New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-19
8


learn quickly what to do with machinery. But
they not vigilant they might be in the
preservation Of the conveniences OF civilization.
Lieutenant Peary left his hut, a comfortable
affair to an Esquimau family but they soon
allowed themselves to he burned out Of house
and home Then they went back to their old
hut and their traditional oil lamp. Lieutenant
Pearys long intimacy with the tribe on Smith
Sound has enabled him to make minute observe
tons as to every detail Of their lives. They are
far from retiring or reticent Indeed. the author
is embarrassed by the unblushing wealth Of his
information. most Of which remains in manu-
script and photograph instead OF being reduced
to print and photogravure.
In the account of Andree's balloon by Lacham-
bre and Machuron the men who prepared IT for
its voyage the passages Of special interest in the
light Of subsequent events are those relating TO
the enlargement Of the airship after the failure
Of the first attempt 10 leave Danes Island be-
cause OF the approach Of winter. The rumor
that the balloon leaked the second season is
Widespread. NJ. Lachambre writes that II was
on his advice that the volume OF the balloon was
increased. This was done by adding two zones
Of silk Of treble thickness. thus bringing the
cubic measurement Of the balloon to about five
thousand metres" Its previous capacity was
about forty-fve hundred cubic metres The re-
suit Of the addition. according to NJ. Lachambre.
was an increase in the ascending power Of
nearly three hundred Kilometres" After the ad-
dition had been made to what might be called
the waist Of the balloon. the outer envelope
was revarnished inside and out" and was sent
back to the north. 1t was estimated that It
would carry ballast TO the amount OF seventeen
hundred kilos. and that at the very least It
would keep up for thirty days But the time
could be extended by sacrificing one part OF
weight after another that II was hoped the
voyage could be extended to fifty days II neces-
sary. without danger of having TO sacrifice any
food or indispensable apparatus Of the expedi-
ton In order to make sure Of the tishtness Of
the balloon strips Of light material were satu-
rated with acetate Of lead, which backens IN
contact with sulphuretted hydrogen gas. and
every part OF the balloon above the Equator
WAS tested after imitation. In this way all leaks
even the smallest it is claimed were found and
stopped While this work in progress. and
before It was completed. the leakage found
10 be about thirty cubic metres a day. or one
and one-fourth cubic metres an hour. After the
! repairing was done. it is supposed that this
waste ceased but. in fact. no direct assertion is
| made by NJ Machuron that this was the case.
| He merely gives the date on which the work was
completed His expert description OF the buoy
ant departure Of the balloon, however is reas-
surfing
Mr. Stanley's book on gold hunting in the
frozen soil and amid the SHOWS OF the Klondike
makes no claim TO literary rank Il is ap-
| parcntly however a record Of experience. The
| author seems to have known before what 10 90
| in prospecting. lie and his party eased the diff
| hcultes OF travel in a wild region They took
| Lo chances in dangerous passes. and they hus-
| banded their strength. His conclusion is that
the Yukon valley is n place only for those who
are strong physically ard hardened 10 labor.
but that such persons are on the whole sure Of
! a living. He includes in his book letters from
women who braved the Arctic winter and re-
| turned with health and more or less treasure
| What h calls a grub stake'-that is a place
where enough gold can be found TO keep starva.
/ tior at arms lengths in his opinion easy to
/ find, but at distances continually increasing
! from the present centres of trade and popula.
| fion ciVss much pracfical adtrica ne 70 80,