Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1879-04-03
10 the North Pole in q Balloon.
[FrOm the New York Tribune. |

Commander Cheyne, of the British Roya
Navy, is making efforts to get up an expedi
ton to reach the North Pole by means OF
balloons. He is an experienced Arctic navi
gator, having served under Sir James Ross,
and has secured the services of Capt Temp
lar, we'll known aeronaut Commander
Cheyne believes that the Gulf Stream SWEEPS
round the polar basin, and returns by the
north and east at Greenland as a great body
of cold water. He proposes to utilize this
current in the following manner:
The ship would proceed up Davis Strait
and Battin's Bay; then, turning to the west,
would steam up Lancaster Sound and Queen
Channel to the furthest explored point She
would next take north -northwesterly direc-
ton until the set of the current was felt, when
her course would be altered to due north. In
any case, she would pass on through every
available opening in the ice until her advance
was definitely arrested by the advent of win
ter. In addition to the usual equipment of
sledges. etc., the vessel would carry several
balloons, each one capable of lifting about a
ton weight in addition to the men. When the
ship became beset in the pack three balloons
would be inflated and Joined together by
means of three light spars sixty feet long.
Thus triangle would be formed, with bal
loon at each angle, the whole together repre-
senting lifting power of about three TONS
This power would be employed in carrying
the boat-cars, sledges, provisions, tents, bal
last, etc. Commander Cheyne proposes dur
ing the winter to establish two Observatories
about thirty miles apart, with the ship as
center, so that by the end of May the bal
looms may start upon curve already ascer-
tanned with tolerable accuracy. BY this
means, the distance of the vessel from the
Pole and the course to be followed being
known, the travellers would be enabled to
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 it was necessary to descend, the gas
would be preserved by recompressing it, by
mechanical means, into the receivers, there
to be held in readiness for future use. If 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 balloons and give whatever assis-
tance might be required. On the breaking
up of the ice the ship would leave her winter
quarters ana push rOunQ the nOrtnern eX-
tremity of Greenland. A second winter
would here be passed, the time being spent
in making survey of the coast and other
scientific observations. During the follow
ing summer, aided by the natural drift of the
ice, the vessel would steam through every
opening, and return home between the CONT
nent of Greenland and Spitzbergen. Should
no favorable wind arise, however, to carry
him back from the Pole to his ship, Com
mander Cheyne intends to continue his aerial
journey, and trusts to good fortune to drop
in Russia wherever inhabitants are to be seen.