Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-03-29
TO NORTH POLE By BALLOON.

Commander Cheyne, Of the British
Royal Navy, is making efforts to get up an
expedite to reach the North Pole by
means Of balloons. He is an experienced
Arctic navigator, having served under
Sir James Ross, and has secured the SER
vices of Capt. Templar, a well-known
aronaut. Commander Cheyne believes
that the Gulf Stream sweeps around the
polar basin, and returns by the north and
east of Greenland as a great body of cold
water. He proposes to utilize this cur
rent in the following manner. The ship
would proceed up Davis Strait and Baf-
fins Bay; then, turning to the west,
would steam up Lancaster Sound and
Queens Channel to the furthest explored
point. She would next take a north
north westerly direction until the set ofthe
current was felt, when her course would
be altered 10 due north. In any case she
would pass out through every available
opening in the ice until her advance was
definitely arrested by tho advent of winter.
In addition TO the usual equipment of
sledges, etc., the vessel would carry sew
eral balloons, each one capable of lifting
about ton of weight in addition to the
men. When the ship became beset in
the pack three balloons would lie inflated
and joined together by means Of three
light spars sixty feet long. Thus trian-
gle would be formed. with a balloon at
each angle, the whole together repres ent-
ing lifting power of about three tons.
This power would be employed in carry
ing the boat-cars, sledgss, provisions,
ten Is, ballast, etc. Commander Cheyne
proposes during the winter 10 establish
two observatories a5ou: thirty niles apart,
with the ship as center, so that by the
end Of May the balloons may start upon
q curve already ascertained with tolerable
accuracy. By this means, the distance OF
the vessel frorn the Pole and the course
to be followed being known, the travellers
would be enabled to drop within ten or
twenty miles Of their destination. Wire
trail ropes would be used for preserving
an equal altitude above the ice. When it
was necessary to descend, the gas would
be preserved by recOmpressiDg it by me-
chanical means, into the receivers, there
to be held in readiness for future use. II
the journey should have been successful
and the wind favorable, the return trip
would at once be made, the balloons being
arrested on the parallel Of latitude upon
which the ship was left ice blocked. The
commanding officer in charge would send
out sledge parties daily to meet the bal
looms and give whatever assistance might
be required. On the breaking up Of the
ice the ship would leave her winter quar-
ters and push around the northern ex-
tremity Of Greenland. A second winter
would here be passed, the time being spsnt
in making a survey Of the coast and either
scientific observations. During the fol-
loving summer, aided by the natural drift
Of the ice, the vessel would steam through
every opening, and return home between
the continent Of Greenland and Spitzber-
gen. Should no favorable wind arise,
however, to carry him back from the
Pole to his ship, Commander Cheyne in
tends continuing his erial journey, and
trusts to good fortune TO drop in Russia
wherever inhabitants are TO he seen.-
NelO York Herald.