The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-09-12
THE MAGNETIC POLE.
Lively Experiences OF Eavigators In High Lati-
tudes.

4
Every few people understand, or even real
| ize the care with which navigators are forced
20 watch compasses," said an ex-Naval officer
tho other day, both for variation aud devia
tion for the least undetected error adds al
infinite danger to the many dangers of sea
| faring.
Comparatively few, outside of scafarins
men, understand much about compass varia
| ton, except in vague, general way, and the
number that comprehend the troubles of devia
| ton Of tho needle are very few indeed
81 had o funny experience once" he con-
| tinued, with variation. i went to the Arctic
| in 1873 in the Tigress, with Commander now
| Commodore) James A. Greer in search of til,
were adjusted at New York, and rs that city il
only few degrees east Of the same longitude
| as the Magnetic Pole, we began our cruise with
the needle showing nearly true north
"1n our wide sweep to tho eastward TO get
| around Newfoundland, we had considerable
| variation, but as the degrees of longitude grew
| more narrow tho farther we proceeded north
| and we still kept making eastcrly until we
reached Disco, the needle would have given no
information whatever to "A landsman.
The Magnetic Polo and the Geographical
Polo are nearly 20 degrees apart; the former
being about TAO north latitude, and so west
longitude from Greenwich. Consequently, by
the time our ship reached Davis Straits the
needle pointed well 10 the westward. and swung
further around as we sailed OH. until tho night
after leaving Tesuisak-the most northerly set.
tlement-and crossing Melville Bay we reached
and crossed the latitude OF the Magnetic Pole.
When we crossed the line, the Compasscs be-
haved very strangely As we nearcd tho line
the compass cards began swinging slowly. the
length OF swing increasing each moment, until
at tho very moment of crossing, each card
4
repeated the operation for 10 or ID minutes.
The little telltale card hung on needle, swung
SO rapidly that its movement could be heard
when standing on the deck below it,
when the card in the pinnacle began swing
ing, Norwegian sailor had his trick ut the
wheel and followed the card. OF course, tho
vessel waved, and whom tho card swung buck
he steered the new course, and waved again.
The officer of tho deck yelled at the Quar-
termaster and the latter yelled at the poor
Scandinavian. who kept on faithfully following
the compass on the course he was ordered TO
steer
with each swing matters grew worse and
worse. including the erratic yawing aud tho
united, excited and emphatic yelling of the
officer and Quartcrmastcr.
"a last. when the poor devil at the wheel
had become thoroughly ratified tho card made
its FIRST full turn around, and he dropped the
spokes TO look at tho binnacle with both eyes
bullying out. When tho card made tho second
turn that finished him. IIn dashed out of tho
wheclhouse and along the deck to tho forward
deck honse, where DR.. Elston WAS, and there
threw up both hands in horror, saying Doctor,
Doctor. for God sake. give mo something quick.
I've got the jim jams, and haven't had drink
OF anything since we left ST. Johns
The man WAS excited that tho tears were
running down his face: his face WAS red
and swollen. and his eyes stuck out like bolt
heads on an iron ship Tho poor devil was in
such state that another man had to take
his trick mt the wieei-stcerng By land. marks
for an hour or more. while Lndgvist had 90
undergo sharp course OF medical treatment
10 bring him through.
IL WAS on the sIme voyage that ] saw tho
greatest variation of the compass. When we
discovered the fate OF tho Pdlarig. aud that her
crew had built a boat aud started south. NC
started back too. The ship, when We rounded
Lytgleton Island. was headed due south on her
course, but she sieerod due northwest; tho
variation was 1852 west.
Up there, when We went on deck after a
sleep, We had To look Mt the compass 10 know
whether it was day night time. aud bniore
the compass was relied upDB, wr had 80 look at
tho memorandum of variation that Lieut.
wilkins posted Mt tho pinnacle every hour
You Sec IL the sun was in tho uorihward. IL was
between p. IN. aud "a. IN. or night. aud il
TO the southwark, Il WAS daytime"