The Redwood gazette., 1894-10-18

tage which we get out of aluminium
boats and sledges and concentrated foods.
Besides we are going equipped for jour
ney of 10 days, which is longer period
than any other sledge party has ever been
out without the aid of depots or of land
filed with game. Going for SO long an
absence from civilization, to be prudent
we must have an ample store of medicines
and surgical instruments. of reserve cloth
ing, especially boots. We must carry
Photographic cameras and astronomical
instruments.
Being so long in a country absolutely
destitute OF fuel, we must make sure of
having enough alcohol with us to melt
our snow and do our cooking. Our weights
are made heavier, too, by the fact that we
take dogs with us for motive power, as it
is necessary to carry some food for them.
But the dogs will doubtless give us assist
ance far beyond the weight which we
must carry on account of them and en-
able us to move SO much the faster.
Without going too much into details,
which might not prove interesting at the
present moment, our weights are approx
mately as follows: The three boats, 1,2OC
pounds; oars, paddles, bamboo push poles
Tor masts), awnings, boathooks, etc., 400
pounds; five aluminium sledges, 400
pounds; one wooden sledge, 40 pounds;
alcohol, $50 pounds; Is pairs skis and
bamboo ski poles, 18O pounds; seven pairs
snowshoes, 20 pounds; sleeping bags of rein
deer skin for IA men, 14O pounds; photo
graphic instruments and plates, 25 pounds;
astronomical and meteorological instru-
ments, 55 pounds extra clothing bags for
IA men, 275 pounds; medical supplies and
surgical instruments, including lime juice
tablets and spirits, 20 pounds; tobacco, 35
pounds; guns and ammunition, 11o
pounds; food for men and packing, 2,3OG
pounds; dog cakes, 400 pounds; reserve
boots and clothing, repair tools, axes and
shovels, dishes and cooking machines, ice
creepers, incidental, $50 pounds At the
start we shall have about 900 pounds OF
devices destined to help us over our diff
culties, such as snow paths, ladders, etc.,
some of which we expect to throw away,
and all of which may be soon discarded.
After our first week it is not likely our to-
tai weight will exceed $500 pounds, OF
about 400 pounds per man, or only 100
pounds to the man and dog. With any
thing like decent load we should be able
to move along at a promising rate of
speed.
The day and week closed with no change
in the wind or ice, save that the Ragnvald
Jarl was by this time completely inclosed
by the pack. It was a dreary scene which
met the eye as we ascended to the crows
nest An expressive paraphrase might be,
water, water everywhere, and not drop
in sight!" The ocean was literally sea
of ice.
Our men still show a tendency to forget
when it is night. No one wants to go tc
bed when the time comes nor to get up at
the proper hour. Meals are served later
and later, and if we are not careful we
will slip sufficient number of cogs tc
throw us back an entire day and find our
selves serving breakfast in the evening
and supper in the morning. At midnight
half our party were ashore looking fo1
bear and sliding down the icy hills on skis
"a sport with which we Americans have
become as much fascinated as our Nor
wegian comrades. The temperature was
delightful, ranging from 16 to % F.
WALTER WELLMAN.