The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1921-08-04

en- the opinion of experts who think II
possible to draw electricity out of the
air. DR.. Macmillan says that one can
hear the electricity swapping in the air,
the atmosphere is so full of it.
Soon after arriving, a house will be
erected on the shore, but DR.. Macmillan
and the crew will live aboard the Bow
doin. Everybody will sleep in the for
ward cabin in order to save fuel. The
ship will then / e housed over with lum-
Der which they took with them from
Boothbay. About feet of snow will be
piled on top of the structure. She is
housed over thus after a suitable place is
found to be frozen into the ice which will
form around her in a solid sheet. In or
der to withstand the pressure of the ice
her hull is sheathed all around with white
oak planks, her frame being built as stur-
Oily as that of 3-masted schooner. She
has an egg shaped underbody SO that the
pressure of the ice will force her up out
of the water instead of crushing her.
Over the oak sheathing above the water
line is 5-inch sheathing of Australian
green heart, which is next to lignum
vitae in hardness, just as Peary's Roose-
welt was, and wood commonly used by
whalers. Ice cannot splinter this adam
antine wood, but only serve to polish it..
Around the bow she is protected by iron
bands. She has 2-blade propeller, which
may be feathered and protected from the
ice as she passes through it by an excep-
tionally broad stern post.
DIR. Macmillan is his own wireless op-
orator. They carry transmitting ma
chine, but have no receiving apparatus
When the Bowdoin made her Boston trim
those on board got the news of the
Dempsey-Carpentier fight when thew
were off Egg Rock, and picked up mes
sages from France. They will receive by
wireless the noon signal, by which they
regulate their chronometers, which is
sent out from Arlington, Va. daily at
The coast of Baffin Land, which thew
will explore, is one of the few uncharted
regions of the world. They also intend
to push inland to Big Lake, which, Esuui-
maux say, has never been seen by white
men. In addition, specimens of rare
birds, flora and fauna of Baffin Land will
be collected, and deep sea soundings will
be taken.
This schooner carries a crew of seven
men. Jonathan Small, the hardy mate
from Provincetown, Mass, was formerly
with DR.. Macmillan on his 4-year voyage
of discovery in Croker Land, when he
went to find what Peary reported as
new continent, but which turned out to
be but mirage; Thomas McCue, the
cook, is Newfoundlander; Dawson How
ell, graduate of Trinity College, and R.
H. Goddard, Dartmouth, 1920, were sent
by Carnegie Institute to secure scientific
data regarding terrestrial magnetism; j.
H. Robinson and Harold Whitehouse
complete the crew which, owing to limit
ed space could not be larger.
The Bowdoin is probably the smallest
vessel ever used for such work. She
measures SO feet overall; has a 20 foot
beam; draws IL feet of water; is
knockabout rugged like fisherman; has
a spoon bow and an elliptical stern. She
carries two extra heavy anchors and four
small boats, has a sailing canoe and two
dories, the latter being what they depend
on to come back in should any misfortune
overtake their vessel. Should they lose
their dories, they would have ito make
the trip back by komatiks, or dog sleds.
provided they reach shore safely. It is
thought, wisely it seems, that a small
vessel has a better chance to make it's
way through icebergs where large one
might be caught They carry on board
supplies for two years, although it is
possible, unless they get caught in the
perilous Fury and Hecla Strait, they will
return in one year.
They expect to visit Etah on the west
coast of Greenland and journey inland by
komatik. They will live largely off Arc
tic fowl, ptarmigan, etc., for these re-
gions are the greatest bird breeding
grounds in the world. 1t is not likely
that any member of the expedition will
care to take advantage of the hospitality
of the Esquimaux for their igloos, or
huts, made of sods, are exceedingly dirty
and ile-smellina; these Esquimaux live
in tents called tupiks in the summer.
DR.. Macmillan will use, however, quite
extensively, Esquimo canoes made of
stretched hides, called kayaks. They
hope to bring back many specimens of
birds which the doctor will stuff himself,
as well as polar bears and walrus.
WATCH YOUR STEP