The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1914-09-30
SC|ENCE'SLATEST
POLAR WEAPONS
New Devices Carried by the
ShackIeton Expedition
UNIQUE MOTOR SLEDGES.
Two Of the Five Taken on Antarctic
Quest Have Air Propellers-Enough
Specially Prepared Food Packed In
Sausage Skins to Last Through the
100 Mile Trip.

Sausage Skins to Last Through the
100 Mile Trip.
Air propelled motor sledges mounted
on Hat runners like skis form the main
reliance of the antarctic expedition
headed by Sir Ernest Shackleton
which is on its way to explore the
great continent that surrounds the
south pole. A writer in Popular Me.
chanics declares that in this and many
other RESPECTS the expedition Is better
equipped with modern devices than
any previous body of polar explorers
has ever been.
Details of food supply, shelter and
provisions for the general health and
comfort of the members of the party
have been worked out with scientific
care. tested In the snowfields of north
ern Norway and pronounced perfect.
Five motor sledges will be taken.
One of these has a fifty-five horsepow
or gasoline engine. another n forty
horsepower These two have air pro
they are also equipped with positive
drive mechanism In the form of tooth
ed drums attached Mt the rear to en-
gage the Zee and SNOW. In the ex
trcmcly low temperatures of the ant
arctic the snow becomes as loose as
dry sand. so these sledges are mounted
on fiat. skilke runners to prevent them
from Staling.
Result Of Seven Day Test.
In seven day test in Norway one
of these air propelled sledges, carry
ing six men. lowed another sledge
weighing 400 pounds and carrying two
men, at Il speed of from fifteen to
twenty miles an hour. Only thirty
horsepower motor was used instead OF
the larger ones that have since been
installed. with which speed Of TWEEN
ty-two miles an hour up a 10 per cent
grade with three men on board has
been made.
Two other sledges have the positive
drive only and are expected to cover
about fifty miles day each rs against
the - to 100 miles of the aero sledges
The engines of these are water cooled,
and the water jackets are piped to
steam cooking appliances, so that food
may he heated while on the march.
Scientifically Devised Rations.
The food problem of the Shackleton
expedition is il particularly difficult
one. Food supplies for the entire jour
ney of 900 miles from Weddell sea to
the pole and $40 miles from the pole
To Ross sea must he taken along,
whereas most polar explorers are able
to make caches of food for use on the
return journey. So scientifically de-
vised ration. on which the members of
the party have already subsistcd for
days at Il time. has been prepared and
enough of It packed in sausage skins
for easier transportation to last through
the LOO mile trip.
Each man will receive thirty-six
ounces Of food daily, instead of the
three pounds which Is the average con
sumption. In this will be six ounces
of lard. four ounces of sugar and two
ounces of mixture of dried milk. pro.
tcin and oats. The rest of the ration
consists Of Brazil nuts. almonds and
heechnuts mixed with oil and dried
milk. The fat content of the ration
is larger than the normal for temper
ate climates. since the low tempera,
ture will place Il severe strain on the
heat producing elements of the body.
which can only be kept up to normal
by plenty Of fat foods.