The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-12
DIVING ID
NORTH POLE
Two German Professors Would
Go Under Ice
is DARING AND NOVEL
Explorers are Firm in Belief
of Success
S DARING AND NOVEL

greatest potential achievement in the
field of geographical research, and
the solution of that hitherto in
superable three and a half degrees
belt between the Duke of the Abruzzi'i
record (S6 degrees "a seconds) and the
Pole may well be described as the blue
ribbon of exploration in general.
The latest and most daring plan is that
of the two German explorers DR.. School
and DR.. Anshulz-Kampfe. The plan of
the latter explorer is, in brief, to reach
the North Pole by means of q submarine
vessel. He proposes, in fact, to dive IN
der the belt OF thick ice which encircles
the actual site of the North Pole.
Herr Kampfe, it seems lays great stress
on the two following indisputable facts:
First that the continuous belt or field Of
pack ice never exceeds a diameter of
more than three miles or so; and, second
", icebergs being absent from the re-
gions Immediately surrounding the Pole,
the maximum depth of the ice below the
surface does not exceed eighty feet. The
proposed vessel will be capable of de-
to a depth nearly vice that which woui,.,
in the opinion of experts be Required
TO clear the ice. At this depth it will
be entirely removed-at least, that is
Herr Kampfes contention-from the in
fuence of cold. storms and ice pressure,
and the way to the Pole viii be there
fore open.
But the explorer, if a mere amateur
may venture to pick holes in his scheme,
seems to have omitted to reckon with
the enormous amount of pressure which
is known to be exerted at the depth of
a hundred feet or so.
The length of time during which the
ship will be able to remain below the
surface is calculated at a maximum of
fifteen hours, which at the modest rate
of three knots allows it to cover a dis
lance of some fifty miles In the not
altogether improbable contingency of no
opening being met with within the fifteen
hours there remains the possibility Of
opening a, way by blasting at a weak
point in the ice, Ito be indicated without
possibility of mistake by the help of the
manometer.'S
Here il seems there is little ffaw-no
mechanical continuance, even that of a
German savant, is infallible. The risk
of injury by collision will be minimized."
Herr Kampfe proceeds, not only by the
slow rate of motion, but by the great
power of resistance to be possessed by
the Ship
The form of this submarine vessel will
be cigar-shaped, with a major axis of
seventy feet and breadth of twenty
Of
tons To obviate rolling the cetre of
gravity will be placed as low as possible.
The capacity of the interior will be $500
cubic feet, which allows sufficient air for
five men for fifteen hours, the carbonic
acid emitted being removed by COM
bination with caustic soda. Propulsion
will be effected by horizontal and YER
teal screws, the former forty. the latter
of five horsepower. this last being suf-
fcent to counterfeit the tendency to
rise while the motive power is to be sup
piled by a petroleum motor through the
medium of a 22G-volt accumulation. One
hundred and fifty tons of petroleum will
be taken, or more than ten times the
qquantity needed for the GO miles voyage
to the Pole from Spitzbergen, to which,
or rather TO the edge of the ice. the sub
marine boat will be towed.
The living room yin be exactly in the
centre, and round it the sleeping cabins
will be grouped, the ceilings. walls, and
floors having several coatings of non
conducting material. To ensure further
warmth the ships sides will be lined
with tarred felt. cork padding. panelling.
another layer of felt. alright linoleum,
and more panelling-scix coats all told.
There viii be but one opening. the tur-
ret, which projects about one foot, and
serves as a manhole through which the
crew an enter and depart. The turret is
the captains bridge" and has five glass
windows OF enormous thickness, one over
head-which may be raised-snd the rest
in the direction of the four quarters Of
the compass.
On arrival at the ice pack the direction
Of tDe first open water will be taken by
| the compass. and the boat being sub
merged a course will be steered for a.
/ II after an hour or so the light shows
( that an opening has been reached. the
vertical screw viii be stopped. and the
| boat will rise by its own buoyancy. and
in the case of wide opening or channel
| leading northwards the voyage viii
! continued on the surface, giving an OPP
portunity for scientific work
/ Supposing no CLEAN OF light appears
/ when six hours have elapsed an ascent TO
/ the lower surface viii be made with eau
ton. and the voyage continued slowly
/ until, by the reading Of the manor.eter.
it is found that a thin place has Deen
/ reached. Here attempts viii be made by
blasting TO effect an opening. which.
however small. viii he sufficient 70 sup
ply air for another fifteen hours. while
in case Of failure there VIII stiH be time
70 return 20 the last opening that has
been left. wheEce the voyage viii be pro-
secuted in a slightly different direction.
But both the assumptions made-the ex-
istence Of an uninterrupted ice-held not
more than eighteen nautical miles in
continuously thick as 20 defy all efforts
by disruption-are entirely contradicted
I by all previous experience
Certainly on paper the scheme appears
| remarkably plausible but the inventor
assumptions arc by no means modest
Then in Arctic exploration. perhaps mora
than in any other deId % geographical
research. il Is the unexpected that hap
pens. The ''manometer'' certainly plays
a most important Part in this venture
but what II this wonderful instrument
failSe Not knowing its exact nature. !
! speak OF 4 with the greatest respect
'oune ignotum pro magniaeo" Their
again. what II the experts are wrc-C
and no ice less than eighty feet OF s.
thick is found dGrins this terrible siz
hours? THE inventor calmly suggests