The Florida star., 1901-05-03
FOR dash TO THE POLE.
Extensive Preparations Made by the Eve
Iyn Is. Baldwin Expedition.


Iyn Is. Baldwin Expedition.
Special correspondence of The Florida Star
TRoMSO. Norway. April 10. - These
are busy days indeed at the headquar-
ters OF the Baldwin arctic expedition.
Stevedores are hard at work making
ready TO stow away the tons OF prOyi-
siOns that are expected shortly from
New York. There yet remains much To
be done before Mr.. Evelyn Il. Baldwin.
the head OF the expedition. arrives from
Dundee on the good ship America. but
ii is certain that when be comes he
will find everything spick and span.
ready for the dash To the north pole.
1t is not the fortune OF many TO wit
ness the Quitting Of IA Stanch vessel
for work in arctic waters. but those
who have ever been IA participant or a
spectator will admit that the process is
interesting. albeit not very rapid. Ii
must be borne in mind that a trip 10
the northern waters is not one OF days
or months, but Of years. and provision
musN be made accordingly. There are
a thousand and one details TO he
thought Of. and the forgetting of even
seeming trifle may seriously incOn-
venience and even imperil the vOy-
ayers.
Not the least important item is the
matter OF food The present g';pedi-
tiOn will carry enough prOviSfons 10
last three years; not that the travellers
expect TO be- gone that long, but many
an unforeseen contingency may ari~c
TO delay them. Two hundred tons Of
food will be carried. and Oh Il polar eN
peditiOn 300 tons means ii much lar
ger quantity than under ordinary c..'
cumstanceS. for every particle of food
will be condensed into the Smallc@
possible space. The stores include la
con. hams. butter. hash. steak. chicken.
turkey. tea coffee. bOuillOn and aSSOrt-
ed vegetables, a great deal Of which
has been reduced TO powder or put IN
small cans and capsules.
Those on the America will find plcn-
! ty wherewith TO amuSe themselves Ia
their idle hours Books. cards.
draughts chess and the like are ri.
ready aboard. and with the provisions
will come Il ton Of assorted tobacco
and 900 pipes. so that the sailCrS Nh
hardly be in any danger of running
! short of smoking material That there
will be a sufficiency OF 'grOg" goes
without saying. for if man ever needs
alcohol he surely requires il more In
the icebound regions OF the north than
| anywhere else.
Mr.. Baldwin not so long ago caused
/ quite a commOtiOn by effecting "A corner
| in Eskimo dogs. greatly TO the incOn
venience OF rival polar expeditions. He
will carry the largest transport train in
the history of arctic exploration, his
stable including 400 dogs and IL Sihe-
! rian ponies. For the dogs be has pur-
chased 30 tons of dog biscuit. which
will add not little TO the weight of the
cargo.
In the early stages of her voyage.
which is expected TO begin some time
/ in June. the America will be accOmpa-
MED by the FrithjOf. a steamer that
will act largely as a tender for the
other vessel. Both the America and
the FrithjOf have seen service in arc.
| tic waters. In fact. the America is one
Of the finest vessels that ever visited
| that part OF the world She was for
merly a Dundee whaler named Esqui-
mau. but was rechristened when Mr.
Baldwin purchased her. Her length is
l57 feet. her beam 20 feet and her
depth 10 feet. Her sides are two and a
half feet thick. The Frithjof was for
merly used in Swedish expeditions and
can cut her way through ice like a saw
She has been provided with a labora-
tory for scientists and with cabin &C
commodations for the sportsmen who
will be members Of the party.
The people Of Tromso are displaying
a great deal OF interest in the expedi.
ton. Many OF the sailors aboard the
two vessels hail from here. They look
forward with eagerness to the trip, for
they feel that on the coming voyage
they will not eyDorience the discom
forts and priv endured by so