The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-11
Pounds.
Two passengers, 275
Weight of balloon, 500
Car. net, and hoop, 25O
Anchor, instruments, guns, bed
ding, etc., 125
Provisions and water, 545
Weight of hydrogen gas, 255
Apparatus, 400
Ballast, 100

Total, 2,45OH
"But although the capacity for 2, 450
lbs. would require to be 35, 900 cubic feet
to allow for expansion it would be neces-
sary to be Al, 900 cubic feet. And instead
of only the usual varnish, namely. boiled
oil, which is considered sufficient for Or
dinary voyages, 1 propose to coat the
fabric with caoutchouc or guttapercha.
The car, of light, strong wickerWork,
6 feet long, 5 1-3 feet wide and deep,
would depend from the hoop in the ordi-
nary style in fact, the ballon when COM
pleted, is in no way different externally
than one used for ordinary ascents, with
the exception of the two pipes leading
into the neck of the balloon. propose to
use only, one valve, and place it in the
neck, as it would hardly ever be used. AS
to provisions, intend or propose to take
only such as to contain In a small space
great mutriment, such as pemmican,
cocoa, biscuits, etc. "
Mr.. E. &. Jackson, the leader of the
Jackson -Harmsworth expedition to the
North Pole, which has created so much
interest, has become a regulation lion
since his return. In conversation re-
garding his experiences the other day he
said that the party passed the winter
QS96-97) very busily, happily, and COM
fortably. Scientific observations and
researches of all kinds were conducted to
UQ0 CCIlCSU 6AlGuU. vi NldfCn 10 MT.
Armitage and he left with sledges and
two teams, c onsisting Of the pony and
thirteen dogs, to go round western Franz
Josef Land and define It's limits. In spite
of terrible weather they discovered on
March 2S O new headland and ford, and
on March 80 rounded the N. E. extremity
of the western land. Then they proceeded
westward, having explored all the vest
ern shores of the British Channel to the
Queen Victoria Sea.
On April Z they had lost all but five
dogs when north of the head of Cam
bridge Bay, and on April 10 were forced
to take to the high glaciated land, as
open water up to the glacier face cut off
all advance upon sea ice. On April q
the pony died, which necessitated the
leaving behind of all the equipment not
absolutely essential.
Later they reached Cape Ludlow, where
Mr.. Jacskon shot the only bear they had
met with, and on the 29th they rounded
Cape Neaie.
Mr.. jackson has solved most inter
esting geographical problem, for he not
only determined the northern coast of
Franz Josef Land-hitherto absolutely
unknown-but he has also been able to
decide the much-vexed problem of Gillies
Land 1t is now quite clear that this
much discussed land does not lie where
Arctic geographers have been in the habit
of putting it, and that therefore it may
be said to have ceased to exist-unless
Cape Mary Harmsworth, the S. w. ex.
tremity of Franz Josef Land, can be said
to have taken its place.
On the question OF reaching the North
Pole Mr.. jackson said aa follows: "As
a result of this expedition | believe that
the possibility of reaching the Pole by
way of Franz Josef Land is more than
doubtful"