The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1905-09-14

Others How to Travel Over the Arc
tie Region-scheme Originated by .
Parfsfan Scientist Ow I'm Dawson.
Adyices from the north state that the
people of Dawson have organized. with
a membership of eco. the International
Society for Polar Research and Expert
ment, says San Francisco dispatch.
The ultimate object after ascertaining
the most logical and practical plans is
to launch an expedition for the north
pole
Governor w. w. b. McInness of Yu-
kon territory, DR.. Alfred Thompson,
member of the Canadian parliament,
Judges Dugas Craig and Macauley, the
three highest magistrates of the terri
tory; Major L. L. Wood, commander Of
the northwest mounted police; mem
bers of foreign consulates and others
We're patrons and occupied prominent
places at the meeting at which the or
ganiZation was perfected.
The scheme was originated by Dir.
Anthony Varicle, a Partisan inventor
and scientist, now in Dawson. who has
spent some time In the Yukon and has
made research and study of the sub
ject Of polar work.
statement setting forth the plans
of the expedition was given by Charles
Macdonald, clerk of the territorial
court of the Yukon.
Yukoners, he said, found many weak
points in the methods OF travel, equip
ment and composition of nearly every
90 S< In, hn
Nansen expedition, he said, il was
shown by Nansen's own book that he
understood little of equipping and han
ding long distance expeditions.
"Yukoners handle them with much
more simplicity. ease and SKILL" Mr..
Macdonald declared. "Nansen worked
in heavy skin robes and was immersed
in sweat and then chilled in the Ice
thereof. Yukoners travel in the light
parka and never permit themselves to
sweat
"Nansen travelled with dogs weighing
fifty pounds. Yukoners never use dogs
weighing less than 100 to $50 pounds.
Nansen drove his dogs with each hitch
ed to a single sleigh, and they always
were entang!ed and caused intermina-
ers drive their dogs in tandem harness
and have scarcely any such trouble.
Nearly every expedition sent to the
arctic thus far has been composed OF
sailors, men who are useless on land
or anywhere but aboard ship. Those
not military were largely So 1t is the
object and plan of DR.. Varicle to draw
the great contrast right here. He will
have none but the most experienced
mushers and travellers and none but
the most experienced and best trained
dogs.
The question of fuel and sufficient
supplies to carry the expedition across
the ice is the sticker. DR. Varicle pro
poses to overcome this with an auxilia-
ry expedition of mules. He can make
the mules last 130 days or more by kill
ing one every few days for food. The
carcass Of each mule killed will bf
converted into dog food.
DIR Varicle's plan is to start from
Grantland and to dash overland or over
the ice 700 miles TO the pole and then
continue 600 more to Franz-J osef
Land, straight beyond from Grant
land, and to make the journey in 130
days or less.
Ships Will make connections at both
ends. Each ship will be equipped with
wireless telegraph instruments, with
which the travellers can communicate
when within proper distance of the
ship. The wireless will help to locate
the ship without delay"
1t Is the plan to try out all expert
ments in the Yukon, with Dawson the
headquarters this winter, and to get
the expedition started next June.