The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-01
BALDWIN NOT GOING.
Fiala, Who Was on the Last Polar
Trip, Takes His Place.

Trip, Takes His Place.
New York, December 1-William s.
Champ, the personal representative OF
William Ziegler. today denied fatty the
published report that Evelyn Briggs
Baldwin. the leader of last years
Ziegler polar expedition, will accompany
the expedition which will go out next
spring under Anthony Fiala, of Brook
I'm.
The report that Baldwin would go
with Fsilala emanated from an interview
given out by Baldwin himself, in which
he said that he had by no means given
up the search for the pole, but would
probably go with the next expedition
sent out by Mr.. Ziegler.
There is absolutely no ground for
such a belief on the part of Mr.. Bald
win" said Mr. Champ today. Our re-
lations with Mr.. Baldwin have termi-
mated The report is wrong Mr. Bald
win will not go on Mr.. Ziegler's next ex-
oedition."
When asked what preparations were
being made for the Ziegler-Fiala expedi-
ton, Mr.. Champ said that there was
nothing of Importance being done at
present Engineer Hart. who was the
chief engineer under Baldwin and is
considered one of the best men for the
work in the world. will be retained in
the same position under Fiala which he
held under Baldwin.
Mr.. Hart will go to Tromsoe this win
ter to attend to the refitting of the
America, Mr. Ziegler's ship. The expe-
riences of the last voyage have con-
WINGED Mr.. Hart that many improve
mentS can be made in the interior ar
rangements of the America. The vessel
was originally designed for a whaler.
for use in the extreme north. She WAS
built by experienced shipwrights with
the one idea OF constructing the strong
est possible craft to fight the foe ice
lnr - r1A1s i
more than eight feet thick. covered by
thick plates of steel, and it is estimated
that she can break her way through ice
eight feet in thickness.
Hart asserts that the hull and general
equipment of the america cannot be
improved upon, but it was found during
the last trip impossible to keep her
warm. According to the members of
the crew at no time during the winter
was it possible to remain stationary in
any part of the ship except the engine
room without acute suffering.
Even under heavy blankets in the
berths there was great discomfort, and
1t is asserted that it was found next to
impossible to sleep. This suffering, ac>
cording to Engineer Harris theory, was
entirely unnecessary and was due to
two causes, first. that there was no
proper system of steam heating in the
vessel, and, second, that the berths
were placed parallel to the sides of the
vessel. with only a single wall between
the sleeper and the outside air
Engineer Hart will do away with
these discomforts by putting in a new
system of heating and by building in an
inner wall to the ship in the sections
where the berths are placed, forming
an air chamber to serve as protection
from the outside. The berths will be
turned at right angles to their former
position, and the engineer feels certain
that there will be no difficulty whatever
in keeping the ship warm.
Another ir1rroVauno0f xvbfch will he
made will be the removal of the big
watts, or boilers which were designed for
storing whale oil and blubber. Before
the last trip Hart tried to have these
taken out, but Baldwin would not con-
sent to it. saying that their removal
would weaken the ship. Hart declares
that the watts are in no way connected
with the structure of the vessel and are
q useless and cumbersome impeachment
These watts were filed with coal during
/ the last trip nd it was found extremely
difficult to get the coal out when it was
wanted for use
dogs died. Those who had an oppor-
tunity to observe them said that they
died from starvation, because the food
given to them was improperly cooked
and indigestible. They were fed princi-
pally upon muSh. Hart watched the
dogs dying, ten or dozen every day
and saw that it was because the mush
was not cooked and turned sour almost
! immediately. lie tnen TOOK the rl1uSn
to the engine room and boiled it thor
oughly in one Of his engine room boil
ers. The mortality among the dogs
ceased at once. On the next trip spec
ial boiler will be placed on board for
preparing the food for the dogs.
The personnel of the party which will
go with Fiala in the spring has not yet
been determined Fiala was on the last
trip and knows all the men thoroughly
1t is understood that almost all who
went with Baldwin have applied for
places on the next trip, but the selec-
ton will rest almost entirely with Fiala
1t can be said. however. that several OF
the younger members of BaIdwin's
scientific staff" who wrote and talked
for the newspapers as soon as they
reached this country. will not go. Mr.
Ziegler once classified these men as
cigarette smoking dudes" He does moi
like them.
No difficulty is anticipated. however
in filling their places. as several hun
dred applications have already been re-
eeived from those who wish to accom-
pany Fiala. The members of the party
will be selected by Mr. Ziegler, Mr.
Champ and Mr.. Fiala during the win
ter.