New Britain herald., 1921-04-09
MAC MILLAN'S ship
IS LAUNCHED TODAY
Built Especially to Withstand
Arctic Ocean RigOrS

Last boOtnDaN. Maine, April 3
The schooner Bowdoin. built to carry
Donald b. Macmillan, the explorer.
on his next Arctic voyage. starting in
July, was launched at noon toda,
from the shipyard of Hodcdon Broth
ery here.
In design and construction the
Bowdoin embodies all elements of
special provision for the work ahead
of her. suggested by the long expert
ence Of Macmillan, who was the chief
lieutenant of Peary in his successful
expedition to the North Pole. Her
hull is described by the explorer as
egg-shaped with nothing to which ice
can cling. Under sufficient pressure
from the ice foes the Bowdoin instead
of being crushed. should lift out OF
water and be carried along with the
pack. Conversely the explorer. says
that if she rolls up on the ice she will
as safely slip back when the pressure
is relieved through the shifting of the
foes. The bow has been built with
a slope that will facilitate running up
on the ice.
Macmillan Pleased.
So confident is Macmillan of the
schooner's ability to cope with the
frozen channels of the Far North that
he plans to pass through the danger
Gus fury and Hecla strait on the west
side OF Baffinland 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 Baffinland after explor-
ing a stretch OF 1000 miles of its
western shore on which IL is believed
no white man has ever set foot. 1t
is said to be the longest strip OF un-
explored coast in the world.
Studies made by DR.. Macmillan of
the narrow strait on previous visits
to the north figured somewhat I'm fix
ing the size of the new vessel as there
appears to be only a rift in the ice
there even at the most favorable sea-
son Z. -.
so Feet Long.
The Bowdoin is OF about the size
of the Discovery. William Baffin's
ship, which in 1916 was the first to
reach Bafinland. She is so feet 10
inches in length; 10 feet inches
beam: and feet inches draft, with
a total displacement of lis tons. She
is of the knockabout auxiliary schoon-
or type equipped with a 45-horsepow-
or crude oil burning engine, an install
alton which the explorer hopes will
insure him a cruising radius virtually
unlimited by the use of whale oil to
supplement the regular fuel supply.
II the plan to use whale oil proves
practicable he says the expedition will
have a clear advantage over former
ones in which fuel supply has been a
serious problem. -.
The schooner win have a generous
spread of canvas to enable her to sail
home when clear of ice should the
fuel supply give out
Hull Built Strong.
The staunchness OF the hull is as
sured by heavy frame planked with
three inch white oak to which has
ben added at the waterline five foot
belt OF greenheart Of ironwood. This
armor is said to Withstand the grind
ing action OF ice better than steel or
any other material as the ice merely
polishes its hard surface. When win
ter 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 the hatch
ways.
Two Years Trip.
The expedition is planned to cover
two years but may be prolonged IL it
is desired to carry the explorations and
scientific Investigations further. 1t
will go unler the auspices of the Mac
MILAN Arctic association, largely
composed OF alumni OF Bowdoin COL
| lege from which Macmillan as well
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.. MacMh-
Ian OF an engineer, three scientists
a. u