The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-12-02
BUILDING PEARY'S SHIP.
Vessel in Which the Explorer VIII
Make Another Attempt to
Reach North Pole.

The vessel for the next Peary expedi-
ton to the north is to be built this win
ter at Verona, - miles down the Penob-
scot from Bangor, Me. Commander
Robert E. Peary has been busy superin-
tending some changes in the plans for
the model ship.
Great secrecy is maintained as to the
design of the vessel, and photographers
are not allowed in or near the model
loft. Commander Peary will not allow
any photographs to be made of the
model until after the ship has been
framed out, nor will he allow sketches
or drawings to be made.
A crew of carpenters is at work build
ing a shed, $50 feet long, 60 feet wide
and so feet high, under which the vessel
is to be constructed. This building is to
be heated by steam and lighted by cleo
tricity, so that no time may be lost, as
the contract calls for the delivery OF the
| vessel at Portland, ready to receive her
machinery, on February Is. Shipbuild-
| ing out-of-doors in Maine winter wealth
err is pretty slow and rather uncomtort-
able work.
Thus far little work has been done
on the stern frame, but no great progress
can be made until the arrival from Vir-
ginia of the oak timbers for the keel.
and these timbers have been delayed by
an accident on railroad near Washing
ton.
The keel will be very heavy, consist
ing of three sawed oak timbers, each
by 6 inches, making when Joined 6x1s
keel.
These are to be planked with 6inch
hard pine, planed and calked, and out
side of that there will be oak sheathing
planed and calked, with iron sheathins
over all.
Commander Peary said in an inter
view that his voyage this time would
probably occupy not less than IL
months, and, should the weather be Sc.
| ScIc, NC CAlShoSo W 90 A4ASh $3.50"
He continued:
"This new ship will be 1874 feet Ions
on desk, 35 feet beam and 16 feet
inches depth of hold. She will have ar
extra heavy frame of Virginia oak, witt
double bottom frames, and heavily
banked up with timber fore and aft
'She will not be a three-mastet
schooner with auxiliary steam, but {
steamer with auxiliary sail-about 2,00l
square yards on three pole masts. W.
shall depend chiefly on the steam power
using sail only when convenient or IL
case her coal should become exhausted
Her engines will be of 1000 indicated
horsepower, but capable Of developing
for limited periods, $500 horsepower
That will make her by far the mos
powerful ship ever constructed for tn
arctic voyage, the best ship before thi
having had only about $50 horsepower
Il shall fit out in New York, and prob
ably sail from there IN the early par
of July. We shall have only one sub
station for this expedition, that beini
at Cape Sabine, in 70 degrees north lati
tude, and l shall leave supplies there il
care of the natives. Then we shall g
north in the steamer as far as SO de
grees, which will be within 500 miles Q
the pole.
Probably we shall be frozen in there
and then we shall leave the vessel an
make the dash overland by sledges TO
the pole. We may be able to get furthe
north than SO degrees with the steamer
That will depend on what kind of a sea
son we have.
There will rot be more than Is me-
in the party this time. My daughte
may go as far as Cape Sabine. but if s.
; she will return at the end of the sum
mer."
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