 

 pedition has been heavy, but the scientific 

 results, added to the possible commercial 

 and industrial advantages coming from it in 

 the future, are more than sufficient in value 

 to balance the monetary expense. 



- Dr. Harrison .J. Hunt, surgeon of the expedi- 

 tion, carried the cabled letter from Etah to Copen- 

 hagen, whence he is returning to New York soon. 

 The perilous journey across Melville Bay and 

 soutliward along the western coast of Greenland 

 Avas made by sledge. Dr. Hunt was accompanied 

 by Mr. W. Elmer Ekblaw, geologist and represen- 

 tative of the University of Illinois, who also Avill 

 probably soon find an opportunity to sail from 

 southern Greenland to Copenliagen and thus reach 

 civilization. 



