The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-06-21

uoIScu mas CrlO OF picked sailors and 0X-
per1enced icemen under him. When It
comes to ski and skates and snowshoes, we
comprise number of men who are skill
full upon Canadian snowshoes, of which we
have a good outfit, and in Alfred s. 4
Franklin of New York we have the second
fastest skater in America. Moreover, Mr.
Firth Of Chicago presented us with one Of
his ice bicycles which is taken along in
hopes that we may be able to try some in
teresting experiments with it at our head
quarters. It is not adaptable to the rough
ice of the pack, though doubtless good
contrivance for smooth surfaces.
Experiments In Advance.
An equipment such as ours, full Of the
latest and best that modern science and
mechanical arts can offer, is interesting in
every phase. For instance, on our voyage
up the coast of Norway part of the crew
was detailed to live for three days upon
the ration which we are to use on the Ice.
-Four men were to live for three days upon
18 pounds of food, or / n pounds per man
per day. When the whole Is pounds had
been assembled together, it was placed in
copmon water pail -Four ounces Of con-
oentrated soup stuff, occupying only the
space of sardine box, made thick, rich
porridge for all hands, containing 81 per
cent of nitrogenous matter and equaling
In nutritive value a large roast of beef.
Four ounces of American evaporated ap-
pies gave us fine dish of acidulous fruit,
and a half ounce of tea, sweetened with
few grains of saccharine, made flt COM
panion for the apples. Two ounces Of solid
meat from Chicago and six ounces of ships
biscuit gave the actual eating which seems
necessary tribute to long standing habit.
Eating is very largely habit at best, and
the day will come when we shall demon
strate the ability of man to cure himself
not of the habit of eating, but Of eating
large quantity simply for the sake Of the
comfortable feeling of fullness which man
In common with other animals 80 well en-
joys. As for that, our big plate Of soup,
the dried apples and the tea gave an excel
lent counterfeit, nourishing without heavi-
ness. We have found, in short, that our
ration of "a ounces per day is too much
rather than too little, and that II neces-
sary it may safely be diminished 25 per
cent or even SO per cent in an emergency.
A Pleasant Voyage.
Our voyage up the coast of Norway was
the pleasantest part Of our journey. We
were interested in watching the fleet of
hundreds of fishing vessels, nearly all Of
the Viking ship model, coming from the
famous Lofoden cod fisheries. 1t was
pleasant to note how the days rapidly
heightened till at the arctic circle there
was at midnight only soft, radiant twi-
light. Now there is scarcely even twi-
light, and in few days we shall see the
sun at midnight, the sun who Is to be our
constant companion ever In the sky for
several months. Within the arctic circle,
too, it was q pleasure to bask Al the warm
sun and to 60 up on deck In the early
morning stark naked and take our baths
by the simple process Of pouring buckets
OF sea water over one another. This in
the latitude of Greenland in April!
It is not always that we can do this up
here with comfort, but this is an extraor-
dinary season in the arctic. Today the
streets Of Tromso are clear of snow, earlier
than for 40 years. The people say the
weather must have been made to our Or
der, for we could not have it better. Nor
could we fail to be pleased with the pre-
diction of all the arctic navigators that
there Is SO little ice to the north that we
are sure to meet with success.
Organizing For the Dash.
Greatest pleasure Of all was to note the
ease with which we organized ourselves
for life end work on shipboard and the ra-
pidity with which Norwegians and Amer
leans become fast friends and boon COM