Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-09
ship DESIGNED
TO RIDE ON ICE
LAUNCHED TODAY
Macmillan Plans Vessel
Which Will Go North
On Arctic Voyage.
Many New Features Will BE-
Tried Out When Party
Starts Out.

East Boothbay, Maine, April 80
The schooner Bowdoin, built to
carry Donald B. Macmillan. the ex-
plorer on his next Arctic voyage start
ing in July, was launched at noon to-
day from the shipyard Of Hodsdon
Brothers here.
In design and construction tho
Bowdoin embodies all elements of
special provision for the work ahead
OF her suggested by the long experi-
ence of Macmillan. who was the chief
lieutenant of Perry in his successful
expedition to the North pole. Her
huh is egg shaped with nothing to
which ice can cling. Under sufficient
pressure from the ice foes, the Bow
doin instead Of being crushed, should
lift out Of water and be carried
along with the pack, and as safely
slip back when the pressure Il re-
lieved.
To Go Through Sa13gfst
So confident is Macmillan Of the
frozen channels Of the far north that
he plans to pass through the danger
Gus fury of Hecla strait on the west
side OF Baff1n Bay where former ex-
petitions have been lost or turned
back. His plans include also either
a return by the strait or the circum-
navigation Of Baffin Land after ex-
plorins stretch Of 1000 miles Of ito
no white man has ever set foot. it is
said to be the longest trip Of un.
explored coast in the world.
The Bowdoin is Of about the sf1e Of
the Discovery, William Bah1n's ship,
which in 1916 was the first to reach
Bafan Land. She is eighty feet 10
inches in length; 1s feet inches
hoa nd <c;~
total displacement of lis tons. She
is of the knock-about auxiliary
schooner type, equipped with 4 As
horsepower crude oil burning engine.
an installation which the explorer
hopes will insure him cruising
radius virtually unlimited by the use
Of whale oil to supplement the regular
fuel supply. 4:
To Use Whale Oil.
-. II thez pizX - dse whale oil proves
practicable. he says the expedition.
will have a clear advantage over
i former ones as the fuel supply has
always presented serious problem in
Arctic expeditions.
The schooner will have generous
home when clear Of ice should the
fuel supply give out
! The aaunchness Of the hull is as
sured by heavy frame planked with
three-inch white oak to which has
been added at the waterline a five
foot belt of green heart Of iron wood.
This armor is said to withstand the
! grinding action of ice better than
steel or any other material as the
ice merely polishes its hard surface.
When winter sets in. a three-foot
covering of snow and ice will be
placed over the entire ship with snow
houses after the Eskimo style to cover
s, the hatchways.
! Two Years Trip
); The expedition is planned to cover
two years. but may be prolonged. 1t
will go under the auspices Of the Mac
MILAN Arctic association largely COM
posed of alumni of Bowdoin college.
from which Macmillan as we'll as
Peary were graduated. The ship has
cost $4,000 and her equipment will
add $4,000 to this amount.
The party will consist, besides DR..
! Macmillan. Of an engineer, three sci
entists and cook. all Of whom will
be carefully selected.
! The Bowdoin will remain 1T East
Boothbay through May and part of
June for finishing touches She is to
!. be completely stocked and pro-
, yisioned by the last Of June and will
start north the first week in July.