Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-26
TO THE POLE BIZ BALLOON.
Commander Chevse's Preparations for the
Fitting Out Of an EspeditjoM.

Commander Chevne's Preparations for the
Fitting Out Of an Kspedstsom.
New York Sun, Dec. 12.1
Commander Cheyne starts for Montreal
tomorrow by invitation of Sir John Mac
Donald and Dir Samuel Legnsrd Tilley to
interest the Canadian public in his scheme
for reaching the North Pole by balloon
expedition. Mr.. Tilley is already mem
Der Of the London Committee which is
getting subscriptions. Commander
Cheyne said yesterday:
"The idea is that it shall be an Anglo
American expiditien, to be fitted out by
popular subscription. 1t will require
$50, 900 to fit it out, and $40, 900 is to be
raised in each country. shall be in
Canada until January 20, and in my abb
sence the interests Of the expedition here
will be looked after by MI. Henry Walter
Grlnnell, who will be the secretary Of the
committee that is being gotten up in
New York. The Hon. John Davidson has
formed committee in Elizabeth, N. j.
1t is my intention to form similar COM
mittees in the principal cities of the
country in connection with my lee
turing tour The ship Of the
expedition is to be called the
Grinnell, after Mr.. Grinnell's father, the
celebrated patron Of Arctic exploration.
Lieut.. Schwatka has arranged to accom-
pany the expedition, provided he can OBJ
tain the consent of the government. The
three balloons, which will cost $40, 900,
will be made in England and will be
shipped IN this country. New York will
be the starting point of the expedition,
and we expect to start in June next. We
shall go to st. Patrick's bay, where Capt.
Mares found an immense bed of fine coal
lying on the surface. We shall build q
house directly upon the coal. We shall put
up apparatus and manufacture hydrogen
gas for the balloons. The place is six miles
from where Capt Mares ship, the Dis
covery, wintered in 1s75-'76, and is 49e
miles from the pole. When we get the
right wind, it will take US eighteen or
twenty four hours to reach the pole"
Commander Oheyne says that the expe-
rience of the Jeanette 10 only another
confirmation of the fact that it is impos-
sible to reach the pole by means of ves-
sells. In his opinion the region of the
pole is an archipelago bound in solid
ice-paek, presenting no opening for nav
1gation. Each ballon will be provided
with sledge, boat, and provisions for
fifty-one days, and will reel out telegraph
wire as it travels, keeping in communi-
cation with the main station. If during
the stay Of the party at the pole the
gas should escape SO as Sc
slously to impair the levity
of the balloon the gas of one can be used
to initiate fully the two others. The bal
looms will be weighted SO as to travel
low, and Commander Cheyne is confident
that he can land within ten miles of the
pole. He anticipates ne difficulty from
cold during the balloon voyage, which Is
to take place in June of the summer after
the expedition sails. "The occupants of
the cars" said Mr.. Cheyne, twill. have
to work with their coats off to keep
COOL"
The expedition will be composed Of
seventeen men, who will be joined by
three Esquimaux at Greenland. Orders
have already been sent from Denmark to
Greenland directing the authorities there
to aid the expedition in every way posi-