Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-02
c,sk Has Been AtIest
IN the Arctic Ocean.
Current from East 10 West
Proven BY The Course.
cask Vas Set Adsift by essgrsphl.
col Society In 1893.

Philadelphia. June IA cask that
for nine years resisted the crushing
force of the ice of the Attic ocean.
and that now turns up to add to the
store lof knowledge regarding the
movement of currents of the great
northern sea, has just been received
at Philadelphia as part of the cargo
Of the Cosmopolitan liner Cimbria.
This historic cask-One of fotilia
set adrift by the Geographical Society
of Philadelphia-wasl launched north Of
Bering strait moved in an easterly d.
rection, 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
elliptical in shape, but both ends had
been battered off, and all that remain
ed was the body of the cask and the
strong metal rod which strengthened
3ts pointed ends.
These casks-thirty-five in number
were set adrift in the years 1S99-19O1,
in the Attic ocean with the object Of
obtaining data as to the direction and
speed of the circumpolar currents.
The experiment was made upon tho
suggestion of Rear Admiral George w.
tilla being known as the Melville Bry
ant 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 Ice
bergs 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
messages in four languages. request
the finders to report to the Geographic
cal Society. or the nearest United
states consul. the time and place
where each was recovered, and other
Information as to the find.
The cask which came in aboard the
Cimbria was the third to be picked up
in the rine years that have elapsed
since they were launched in the Arctic
ocean. This was No 26, which was
was set aaoat off Cape Bathurst by
Capt H. j. Cumiskey of the steam
wlialcr Norwhal in latitude II degrees
north longitude 1913 degrees minutes.
July "a. 1900. -Four other casks were
set adrift in practically the same To-
cality-off Banks Land.
Just the course that this cask. No.
Is, followed is largely matter of con-
lecture. 1t is probable. however. that
it's drift carried it northward past
Prince Patrick Island and Grant Land
and thence around or across the Polar
sea between Greenland and Spitzber-
gen, until it reached the north Attain
tic. The cask came ashore in Novem-
Der of last year at SOrO Island, Fin
mark, Norway.
This one of the remarkable tiOtllla
therefore Travelled in the more than
eight years that it was aflOat approx
mately 2,4O0 miles. This is on the sup
posftion that it took the most direct
route; but it is more likely it followed
a circuitous route, and that its total
drift was much greater.
Tie experiment shows that the move
ment -of the polar currents is from
west to east. There was belief that
such a. current existed, and 1t was to
prove this that the work was under
taken. It was the belief of those who
set the casks afioat that 1t was un-
likely that any great number would
ever be recovered. moving as they did
over sea of nearly 100000 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 ex-
petition. This ia the first of the e"til-
la to return to Philadelphia.