Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-07-03

kimos, who have plenty of fresh meat.
never have scurvy, and we expect to
kill plenty Of polar bear and musk OK.
I'VE hope to get the Roosevelt for
the trip up, though l have not closed
the deal In the event she is unavail-
able we shall get another worthy yes
sell
Our wireless will present an in
teresting problem. 1t was suggested
that we use the lofty peaks of ice
mountains in place of wireless poles,
which would be much shorter and
more difficult to carry. Some experts
have maintained that sound waves
thrown off from the wire would re-
bound from the ice crags in chaotic
Morse, but we hope to try out the ex-
pertinent and find it successful.
THE range of the apparatus will be
two thousand miles. We will relay
through various stations back to the
states, and we hope to report progress
of work at short intervals.
I'VE will leave Flagler bay for
Cape Thomas Hubbard, from where
we start our dash, on February Is.
There will be ten sledges, each sledge
with eight dogs and carrying five hun
dred pounds We should reach the
cape March /, about the time the sun
comes back again, and without delay
we will start over the ice for Croker
land, which is believed to be about
one hundred and fifty miles distant.
Our progress will depend on the
condition of the ice. If we encounter
high pressure ridges and open leads,
it may take some time. 1t may be
easy going. When we reach Crock
erland-if we do reach tive will
travel up and down the coast, define
ate it, and then push into the interior
Our great danger lies in being caught
over there, should the ice begin to
break up early. We must be out by
May / or we will not be able to get
out that year"
Suppose Mr. Macmillan was
asked, you should get caught by On
early breaking of the ice?'
Il think there is game there" he
answered simply. There may nos
be. But our belief is that we shall
find musk OK and polar bear, as we
find them in Grantland. Our food sup
ply we take with US Will last two
months.
IF we get out all night, and yet
have not finished our work, we will
go back to headquarters, wait another
winter, and push in again. If then we
are not finished, we will complete the
| work next year. If we get through
satisfactorily the first year, we will
spend some time pushing back into
the ice cap of Greenland, that, saving
fer cutting across one end by Peary
and a visit to the lower end by Nan
sen, has never been penetrated to any
distance
The Eskimos cannot be induced to
enter the Great Ice for they think
the evil spirits live there, and one
who has viewed the vast ragged
heights Of ice is inclined to agree
with them. The ice mountains in the
great gap are estimated as 1900 feet
in places
Our supply list includes 1900
pounds of -four, as fresh bread is a
great safeguard against scurvy We
also have great quantities of fruit
juices
Besides the scooter, which / have
considered taking as an experiment,
we shall have a specially constructed
25-foot power boat, a sailing dory and
a canvas canoe.
We shall arrange with the govern
ment weather bureau to send data
concerning weather by wireless and
to make as many reports of conditions
IN the arctic as possible In addition
to the wireless, we take with US
selsmOgraph for the detection of
earthquake shocks all over the world
A house will be constructed for this
as soon as We arrive.
The portable wireless outfits on the
sledges are expected to act as a great
convenience and something Of a safe
guard, as with them we can talk to
headquarters from quite a distance
We should get home in 1915 or
1916, if we find Crockerland. If we do
not, well, we'll stay there till we do"