Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-24

the temperature is not likely to fall as low
as 20 above zero. and after June, which is
the spring of the arctics, the mercury will
hover about the freezing point in the shade,
row a degree or two above and again be-
low, but with fluctuations within the mar
row limits of ten degrees. In the sun the
mercury will frequently rise to 60, 40 or 81
degrees, and in July and August we shall
probably work many day as men are
working in the harvest and haying fields
1T hOme-in our shirt sleeves. This delight
full working temperature is to our advan-
tage in many ways. 1t raises the value of
our energy 30 per cent above that shown by
sledging parties in the frightful cold of
early spring or late autumn. 1t does not
require us to carry furs. and but little in
the way Of heavy clothing and bedding
will be needed. We shall not be often or
long delayed by storms, though now and
then snow and Slect, and more often dense
fog, caused by the enormous evaporation
resulting from the constant action Of the
Sress.
The Caravan in the Ice.
We shall set out in our march across the
Ice with fourteen men, forty draught dogs
and total weight of about Z, 800 pounds
i'll boats, sledges, Instruments clothing.
fuel and food. In round numbers we shall
! have about 100 pounds per unit Of power or
| to each man and dog. Such load, eXper-
fence has shown, can be taken forward at
single march without the necessity of re-
! traverslng, except now and then where the
difficulties of the road are extraordinary.
II this shall prove to be the case with US,
then we might hope to advance at the rate
Of from twelve to twenty miles per day.
If we can do the smaller distance, or even
but ten miles per day, ten days will carry
US well into the pack, beyond the region
| of early summer breaking up and driftage
| Twenty days will carry us perhaps to lands
which have never before been explored
| bat which are believed to exist to the north
| and perhaps q little east of Spitzbergen
| Twenty-Five days will carry us to a point
| farther north than man has ever reached
and only one-half of the time which we
may prudently use in the advance will have
/ been consumed. With twenty-five days
! more of safe season for the northward
| march how near to the pole do you think
we can get? We will give you the answer
! when we return next autumn.
Arctic Work Not Extremely Danger
The only thing that we feel certain of is
/ that we shall return-not only to Spi.z.
! bergen in September. but to Norway and To
/ America before Thanksgiving day AS a
/ winter resort Washington has more attrac-
uVeness for the members of our party than
| the sunless north. Even the north pole as
the far end of an excursion has no fascina-
/ tons for us without return tickets and a
chance to use them. OF what use to solve
| the problem without living to tell the story
doubtless 1t is true the public is weary OF
| the sacrifice of life in the northern regions
The people have read enough of arctic
! horrors, of starvation, of perishing with
cold and disease. Fond of adventure and
! or deeds of daring as they are, many men
| have come to the conclusion that the arr
| tic mystery is not worth the candle that is
| burned in human life. Yet the truth is
that three conspicuous arctic disasters
! those of Franklin, of Greedy and of DeI.ong
| have filled the popular mind with exagger-
ated IDEAS of the dangers of the far north
| The public fOrgets the hundreds of expedi-
| tons that have gone out and returned in
safety, and overlooks the fact that of all
arctic expeditions known to history, those
well and those ill planned. those which
| went on such foolish errands as a search
| for the north pole in ship and also those
which lost their men from scurvy that
now dethroned terror of the seas-the NOR
| tally was not as great 1t is every year
among a similar number of men engaged
| in the merchant marine in the tropical
| seas. The risk of life in party like ours
soundly planned well-equipped, with a base