THE MISSION OF THE "DIANA" 



The Peary Arctic Club, under whose patronage Civil Engineer Peary, 

 U. S. N., is now engaged in an expedition to the North Pole, will dispatch 

 the steamship Diana about the middle of July on the second of a series 

 of annual reinforcements proposed by Mr Peary in his original plan of 

 action. The Diana, a 427-ton steam barkentine-rigged sealer, built in 

 Greenock in 1871, and thoroughly rebuilt, reengined, and reclassed in 

 Dundee in 1891, was engaged by the Canadian government during 1897 

 in the exploration of the water route for commercial purposes between 

 Hudson bay and Liverpool. She is a fast, stanch, and commodious 

 vessel, and the best which has yet been employed in the northern work. 



The Diana is to be commanded by Capt. Samuel W. Bartlett, of Brigus, 

 Newfoundland, and will be manned by a select crew of Newfoundlanders, 

 familiar with the conditions prevailing in high latitudes. Captain Bartlett 

 is a brother of Capt. John Bartlett, of the Windward, and of the late 

 Capt. Harry Bartlett, of the Falcon, who were engaged in Peary expedi- 

 tions. The former has not returned from the expedition of last summer, 

 and the latter was lost with his ship and all on board while returning 

 from Philadelphia to St Johns in the fall of 1894. The Diana will carry 

 a scientific party headed by Prof. William Libbey, of Princeton Univer- 

 sity, for biological and oceanographic work, and a hunting party of four, 

 led by Mr Russell W. Porter, of Boston. Robert Stein, of the U. S. Geo- 

 logical Survey, of Washington, with two companions, will also sail on the 

 Diana, to be landed, if practicable, on Ellesmere land, where he expects 

 to remain for one or two years. Prof. William Libbey, with a complete 

 deep-sea dredging equipment, intends to work at the southern entrance 

 of Smith sound, determining the course and direction of the southward 

 currents, while the Porter party will be taken to the deer and walrus 

 habitats on the Greenland side of the straits. 



The Diana will take one year's supplies for the Windivard party, which 

 has not returned, and for her own party, so that in case of any unfore- 

 seen accident there will be no danger of lack of food. She will also carry 

 mail and small packages from Norway for Sverdrup, in the From, who 

 has not been heard from since his departure from Upernavik, July 30, 

 1898. The itinerary of the Diana is that planned by Mr Peary before 

 leaving for the north last summer. The hope of meeting Peary or his 

 representatives and of obtaining information concerning the winter ex- 

 periences of the Windward and Fram parties will make the voyage of this 

 summer one of more than popular scientific interest. 



It is reported that to a deputation of the Royal Geographical So- 

 ciety which waited upon him a few days since, Right Hon. Arthur J. 

 Balfour, First Lord of the Treasury, promised that the government would 

 render substantial aid in furthering the work of an Antarctic expedition. 



