Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-06-08
The ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Trial OF . New Boat by apt. Hall.
From the Washington Chronic,s Nav 70

FROM the Warrington Chronicle, May IS.
In the fall of 1864, while the army of
Glen. Thomas was lying ut Chattanoo.
ga, Tenn, preparing to join the army
OF Glen. Sherman in its grand march, J"
while the subject of means of transpor
tation was taxing every inventive nerve
among the officers of the engineer corns.
John Hegeman, sergeant in charge Of
repairs on pontoon boats, conceived the
idea OF building canvas boats with
light lolnted frames, which, when not
in use, could be folded up and slowed
away in small space, thereby greatly
facilitating the transportation of the
pontoons from point to point, since
but one wooden boat could be carried
on wagon. He sketched out plan
of such boat and submitted it to the
chief of engineers, who immediately
ordered the construction of ten boats,
and put Mr. Hegeman in charge of the
work. subsequently go more were or
dered, and all were in readiness when
the army moved. They were used by
Sherman's army from that time until
the close of the war, and, as the official
report says, "were Indispensable"
Some time ago Mr.. Hegeman sub
mitted model of his invention to
Capt. Hall, who was endeavoring to Sc
cure the best method of transporting
his stores in his travels in the Arctic
regions. The captain was we'll pleased
with the model, and ordered the CON
struction OF two boats. one Of which
was launched and tried at the navy
yard at 2 O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
1t is great improvement upon the old
pontoon boat, being more compact and
convenient, and reduced about one-half
in weight. 1t is flat. bottomed,
square-end boat, the frame OF hickory
and ash, and supported by metallic
knees. The Stats across the bottom
are about ten inches apart, so as to
bring an equal strain on all parts of the
canvas. The frame is secured in prop
err shape, and set on the canvas, which
is drawn up over the 81 es and ends
and dashed with cords secured to the
bottom of the frame. The boat is 20
feet long, 5 wide, and 2 deep, weighs
$50 pounds, and will accommodate 20
men. When empty it draws l inch of
water, and with 16 men aboard little
less than 8 inches. Its total displace-
ment Of water is tons, and its burthen
3 tons.
The trial, which was witnessed by
several of the officers of the hayward
and others, was complete success.
When taken out of the water the pro-
cess Of Numbering and folding up oc-
cupied just three minutes. This is
done in this wise: The cords are I'M
dashed, and the canvas, loosed, falls to
the ground, the rings are slipped from
the knees, and the sides fall in on the
bottom the frame is than turned over
and the ends Tapped down on the other
side, so that when closed it occupies
about one-seventh Of the space of the
boat. The second boat will be smaller,
weighing but $50 pounds
Capt Hall, after proceeding as far as
possibly with his ship, will pack these
boats and his provisions upon couple
of sledges and continue his journey
over the ice fields. When water is
again reached he will reverse the order
OF things, that is, stow provisions,
sledges, and dogs in his boat, and take
to the watrr in good shape. Only those
who know something of mode of such
travel can appreciate the difficulty of
taking wooden or metallic boats across
the broken plains of ice, and the I'M
mence expense of time and labor re-
quired to accomplish the task Four
men can easily handle these boats,
while the others require twelve at least.
In country where an expedition must
start out with stores sufficient to main
tain the entire party of men and beasts
during the whole trip, this saving is in
calculable. Capt. Hall considers these
boats more indispensable to him
than they were to the army.
The Column OF Vendome.