Evening star., 1909-05-26
CASk AFl0AT FOR NINE YEARS
SET ADRIFT IN ARCTIC AND
CROSSES POLAR SEAS.
Current From West to East Proven
by Course-Found by Capt.
Amundsen

PHILADELPHIA, May 26-A cask
that for nine years resisted the crushing
force of the ice of the Arctic ocean. and
that now turns up TO add to the store
of knowledge regarding the movement
of currents of the great northern sea.
came to Philadelphia yesterday as part
of the cargo of the Cosmopolitan liner
Cimbria, which docked at O'Clock in
the afternoon at pier %, north.
This historic cask-one of a f1otilla set
adrift by the Geographical Society Of
Philadelphia-was launched north Of Ber-
ing strait. moved in an easterly direc-
ton, until finally it was cast upon the
shore of Soro island, Norway.
Effects of the severe journey were
shown by the cask. Originally it was
elIiptical in shape, but both ends had
been battered off, and all that remained
was the body of the cask and the strong
metal rod which strengthened its pointed
ends.
Thirty-Five Casks Set Adrift.
These casks-thirty-fiv in number
were set adrift in the years 1S99-19O1, in
the Arctic ocean with the object of oh
tanning data as to the direction and speed
of the circumpolar currents. The expert
Rear Admiral George w. Melville and
Henry G.. Bryant, the fotilla being
known as the Melville Bryant drift casks.
They were made in spindle shape. upon
the theory that in such form they would
be lifted, rather than crushed, by the
fields of ice and the icebergs through
which they must pass. Heavily bound
casks about three feet in height were
built out to point on either end, SO
that the entire spindle-shaped float was
about four feet in length.
Each was numbered and contained mes
sages in four languages. requesting the
finders to report to the Geographical
Society, or the nearest United States
was recovered, and other information
as to the find.
Third Picked Up in Nine Years.
The cask which came in yesterday
aboard the Cimbria was the third to be
picked up in the nine years that have
elapsed since they were launched in the
Arctic ocean. This was No. 26, which
was set af1oat off Cape Bathurst by Capt.
Norwhal in latitude Il degrees north,
longitude 12S degrees minutes. July "a,
1900 Four other casks were set adrift
in practically the same locality-off Banks
Land.
Just the course that this cask, No. %,
followed is largely a matter of con-
lecture. 1t is probable. however, that its
drift carried 1t northward past Prince
Patrick Island and Grant Land and
thence around or across the Polar sea
between Greenland and Spitzbergen, until
1t reached the north Atlantic. The cask
came ashore in November of last year at
Soro Island. Finmark, Norway.
Most Direct Route, 2,4OO Miles.
This one Of the remarkable iotilla
therefore travelled in the more than eight
years that It was af1oat approximately
2,4O0 miles. This is on the supposition
that it took the most direct route; but it
is more likely that 1t followed a circu-
itous route, and that its total drift was
much greater.
The experiment shows that the move
ment of the polar currents is from west
to east. There was a belief that such a
current existed, and 1t was to prove this
that the work was undertaken. 1t was
the belief OF those who set the casks
afipat that 1t was unlikely that any great
number would ever be recovered, moving
as they did over a sea Of nearly 5.O0O.O0O
square miles which is traversed by few
ships.
The cask was sent back to the Geo.
graphical Society by Capt. Amundsen.
the distinguished arctic explorer, and its
journey bore out the theory upon which
he Is planning another polar expedition.
This is the first Of the hotilla to return
to Philadelphia.