Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-29
WALKING TO THE NORTH POLE.
The Glider Expedition Getting
I;eady for the Journey.

Fran the Ae3C YORK H6FGAH.
'che work of Quitting Mr.. elders po-
lar expedition is progressing satislacto-
rily. and contributions of articles suited
hereto are being made with great liber-
alitv. Among the gifts already reported
are a handsome silk eXpeditionary flag,
made and presented by Mrs. Maria l..
Dalv. Mrs. Capt. W. W. Howgate, of
Washington, sends six oiled silk pontoons.
Lieut.. A. w. Greedy contributes valuable
hooks preference and charts. Mr.. James
Eyerard contributes five barrels of Cana
da malt beer. in bottles. The Latin II
Rand Powder Co.. of No. % Murray street
400 pounds powder. &. j. Hagliahue in
strument maker, No. ii Fulton street, is
making a dozen minimum-registerng
thermometers especially tor this eXpedi-
lion. Thev are TO be thorOuGhly tested
and corrected under the supervision OF
prof W aldo and Prof. Sherman, of Yale
college. Raymond, Clapp & Co., of Bor-
dentown, n. j., send an automatic must
cal instrument for the entertainment of
the Esquimaux. Mr.. l.. COntanseau,
RAND Foreign Express, 128 Broadway,
contributes daisy" oil stove and tree
storage of all articles intended for the eX-
peditiOn. DR.. Thomas H. Bailey pre-
sents a medicine chest complete. Mr..
Charles +. Jones, two fine breech loading
rifles, with ammunition. Commodore
Thomas f. Falls, a hunting knife and
belt; and Mrs. M. French Sheldon, read
ing matter.
AN ASSISTANT VOLUNTEER.
Mr.. W. r. Griffith, graduate of Cor
nell University, has become attached to
the party as second ia command and as
sistaut observer. 1t is probable that the
party will leave for Hudson bay and Cum
berland some time during the early part
of June. MIR. Glider has Just returned
from Washington, " here he went to con-
suit with Lieut.. Greedy and to obtain in
formation concerning the condition Of the
ice and the prospect Of finding practical
Bile route to Fort COnger from the vicinity
Of Cape Isabella. Lieut.. Greedy received
him with great cordially and unhesita-
tingly gave him the benefit of his extend
ed experience in that vicinity. Mr.. Gill
der's method Of travelling IN the Arctic is
precisely the opposite OF that
praetised by Lieut.. Greedy. While the
latter's method can be considered as rep
resentng the ultra-scientiic and thor
oughly arranged plan, the former must
he regarded IS the ultra-savage. With
one every ounce of food is carefully con-
sidered and accurately weighed. The
other goes as the native Esquimaux go,
which, though much more disagreeable,
ls the safer plan.
EXPLAINING HIS GREAT WALK.
Mr.. Glider was asked last evening what
he meant by "walking'' to the Pole. and
was told that travelling with the Esqui-
mau dog sleds was virtually walk for
the whole party. The sled can only carry
the necessary food and camp material,
and the people must 20 on foot. To be
sure, there is often an opportunity for
some one to get lift on the sled, but that
opportunity is usually mOnopolized by the
blg, strong drivers. The women and
children must walk or run alongside.
During the Schwatka journey the white
men scarcely ever availed themselves of
the opportunity to ride, even fer short
distance. Perhaps neither was upon the
sled twice during the long journey. While
N camp and short journeys became ne
3essary for hunting and fishing, or visit
ing places not far away, twas customary
fer all to ride, as then the sled was COM
paratively light and the dogs could go
upon run without Inconvenience.
SLED TRAVEL IN SIBERIA DIFFERENT.
When travelling in Siberia the sled is
used as passenger conveyance as well
as to transport the material of the party,
and therefore is seldom as heavily loaded
as is the custom with the EsquimauX.
Then the dogs move more rapidly, and
going, as is the rule. from hut to hut
where food is to be obtained Of the in
mates, provisions need not be carried on
the sled except upon rare occasions, such
as where there are no huts for great dis
lance, and the traveller is compelled to
cook his food with drift-woOd and sleep in
the open air.
Riding on dog sled is always a very
cold way to travel, and the passenger
finds himself frequently compelled to
lump of and run alongside to get up lit
tie circulation IN his half frozen VEINS. In
summer, when the snow is off the ground
aud sled could not run, the EsquimauX
pack their dogs. These dogs ere very
strong and will carry an enormous back
load. But for summer travel donkeys
would be invaluable, provided they could
be acclimated.
PROSPECTS or SUCCESS,
The water OF North Bafiin's bay, just
below the entrance OF Smith sound, is
said to TEEN with animal life, and the ma
tives of that part OF the world lind little
dlfhculty in Obtaining a sufficient supply
OF walrus and seal meat in the short sea-
son of open water which is available for
hunting purposes. That the conditions
10 that part of the world are sometimes
favorable to travel is shown by the fact
that Capt. Schley, when on the relief OF
Lieut.. Greedy, found natives of Pond in
let, which is on the west shore OF Batin's
pay, among the EsquimauX who inhabit
the Greenland coast, near Port Finkle,
about six or seven degrees further north.
In summer there would really be very lit
Tie difficulty in travelling from point TO
point during favorable weather, il sup
Piled with sufficient boats. The natives
90 not hesitate TO make these PASSAGES In
their crude and inefficient OOmiens, which
are large boats made OF walrus skins
stretched over a frame of driftwoOd. With
thoroughly equipped whalebOats these ex-
pert sailors are really Independent, and
can go wherever they please.
mere are several caches OF provisions
at different points north of Batfin's bay,
so That the very popular theory OF reach
ing the Pole by means Of stations can be
SAID to have been practically started.