Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-02-05
NORTH !: pole.
Explorer BaIdwin's New Plan Of
/. an Arctic Expedition.
WILL DRIFT -FOUR YEARS.
Expects Ice Pack to Garry Ship and
Party From Alaska to Greenland In
That Time-To Start Next 9sptem-
hsr-Many Casks to Be Taken.

explorer who led tDe unSuccesAul
Ziegler expedition In search Of the
north pole, a few nights ago revealed
bis plans for another dash northward
whereby be not only hopes to reach
the pole, but actually to cross over 1t
BY traversing a course from northwest
Of Point Barrow. Alaska, to a point
between spitzbergen and the east
coast $of Greenland. It is his plan to
let nature shape his course by rum
ming his ship into the drift ice. per-
hitting it to become part of the ice
pack. and then to drift with the Arctic
currents until he has accomplished his
purpose Of discovering the pole. Bald
win estimates that the drift will last
four years and that it, slowness will
permit him and his associates to make
many exploration trips on sledges on
both sides Of the course.
!: BY that means he feels sure much
viii be added to the present scientific
and geographical information in rela-
honr to the arctic regions. Efforts
will, be made to keep the public in
America and Europe in touch with his
progress by sending up balloons carry.
ing bulletins, says the New York Press.
That plan was pursued on the Zieglel
expedition. and several Of the bulletins
which were incased in cork buoys,
were found on land or at sea. The
start on this new expedition VIII not
be made before next September.
The Baldwin party viii leave thu
Pacific coast in steamship. which
will be the main ship Of the expedi,
ton. There also will be two or more
supply steamships, which are to be
employed in Transporting many heavy
dmbers from the Oregon or Alaskan
forests, and also Thousands Of strong
casks, which will be filed with oil,
clothes, food, emergency supplies and
other things needed for the long voy.
age. There also will be portable
houses, sledges, small but strong
boats. forty or fifty dogs and three or
four Siberian horses. The horses will
be used the first year Of the drift or
until provender runs out, and then
they will be killed and eaten.
The exploring party will consist OF
about twenty-four persons, including
probably two American navy officers,
who already have expressed eagrrness
to go on the expedition. Not more
than two or three Eskimos win bs
tnken along. because they will be Of lit
tie use on an expedition conducted fol
purely. scientific purposes. Baldwin
says be does not expect to ind land at
the pole. He will not be surprised.
however, to find it to the east Of that
point.
The initial point Of the drift will be
to the northwest Of Point Barrow,
Alaska" he said. There we will make
fast to one Of the large ice foes at the
southern edge Of the ice pack. The
supply steamships will discharge their
supplies on the surface Of the ice foes
and then leave us In charge Of the
main steamship. We will proceed at
once to form a settlement upon the
floating ice island These ice foes are
from eight to thirty feet thick and in
size as large as Central park or even
Manhattan Island. They are close to
gether, and the edges continually rub.
thus forming the ice pack"
He said the reason for scattering
thousands Of logs and casks on the ice
foe is that If the foe should split they
can be recovered easily from the wa
ter. Even If q few should be lost
thousands will remain to supply the
needs Of the explorers.
Asked how fast he thought the drift
would be after his ship had become
part Of the ice foe. he said:
I'VE will be forced along at an aver
age rate Of two miles each twenty.
four hours-that is to say, one degree
of latitude month-and in q course
parallel to the course Of the Jeanette
Of De Longs expedition and Of the
Fran of Nansen's expedition. Our
course. however, will be directly
across the Arctic ice pack instead OF
across the margin. as was the case
with De Long and Nansen."
How long do you think that drift
will lastY' Baldwin was asked
"As we are to drift midstream-
that is, through the field Of unobstruct.
ed drift Of the pack, where the ice
moves more swiftly than it does near
the coast liaes-we probably will con.
sumo about four years in the actual
drift. We will have drifted over the
northern curvature of the earth, leav-
ing the pole about midway in the line
of drift. We will go right over the
pole"
Baldwin said the hull Of his ship
will be shaped to avoid the danger OF
being nipred by the ice If the foe
should break to pieces and that tho
discharge Of the supplies on the leo
will make her ride high. Asked If he
thought such long drift would break
down the minds and bodies of him and
his companions, the explorer said It
probably would If the expedition were
conducted on Anticipated lines.
! viii Green Shoes Re Worn7
Tanners Of green calfskin repor
that manufacturers Of mems and wo=
mems fne shoes are making samples