The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-18
VANCOUVER 70 THE POLE
PLANS OF CAPT. BERNIER, WHO
PROPOSES TO EXPLORE
THE ARCTIC
WILL PLANT BRITISH FLAG
Claims That Dominion of Canada
Extends to Latitude Ninety De-
grees North, and Wants
to Find Out.
WILL PLANT BRITISH FLAG

QUEBEC Can, Feb. 17-Capt J. E.
Bernler, who is anxious to start from
Vancouver III the spriRg of 1902, to at
tempt to plant the Canadian flag on the
north pole and thus establish the north
ern base of the Dominion of Canada,
which he holds should be defined by two
straight lines forming an angle at the
pole, has the support of Admiral Mark,
ham and the Royal Geographical Society
oC England. He has just returned here
from London and has gone to Ottawa to
urge his claims upon the Dominion gov
eminent. Capt Bernier has already been
assured of assistance to the extent of a
cash contribution Of $4,000 to $4,000 lie
thinks, however, that the government
should build and loan to him for the ex-
petition the specially designed ships,
which would cost from 100000 to 500,
COO. Capt Eernier points out that the
ship after the return of the@expedition
would be invaluable for purposes Of VIM
ter navigation.
He proposes to take with him 100 small
hydrogen balloons, which will be re-
leased at intervals during favorable
winds with reports of the progress OF
the expedition. addressed to various sci
entific societies and newspapers.
TO START FROM VANCOUVER.
The start Of the expedition proper will
be made from Vancouver in April or
May Of 1902 From Vancouver the ship
will proceed to Fort Clarence, south Of
Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska. There
dogs, live provisions, coal, etc. viii he
taken on board and the expedition will
enter Bering straits about the LIST OF July.
On entering the Arctic ocean the ship
will take an easterly course, following
the northern coast Of Siberia. where open
water is pretty sure to be found in July
and August. When point between 165
and 17c east is reached the vessel will lie
headed for the north, and she will be
pushed toward the north us far as pos
sible. blasting being resorted to If neces>
sary 10 push her on her course before
being frozen in. Capt. Bernier expects
his ship to be frozen in the first winter
about AGO miles east of where Nansen's
Fran was frozen in and about $50 to 700
miles from the pole. Once frozen in.
Capt. Bernier will place himself In the
hands of nature He will be fast in The
great field of ice which steadily drifts,
year in and year out, in curved line
across the north pole from the direction
OF the north coast of Siberia toward the
Greenland sea. There is, in fact, great
current covered with a vast field Of ice
flowing across the pole, and Capt. Bernier
will place his ship in this ice field in the
position he judges most favorable for
passing over near the pole as the Ice field
proceeds on its course toward the Grccns
land sea.
WILL. SEND WIRELESS TELEGRANIs-
Two observation stations. with self
registering instruments, Will be estao
lished one to westward the other TO
eastward. so that observations will be
maintained over u line OF 100 miles.
These observation stations Will be kept IN
conn unication with the ship by means of
the Marcoui wireless telegraph system,
and by gun signal, and the route between
the ship and the station will be marked
by aluminium posts fixed i'll the ice
Capt Bernier expects to bc in the drift
ice for a period of three years, and during
the third year he expects TO be level with
the pole. He does not pretend to say that
his ship or his observation field of ie0
miles will pass over the POLE but he
feels confident that the ship will not pass
further than 100 miles from the pole. lie
will consequently keep prepared for
sleigh expeditions of 10D miles in the
direction of the pole. He hopes to be
able to spend a fortnight at the pole,
taking soundings, thermometer and