ELECTRICITY IN THE ARCTIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 10

ELECTRICITY IN THE ARCTIC.

The Elektroteknisk Tiddsskuft, of Christiania, publishes some interesting particulars regarding the use of electricity on the Frarn. According to this article, the electric light gave great satisfaction, and general regret was expressed when in May, 1895, Lieutenant Sverdrup and Mr Nordahl decided that it must be dispensed with, owing partly to the wearing out of the gearing of the cogwheel in the windmill which worked the dynamo, after the vessel had entered the ice, and partly to the fact that portions of the apparatus were required for making snowshoes and runners. Mr Nordahl took advantage of every puff of wind to load the accumulators, so that they were kept continually charged, and until May last year the electric light was always available. In the severe cold the accumulators froze right througl , but the acidblended ice proved an excellent electrolyte, and the frost did not interfere with the working of the accumulators. On festive occasions Mr Nordahl suspended an arc-lamp in the saloon, which gave such an excellent light that Dr Nansen frequently used it when painting or photographing, although, of course, such luxurious illumination could not be afforded for everyday use. On the evening before Dr Nansen and Lieutenant Johansen left the Fram. on their northern journey, Mr Nordahl, with the incandescent lamp in a garland of paper flowers, improvised an illuminated transparency bearing the words “ CrQ'd Twr !” (a safe

journey). When the two explorers left the ship the arc lamp was run up to the top of the mainmast as a farewell greeting - . The rigging was so thickly coated with ice that it had to bo broken to pieces before the lamp could be fastened to the ratlins. Electricity was also used for other purposes besides lighting, the mining shots which set the Fram free from the grip of the ice being fired by means of a cable attached to six Leclanche cells. In brief, the entire electric installation worked admirably, and Mr Nordahl paised it in every respect.