New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-04


British Museum in London. The sedges are cassed
~ f,lI6ys: four large size or twelve-man siedges'
eleven second size or eight-nan sedgcs and eleven
small size OF fye-man sledges two large ami TWO
small size boat or luggage sledges. four small sael-
lies or dog sledges and couple Of newly -desighe"
bridge and ladder sledges." These last are
very ingenious appliances to answer tho uouo"'
or indeed the triple, purposes Oh eieuso''
ladders. and bridges. In tho form of sledgcs'
they are is feet long. 10 feet wide. and 20 inches
deep, and have carrying capacity o1 thIeo ooi's'
They also provide safely constructed bridges IL sueu
should he needed, ladders for scaling otherwise
inaccessible places. They are made OF American,
elm wood that best gives the required qualities OF
toughness and lglrness and are 40 constructed ~
not 10 have any nails. bolts or screws about them
except those necessary for securing the steel shoeing
ia the runners It has been found that any iron
bolts. screws, or nails become trcachcrons III the
Arctic climate Tie intense cold causes them to
SNAP and when they are used for securing inc
wooden framework together the effect OF such an oc-
crrcncc is Of course disastrous. The Joints arc ado
and secured with pieces of raw hide and are put
togcther when hot, so that. when the hide
cooIs. il congcals and form, JOINT as
secure as any that could over be made by the most
skillfu carpenter or fastened 10y the strongest Oh
bolts This method Of construction IL COPIED III
found by long experience TO be the best tIat could
be desired All the larger sledgcs are oi course
drawn by men, The drag-rope Is fixed in Tie center
of the sleer and attached 10 it tho various ropes
with collars of hOrse-gith, according Ia the number
of men required. Sailing gear IN also applied 10
Some of these slelgcs. The other appliances for
ice traveling-thc ice tents AID cothing-have been
objects OF great interest 70 the largo numbers WHO
have crowded to sec The Arctic ships al Portsmouth.
rs they lie in the basin ready to sail. The tents
are notunlikc other tents. They are made OF cam
vas ia three Sizes with % double Thickness % can
vas at the bottom. and will ommodae five. eight.
or % dozen men, including an officer. heneraiiy
the officer lies on the side furthcst from the door and
the other men lie with their heads toward the out
side and their lcels toward the center. with tho cook
for the next day nearest the door. This arrange
ment il found most convenient, as the cook has, Of
course TO 10 FIRST about in order to prepare tho
breakfast for his comrades. This duty Is generally
taken by all the men in rotation but tho man who
comes oil duty last has the prvegs OF tho warihest
berth for the next nisht-thai nearest tie officer
The sleeping costume is peculiar. but very aHpro-
priatr Next the ice an iudia-rubber sheet is 10 be
placed 1h. is to be covered with thick soft Telling,
and ON this the men will lie, not, However i'll tier
ordinary day costume. Their night-dIesseS are not
indeed very prcpOssesSiag, yet they arc extremely
comfortable. They consist of suit or bag OF duiio,
into which the men place themselves before lying
down-nndressng being of course ont of The gIes-
ton They shut themselves within these thick ian
mel BAGS and cover Themselves with another flannel
blanket or covering Capt. Mares states himself that
this method of bivOu:cLiug is considering the cir
c,,,stances extremely comfortable and that, though
the beds are upon = ground OF ice. Troy are yet
warner than they would be if the tents pitched
Iii, Vnfu IL pNir rev
oompact and ingenious contIvance. and of these
will be allotted to each slclgc Like arge-sized
can in shape it contains simply kettle and stew
nan ard tho heat Is gained from lamp which viii
burn stearin of cOcOanut. Each sledgr viii carry
provisions sufficient TO last five men for seven
weeks, and, as 10 days are supposed TO be
the extreme limit Of the time it viii be neccs-
eary for them TO b. away from thor ships, IL would
seem they aro by no lkoly to die OF famine.
Tho ordinary articles Of clothing haIdy need de-
scription The materials used are for the most part
seal skins fe;lfnaught, and box cloth. and these are
worked np into the many wraps that required for
even ordinary wear in the Arctic regions.
When IL is stated that The Alert will carry D 10
tons and her cOnsort 40 tons OF provisions. some
idea will he formed of the gree responsibility M
volycd in the selection and packing OF the food
which will be required fer tho expedition Ii wouli
provided for 121 men. 1t is true some dogs will
have to be taken into considerations bus those viii
NOS he shipped till the shores OF Greenland are
reached and for tho most part they will doubtless
find their own food. The provision, consist of large
quantity OF -four Of two q,lllities-ono for immedi-
ale and one for subsequent The Alert will carry
, tons of spirits of wine for cooking purposes I'D
tons Of bread 80 tons OF beef, pork bacon. coffee,
srrar flour and preserved meats. ~ well a good
r,.servc Of clothing materials. 1.-THE meat, save that
which is salted il preserved in tins Of two sizes. six
aud four pounds, respectively, and viii comprise
rnast and boiled bcef AMI mutton rump steak, OK
check, bao- H. ysters, and French haddock. Pickles
and preserved fruits in great variety, aud in equal
quantities. will also be taken novel compound.
known rs pomnican. which will bo extensively
used on the seiGe journeys, has been
hacked in large quantities. Ii is q combination
of flour ard meal, made in something after the
Same fashion a. dog biscuit, and will
doubtless prove OF great USE. Allowances of
wine AMI sDirfa ere of cOnrse provided; and II Is
circumst snce worthy OF record that when The crews
were gathered together after the ships were put IN
commission and asked if they had any particular
rrqncst as to the provisions every man made re-
quest for extra supplies of ten and grog-that Is,
something beyond the ordinary allowance in the
navy A careful calculation IT the quantity stored
and Of the probable CONSUMPTION of the wine for he
officers, shows, says writer in one of tie London
papers, "tbat tler stores will he 81 repreensibly
co,ons as to allow of glass and half of wine and
half glass Of spirits daily Ia each officer for the
space of two years. What registering nights they viii
have. How they will keep it up. to bo sure ndnlg-
ing themselves in Wild BacchaSalan orgies over their
glass and half Of wine with their toothful of spirits
ar wbitewash or nightcap!' Notwithstanding. no
f,;r in tha Of hega
the bodily comforts of the men have been. oven in
the renotest degree, neglected. Happily this is not
all Extensive provision has been made for amnsc-
ment end for pasiime during tho many long. spare