Fahnestocks Will Carry

On Another Pacific Expedition

Mrs. Bettie Fahnestock, From

her home 'in America, is already planning, with Sheridan Fahnestock and his mother, a future expedition into the Pacific after the war. They hope to extend the work already done by previous Fahnestock expeditions, and, in par ticular, carry on the work of the late Captain Bruce Fahnestock.

A report of the death, on active ser vice, on October 18, 1942, of Captain A.

Bruce Fahnestock was published in the November, 1942, issue of the “PIM” and it was described, then, how the Fahne stock family had contributed magni ficently to scientific research in the Pacific.

The last Fahnestock expedition was in the Pacific between February and October, 1940, in the three-masted auxiliary schooner, “Director II,” and it included scientists from the American Museum of Natural History. Native music, rock carvings and various cultures were studied. In October, 1940, the ex pedition arrived in Brisbane, en route for the Great Barrier Reef, where the scientists expected to make further re search.

However, they were overtaken by disaster. On October 18,_ the “Director II” ran on to a reef four miles from the pilot station, outside Gladstone, Queens land, and became a total wreck. It was later estimated that 20,000 dollars worth of the expedition’s equipment was lost, but charts, which were being made for the British Admiralty and the United States Hydrographic Office, were saved.

On checking back over the dates, now, it seems like tragic coincidence that Cap tain Fahnestock should have lost his life, two years to the day, after his schooner went up on the Gladstone reef. The Fahnestocks and their scientific expedi tions were well known to many Pacific Islands people, and it is hoped by all— even if it is not actually expected—that before long the Pacific will be free to them once more.