The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-05
Admiral MeIviue's Theory.

Admiral MeIviiIe's Theory.
About five years ago Admiral Melville,
who had been on three expeditions TO the
Arctic, suggested the idea of demoustrat-
ins his theory Of Arctic currents Icy plac-
ing upon the ice foes ia the Arctic many
specially constructed drift casks. II was
the admiraTs belief. based on the drift of
the Jeanette and the Fran that the best
place TO put ship bound for the pole
is through BchTiug Strait. II was his idea
that the exploring vessel should proceed
nurthward and westward from Point Bar
row until the ice foes were met theu to
push into the pack and drift with the foe
Since there miGht be great danger 20 any
vessel attempting such feat. Admiral
Melville suggested the feasibility of plac-
ing drift casks upon the foes. In this
manner the strength and direction Of the
Arctic currents might Doe determined with
out risk of life Under the leadership Of
AR Henry g. Bryant, the President Of
the Geographical Society OF Philadelphia
the suEg stion of Adr--rai Melville was
taken mp by that scientific organization.
President Bryant not only gave much
time TO the study Of the question. but ne
guaranteed the funds for accomplishing
the purpose il they could not De- secured
from any geogra uhfcal society.
BY the united work OF Admiral Melville
and President Bryant. many authorities
became Interested i'm the subject. The
owners and commanders OF the whaling
fleet were urged and consented 20 render
al possible assistance. The Revenue Ma
riuc Service. whose duties comprise not
only the parrlIIing Of rhe Rehr5ue Sea
from the ,ucroaehmeut Of the peIagic
sealeTS, but also the rendering Of assist
ance 20 ihe whaling fleet, cheerfuly vol
uuteered TO cooperate In the work of
landing these casks Through the labors
and energy Of Mr.. Bryant the geographic
societies Of Europ- took MP the C0usidera-
ton OF the subject. and promised 10 take
active part in the distribution Of the drift
casks. The proposed method. Of study
ing Arctic currents without eudangeriug
human life, having been officially brought
To the notice Of the Geographical Society
Of Philadelphia, that body determined 70
undertake the project. The casks were
furnished by that society. Special atte1-
ton was given IN their construction as
TO shape and strength Of material. The
form finally se,ti-d cpor was that OF a
paTabolic spindle. They were made Of
heavy oak slaves. eucoIlgassed by iron
hops thrJ c-siNJeCuths Of an inch thick
and Two inches wide A coating Of pitch
and resin was applied -0r pres-ryatiye
qualities
The slaves. SO tap-red as 10 form the
spindle, were covered on the ends by gal
NanlZeQ CastlTun caps. These caps were
held In place hy au iron rod five-eighLs
OF an inch in diameter, extending the
length Of The CaSk- and secured by conf
cal nuts al each end The coating Of
black material was applied 10 the casks
10 guard against CorrUSlul and decay.
From the color used. they viii be- more
readily seen on the white background. on
each cask was a number. WHICH was etch-
Cd into the wood. as wei as painted on
the surface. a Reinforced buugholc.
with huug- was provided. and through
this the message bottle was inserted 4
( quantity of shaviugs was placed inside 90
prevent the IDStllug about of the hsttI--
The bottle consisted Of narrow CglIu-
dricai tube, made Of flint glass. accom-
pauyiug which was suitable cr.ks and
sealing wax As an additional pTs.GuJIuu,
these tubes were in turn enclosed iu cases
made Of maple wood. provided with
screw tops. Within the bottle vas the
message, printed on liuoItum paper. 10y
"a permanent blueprint process, which
renders ID practically imUeTEIOus to salt
water The enclosed message was print
cd In Eng. ish Norwegian German. and
French language. and embodied simple
directions. telling the finder what TO do
and what To- record with tie discovered
cask-
Co-OpcrHtion Of INhaIers.
Twelve of these casks were placed ON
large ice foes in 1850 br brave and ea,r-
getic captains of whaling ships. The
whaIrr Alexander. commanded bv Cap
tain TiItou. placed ten Of these casks ou
four separate foes. For period of two
weeks the Alexander was cruising in the
vicinity of rhe Is" pack. and therefore su"
T. landed the casks many miles apart from
each other and iu places where different
currents could carry thou along The Pa
ciac steam whaIor THra sH,r. commanded