The times., 1901-05-27
TO HARNESS THE AURORA.
Explorer Baldwin Interested In the
Northern Lights.


NEW YORK. May 26.-'T have no
doubt that in time the tremendous cleo
trical forces which manifest themselves
in the aurora borealis will be transformed
by man into motive power to do his bid
ding. said Evelyn b. Baldwin, the Arctic
explorer, yesterday. Mr.. Baldwin's re-
mark was occasioned by an interview
from the Dundee Advertiser In this
Interview Mr.. Baldwin discussed at some
length his study of the Northern Lights
and his hope of transforming their elusive
fires into the incandescence of lamps or
the power Of motors. When asked if the
Ziegler- Baldwin North Pole expedition.
of which Mr.. Baldwin is leader, had for
one of it's aims the harnessing of the
aurora borealis. he said:
Il shall make a study OF this phenome-
non and perhaps discover methods which
will ultimately result in converting these
natural forces into artificial power. What
will be accomplished in this direction is
still beyond my ability to foretell.
This story of 'haruessing the aurora,
as it has been expressed, has been grossly
exaggerated. Some of the more credu-
lous, for instance, imagine that our ship
is loaded with dynamos, which will be
erected at the North Pole. and which will
thus draw into themselves powerful cur
rents of electricity from the axis of the
earth Others have speculated in other
ways. Now, l have never at any time
proposed the use of powerhouses or other
mechanical devices tending to harness
the Northern Lights, or otherwise de-
signed to control these supposed electrical
forces of the earth. True, 1 have pro-
posed the use of dynamos on board the
steamer for Illuminating purposes, but
they are to be run by steam or gasoline.
and not by the aurora borealis We had
such a set of dynamos on former ex-
pedition. and they proved of great utility
Nevertheless. it may be our good for
tune to learn some great truth respecting
the earths currents which will hasten
the time when men can convert them to
their own uses. l shall make particular
study of the Northern Lights. You may
judge of my interest in the subject from
the fact that l studied these phenomena
on a former expedition during two long
Arctic nights
Mr.. Baldwin then went on to say that
in watching the vast displays of color,
the long, thin, shooting streamers of. fire,
sometimes diffused and sometimes trav
erscd with lines, he had clearly estab-
h7HSN IA MS O"'i iiiiiiN ma T9
festations were a demonstration of gil
gantic electric forces. Continuing, he
said:
IF man has already learned to control
electrical force in other places, why
should he not be able to convert IL TO
his own use where it manifests such great
Intensity? Future observations. such as
we are planning. VIII show that great
electrical currents flow through space
from pole to pole. and the earth is i'm
mersed in these currents"
However great may be the difficulties,
both in reaching the pole and in utilizing
its electricity. Mr.. Ziegler and Mr.. Bald
win are determined in their attempt upon
the former and sanguine as to their sue
cess, as Mr.. Ziegler said yesterday: NO
difficulty, however great. but can be over
come. ! believe as sure as l stand here,
that Mr. Baldwin will set up the Stars
and Stripes on the North Pole and claim
it in the name of the United States. IL
he doesn't l never want to see him again.