The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-02-11

Commander Cheyne, X. NJ, who for
some time past has been lecturing in
various parts OF the country on a pro-
posal for a new expedition 10 reach the
North Pole, has been promised tho as
sistance of thirty-five town committees,
and hopes by the forthcoming spring
TO collect all the necessary funds. Cap
tain Templar, whose experiments with
balloons have attracted so much atten-
tion, will. il is stated, go with the ex-
pedition and will provide the balloons
at his own expense. The course OF the
Gulf Stream. after passing Spitzber-
gen, is entirely unknown, and Com
mander Cheyne infers that the current
sweeps around the polar basin Ga theo-
~ which accounts for the indrift
through Behring's Strait and returns
around the north and east OF Green
land as great body OF cold water. He
proposes to utilize this current by pro-
ceeding up Davis Strait and Baffin's
Bay, then turning 10 the west, steam
up Lancaster Sound and Queens Chan
mel, emerging on the verge OF the un-
known. The vessel would then take a
north th-northwesterly direction until the
set of the current was felt, when her
course was altered to due north. BY
this arrangement, should the ship drift
she would move toward those regions re-
Gently explored by Captain Mares par
ty under Lieutenant Aldrich. In any
case she would push on through any
available opening in the ice until her
advance was definitely arrested, which
check would arrive with the advent OF
winter Here commences the novelty
of Captain Cheyne's method. In add-
tion 10 the usual equipment Of sledges,
etc, the vessel would carry on board
balloons, each one capable Of lifting
about ton weight in addition 10 the
men. Iron tanks and holders would
also be supplied to hold the gas for
the imitation of the balloons. When
the ship became beset in the pack.
three balloons would be inflated and
joined together by means Of three light
spars so feet long, forming triangle
with a balloon at each angle. This
would be employed in carrying the
boat, cars, sledges, provisions, tents,
ballast, etc.
Commander Cheyne believes with
Many that the currents of air in the
Arctic regions are chiefly directed
towards the Pole. He, therefore, pro-
poses during the first winter to estab-
lish two observatories about thirty
miles apart, with the ship as a centre,
in order 10 approximate the diameter
OF the wind circle, so that with the end
Of May the balloons may start upon a
curve already ascertained with tolerable
.l.sa NI,o 1tak
of the vessel from the pole aud the
course TO be followed being known, the
travellers would be enabled 10 drop
within ten or twenty miles of their des-
tination. Wire trail-ropes would be
used for preserving an equal altitude
above the ice When found necessary
to descend, the gas would be preserved
by re-introducing il in q compressed
form, by mechanical means, into the
receivers, there to held in readiness for
future use. In the event, however, OF
a dead calm, progress on foot would
be, Captain Cheyne thinks, a matter Of
but little difficulty. Assuming the
journey 10 have been successful in its
object, the gas would be exhausted, as
described above, and the balloons Sc
CuItu Nulle tue utCtoHdIy DselNdtlbuS
were being taken. Should the wind be
favorable, the return journey would at
once be made, the balloons being ar
rested on the parallel OF latitude upon
which the ship was left blocked. The
commanding officer left in charge
would send out sledge parties daily to
meet the balloons aud give whatever
assistance might be required. Ga the
breaking up of the ice the ship would
leave her winter quarters and push
round the northern extremity OF Green
land. A second winter wonld here be
passed, the time being spent in making
a survey Of the coast and other scien-
tifc observations. During the follow
ing summer the vessel wonld return
home between the continent OF Green
land and Spitzbergen. Should, howev
er, no favorable wind arise 10 carry him
back from the pole to his ship. Com
mander Cheyne intends continuing his
serial journey. aud trusts good fortune
to drop in Russia wherever inhabitants
are 10 be seen. Hull, (Eug.,) Adver-
tlser