Evening star., 1925-07-16
PROPELLER HOLDS
MACMILLAN BACK
Party on BoWdoin Making
Third Attempt to Mend
Broken Part.

Members Of the Macmillan Arctic
expedition are still delayed by pro-
pelIer trouble on their largest ship,
the Bowdoin. They are now making
their third attempt to put on a spare
propeller. according to radio messages
received today by the National Geo
graphic Society.
The messages state that the Bow
doin is still at Hopeland and that
even the shifting of heavy deck loads
has failed to raise the disabled pro
peller out of the water. Six hogshead
pontoons have been placed under the
stern and all heavy cargo moved
forward but the propeller is still
foot and a half under water. Swarms
of mosquitoes are also proving an an
noyance, the message said.
The first message, relayed to the
society's Washington headquarters
from New Mills, New Brunswick, said
I'VE are making our third attempt
to put on spare propeller. The evil
spirit of the North, so familiar TO the
Eskfmos. has temporarily turned all
of his attention to the white visitors
from the South. Unfortunately we
are having tides with a rise and fall
of only four feet. To raise our broken
propeller above water we have shifted
all the deck load TO the bow of the
Bowdoin including three spare Lib
erty engines and 19 steel barrels OF
oil. Even these failed TO accomplish
our object. Therefore tonight we
placed four large empty casks under
the stern of the ROwdoin, hoping that
when the tide rises they will lift the
Bowdoin at leasr six inches. With the
thermometer at 10 degrees Fahren-
heit and swarms of mosquitoes get
ting into our ears, eyes, mouths, and
noses, you can imagine our difficulties
in comparison to which pack ice, ice
bergs, thick fog, and gales of wind
are trifle and even looked forward
to with pleasure. Our only encour-
agement is that the height of the
tides is increasing, which means that
ultimately the job will he done"
A second message, forwarded by
amateur radio station ASK, at st.
Petersburg, Fla, where it was re-
ceived at $50 pm. July IS, says:
"Bowdoin still back in Hopedale,
while Peary is off Greenland coast,
south of Disko Island, beyond Arctic
circle, after crossing at low tide this
morning Locknut on broken pro
peller wire removed with shaft a foot
and a half under water, too deep to
permit heavy han1mering necessary
to remove it and substitute spare pro-
peller. All heavy weights, including
spare anchor chains and ammunition,
carried forward. Eleven 400-pound
cans of gasoline transshipped to
small boat. while six hogshead pom
toons are used under Bowdoin to lift
it farther onto shore. Our activity Is
impeded by small tidal movement and
the worst plague of mosquitoes that
Hopedale has seen in many years.
Eskirnos Watch Game.
ITO maintain morale and keep men
fit the game of playground ball was
played this afternoon. Several Iabra-
dorians in this section came down 70
see the games. Young ESkinlos peeped
interestedly at us and Eskimo dogs
looked suspiciously at our base ball
bats Women carrying water added
color TO the setting of the sport.
Weather here is unrea sonably warm;
men have been in swimming with
water at 81 degrees. This proved an
interesting spectacle TO Eskimos, who
live in boats. but cannot swim. Di-
versions of crew include hunting and
hill climbing to get widespread views
of Labrador'S rock and water land
scape and ice-dotted sea with miles
of ice walls and cliffs over the waters.
"Gerfalcon nest seen containing
young, but none reached is vet. Many
grampus whales are sighted between
here and Cape Harrigan. Seals were
a common sight. Three of our men
sitting amid a cloud of mosquitoes last
evening speared Sc founders. They
used smooth tined pitchforks. Every
thing possible being done to enable US
to join Peary as soon as possible Di-
versions on shore are advisable TO
keep men in trim for main work of
expedition. All we'll"