Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-12-02
PERILS NEAR THE POLE.
Aieutensnt sehwstka's Experimental
Sled Journey of 3.2nI MiIes--A ieohoI
worse Than UseIoss--The TheFmom-
eter 1Oa Degrees ReIayv Freezing.


Franklin search expedition were pre-
sented by Lieutenant Schwatka, at a
meeting Of the Academy of Sciences In
New York.
Beginning with the use of alcohol,
Lieutenant Schwatka emphasizes the
fact that not or-D of ardent spirit of
any kind was used in his sled journey of
3,25l miles. In shost lcLIneys and
hunting expeditions where there was
ample room foa baggage it was consid-
cred that alcohol might be carried, and,
If used in moderation would raise the
temperature of the body slightly and
tend, as elsewhere to increased comfort.
But on long journeys ardent spirits could
not be carried in bulk without displac-
ing other indispensable articles. Alco-
hol was not regarded as necessary and
was not considered good heating
agent. The injurious effects Of intense
cold, however, had sometimes been
wrongly ascribed 10 the use Of Ii quor
On shipboard the general use of alco
tolic stimularts was considered bad,
and only allowable when every possible
chance Of scurvy was removed by the
character Of the food.
In regard to temperature, Lieutenant
Schwatka said that his party had en-
countered the most intense cold ever re-.
corded by white men-seventy-one de-
grees, or lo3 below the freezing point.
On that day the camp WAS moved ten
miles, and no unusual inconvenience
was felt. 1t was not the intensity Of
the cold that was unpleasant. All suf-
fering was caused by the direction and
violence of the wind. With the ther-
mometer at sixty degrees no especial
trouble was met with, but at tempera-
ture fifteen degrees higher, with the
wind blowing straight in the faces of
the men, frost-bites and great suffering
were common. The white men would
freeze their noses or the exposed por-
lions of their cheeks. The coolest days
were perfectly calm; on warmer days,
with the exception OF few days in mid
summer, the wind blew constantly.
But it was considered that 10 men clad
in warm clothing temperature was not
material, and the longest journeys could
be undertaken without fear. When the
thermometer sank TO seventy-one de-
grees the sky was Of leaden hue,
varied with brownish red near the sun.
Clouds of vapor rolled from everything
animal. When the expedition stopped
1t was enveloped in steam. Musk oxen
and deer could be detected at distance
Of five or six miles by the vapor about
them, and the Esquimaux claimed to be
able 10 distinguish the kind of animal
by peculiarities in this vapor. Water
poured on ice caused "A cracking like
miniature tirecrackers, and the surface
of sheets OF ice was gray and OPAQUE
from the unequal expansion. The
sound of the runners was like that
caused by a resined bow or iunin Q. fork,
and, heard at n distance, rescmbled an
Kolian harp. In the most extreme cold
the acclimatiZation OF the white men
proved AS perfect as that of the natives.
At a very low temperature the beard
became a block OF ice and the lips and
nostrils were nearly glued together.
Exercise. though important, was not so
essential as has been stated, there never
being n necessity of exercising 10 the
point of fatigue. For Arctic explorers
strong circulation and n tendency not
TO perspire proiusely are desirable. The
common theories regarding the danger
of using snow were at variance with
Lieutenant Schwatka's experience. At
thirty degrees the snow freezes tempo
rarily, the mucuous membrane of the
mouth causing burning sensation. If
this be often and rapidly repeated il is
highly injurious, but snow and ice
taken in moderation at long intervals
are of great service in quenching thirst.
Drowsiness was not experienced in con-
nection with great cold. and 1t WIS
considered as resulting usually from a
sudden change from shipboard to out.
ot-door life, or from an insufficient ac-
cllmatization.
Near. sightedness, though attended
with some discomforts, gave certain
important advantages. The glasses be-
came readily covered with CONCEALED
moisture from the heat, but with the
50 uniting common to near-sighted per-
sons were an efficient protection against
the glare of the sun upon the snow. No
one who was near-sighted suffered from
snow blindness, while the Esquimaux
were troubled with this more than the
white men. They also suffered from
chronic opthalmia and the deposits
caused by cataracts. In very cold
weather the huts were buried two or
three feet deep in snow. 1t was advis-
able to change these huts as often as
possible, because the constant freezing
and thawing made them mass of trans.
lucent ice, and exhalations from the
breath, bodies and fires became con-
gealed on the walls, continually falling
of and causing little snow-storm in
the interior.