The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-05-06
ARCTIC DISCOVERY.
THE NEW BRITISH EXPEDITION.

] ICE MPLEMENrS-ECONOMY OF ROOM.
The following account of the preparation
going on for the new Polar expedition il
from the London Times of April II: AL
though no day, so far as is known, has beer
appointed for the departure of the Arctic ex
petition, the most strenuous and unceasinl
exertions are being made to have the two
Vessels-the Alert and the Discovery--com
pleted, as regards their hull, machinery, rig
/ ging and stores, by the 2Sth instant, The
date originally fixed by admiralty orders
/ Both vessels have received their chair
cables, and the shrouds and ratlins have
been attached to the masts. The engines
too, have been so far finished that they have
been tried in the steam basin during
the past week. The Alert will make few
hours trial Of her machinery to-day, and
the Discovery will make q similar trial OF
her machinery tomorrow. The eighteen
boats which have been built for the expedi-
ton by Mr.. John White, of Cowes, have
been received at Portsmouth, and have
given such general satisfaction that the
builder has received an order to construct a
number of similar little craft for the EN-
peror of Russia. The whole of the thirty
five sledges have also been COM
pleted, and attract considerable in
terest from the general public, to
whom they are exhibited, with other Curl
osities, in the Painters Pound in the dock
yard. The sledges are of various sizes, the
largest, twelve-m2n sledge. intended 10
carry provisions tor seven weeks, and the
smallest, four.man sledge. There are also
several dog-carrisges for the use OF the OIL
GERS, with an upright railing in front, on
which, when tired with riding, the driver
can support himself while walking by the
side. They are ali strongly but lightly
built of polished elm, with steal runners or
slides, in form resembling a double skate,
but with uniform bend upward at each end.
Not the least interesting feature connected
with the sledgeS is the simple, but highly
ingenious way copied from the whalers) Ill
which the men attach themselves to drag
ropes. 1t consists in single twist of the
Lanyard, which is Kept in its position By
means of copper bottom.
THE ATTACHMENT,
however, only remains good as long as the
lanyard is kept taut, by which two advan-
tages are gained. Should the sledge happen
to tail in hole in the ice the men can dis
engage themselves in an instant, and thus
avoid being precipitated into the chasm.
The peculiar fastening via also indicate that
the men are doing their duty, inasmuch as
the moment hauler begins to shirk work
the held upon the dTag-rope becomes
and the offender Is detached.
ing apparatus. Where more than one is re-
CURED the apparatus will he OF two kinds
one being formed entirely of metal,
aud the other, an invention, we be-
lieve, of Sir Leopold McClintOck, be-
ing formed OF wood, with an inner and outer
the top for condensing snow, and thus in
surfing constant supply OF potable water. |
The cooking stoves are circular, the heat
being Obtained by buring either spirit or
5teariDe, and by an adjustment OF sauce pans, !
)ne upon the top of another, both pemmican |
aud preserved potato or other condiment |
can To cooked at the same time. The whole /
Is protected from the weather b. an en- I
veOpe OF thick fear-nOught. When pUrsu- I
ng their slow and lonely journey in search /
Of the polar axis, each man viii be supplied /
with water bottle, resembling an /
spirit flask in shape, but with /
he mouth and cup covered with q
leather coating, for the purpose or prOte c. {
ng the mouth from cold contact with the /!
metal. The bottles win be repleDished from I
he coDdsnsers. and the water will DO kept |
n a fluid state by being carried in the |
bosom. The sledgss will also carry sup
ply of rum, of extra qualify; but this will |
only be used in cases OF emergency, as IL mas /
been ascertained that the best antidOte /
against the polar temperature is not spirit, |
BUS oleaginous food, of which permn1ican Is
highly nutritious and concentrated form.
specimens OF tSnbS, Ice Knives anu SAVE. Ice
poles, powder tins for blasting the ice, in
struments for keeping the fire holes" from
and ice-anchors are also being
exhibited at Portsmouth to the curious.
THE LARGEST ICE.sAw
IS ponderous implement, measuring fifteen
feet in length, and about 224 pounds in
weight. 1t will be used for cutting chan
lel through the pack, or for making con-
renient berth for the ships during the long
md dreary months of Arctic Winter. Il
will be worked by means of tripod sheers
md gin, aud will be guided by an ice !
While the mechanical ac- |
:essories are thus in a forward state, the
very essential element OF stores Is receiving /
iue attention. They have all been win :
Drawn from the general magazine, and have /
been temporarily placed IN separate store !
room tor easy shipment. Everything
% being embarked, so that the weight and
lraught of the vessels may be
accurately asoertsined. In the mean |
time, however, the weights OF provisions, /
stores, guns, boats, machinery, &c, have
been carefully calculated by MIR. w. B. Rob.
nson, the chief constructor, who has hesu
unremitting in his endeavors to push for
ward the work of fitting out the expedition
with all possible dispatch. The Alert will
carry five tons OF spirits of wine, ten tons
Of bread, eighty-fivs tons of beet, pork, ba-
con, coffee, sugar, flour, and preserved
meats, and ten tons of pursers' stores. The
total weight on board will be about $40 tons, |
and the estimated draught of water will be
I5 feet six inches forward, and IL feet aft. |
The Discovery, the smaller vessel of the two,
will carry four and half tons Of spirits OF
wine, nine tons of bread, seventy eight
IONS OF beef, flour, sugar, bacon, pork, COT,
fee. and preserved meats. The total
weight on board including machinery,
ETC., will be 40 tons, which it is estimated
will give a draught of 10 feet four inches
and IS feet three inches aft. Those
who desire to ascertain to what degree OF
perfection organization, foresight and me-
chanical contrivancs and sdaptability can
be carried, can not do better than pay
visit to the Alert and the Discovery. Every
thing on board, while admirably designed !
for the special purpose in view, has been so
contrived as to be readily converted TO
hot wal uh q pn