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The Blog of Axel Lidenbrock : June 14th 1863

From: Harry Hayfield <harryhayfield~at~googlemail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:57:47 +0100
To: "Jules Verne Forum" <jvf~at~gilead.org.il>

BlankToday was the day for getting organised (as it has been decided that we
shall make our attempt on Snefells on the 16th) and that meant getting all
our equipment ready. And for me that meant organising the nitty gritty
materials (i.e the things that we simply cannot leave behind) and yet
suprisingly it only came to about six things.

The first thing that had to be packed was a thermometer (which I suppose
everyone has one of), next came a barometer (as my uncle wants to measure
the air pressure), then came a chronometer (very useful to keep ourselves on
track), two compasses (one ordinary and a dipping needle), a night glass and
a Ruhmkorff's coil. Now I have to admit I have never seen one of these at
all, so asked my uncle for an explaination (which given the length of the
explaination may have been a bad move on my part)



Ruhmkorff's apparatus consists of a Bunsen pile worked with bichromate of
potash, which makes no smell; an induction coil carries the electricity
generated by the pile into communication with a lantern of peculiar
construction; in this lantern there is a spiral glass tube from which the
air has been excluded, and in which remains only a residuum of carbonic acid
gas or of nitrogen. When the apparatus is put in action this gas becomes
luminous, producing a white steady light.

Which I had to agree sounded very useful indeed (but then came the really
clever bit!) The pile and coil are placed in a leathern bag which the
traveller carries over his shoulders; the lantern outside of the bag throws
sufficient light into deep darkness; it enables one to venture without fear
of explosions into the midst of the most inflammable gases, and is not
extinguished even in the deepest waters. Now you show me a lamp that can do
that in this day and age. Is it any wonder then that Herr Ruhmkorff is
considered a learned and most ingenious man of science. In fact my uncle
told me that he is in the running for a 50,000 F prize for the most
ingenious application of electricity to be awarded next year (and I feel
sure he'll win it to).

Whilst I was do that, my uncle and Hans were dealing with the other
requirements (namely tools and food) and of course no expedition like this
would be complete with the neccesary precautions. A pocket medicine chest,
containing blunt scissors, splints for broken limbs, a piece of tape of
unbleached linen, bandages and compresses, lint, a lancet for bleeding,
phials containing dextrine, alcoholic ether, liquid acetate of lead,
vinegar, and ammonia drugs which afforded me no comfort and last but not
least all the articles needful to supply Ruhmkorff's apparatus. Thank
goodness Hans is a strong man, he needs to be to carry all this.

Received on Sun 15 Jun 2008 - 09:06:46 IDT

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