The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-26

ticable. upon the measures necessary TO be
taken to eXtricate the seminary from Its pre-
sent financial embarrassment. At this
writing the meeting Is awaiting the report
| of this committee. G. w.
The Search for the Polaris-Of7lcInl
Dispatches from Commander Greer
Interesting Narrative of Arctic Elk.
ploratfons.
The following dispatch was received at the
Navy Department to-day:
UNITED STATES STEAMER TiGREss,)
OFF GoDHAvEN, ISLAND OF Disco, Gu,
August %, 1873.
Hon. G.. u. Robson, Secretary Of the May,
Washington ::
Sir,-I have the honor to report that this
| vessel sailed from Upernavk, North Green
land, on August II, 1878, at 510 T. NJ, a
| Danish pilot being on board. At 11:4j p.
NJ. arrived at Tessuisak. On approaching
| the anchorage, and while forging ahead
slowly, the engine caught on centre. Let go
| the anchor, but failing TO bring the vessel
up, she ran lightly upon smooth rock.
Backed off in a few minutes; no damage
| done Governor Jansen came on board, bay
ing no information. I accepted his services
| as pilot to clear us of the islands.
August y, at 1:15 A. NJ, stopped and
communicated with the Juniata's steam
launch; obtained no information about PO-
| aris. At / :45 4. NJ. discharged pilots.
| parted company with steam launch, and
stood to the northward. August ID, at 10
| y. NJ, passed Cape York; heavy pack of ice
prevented our getting very close, yet we're
near enough to clearly observe any signals
| that might have been made. A bright look
out was kept at all times. From Cape York
skirted the shore as slowly as safe navigation
| would permit. This was also done upon our
| re urn.
At p. Al. examined North Star bay.
August 14th examined NIikh harbor;
| >kirtcd Northumberland island. Being GER
| tain that this was not the place where the
separation Of the party on the foe and Po-
llris occurred, continued Oh for Capes Parry
aid Alexander. Examined IIartstone bay.
At 8 p. NJ, having passed Littleton aud
McGary islands, feeling quite sure that this
| was The place we were seeking, stood well
in and lowered Il boat.
Discovered one month and four hours af.
| ter leaving New York . camp which upon
examination proved to be the one which
| WAS occupied by the crew Of the PolariS last
winter. 1t is now occupied by EsquimauX,
who seem to be quite intelligent. From them
learned that they came from Ponds bay
on Il hunting expedition, and found the 70
| laris secured to the rocks, the crew living on
shore; that they had built two boats out OF
material taken from the vessel, fitted them
with oars and sails and about moon or so
ago, when the ducks began to hatch (Which
| think was about the middle of June,) they.
all being well, had gone to the southwark;
also, that Captain Buddington, the head man,
| before he departed, told him (hc Chief Is
QuimauX) that he could have the vessel. ~
gale of wind cine on some time after the de-
parture OF the crew, the vessel broke adflit
Il saw the broken hawserS), and drifting
about Il mile and u half towards the passage
between Littleton island and the main land,
sank. The native said he saw her 20 down.
and regretted his loss very much. He went
with Commander II. G. White
J to- the place, but two small Comparatively
sueaking) iccbergS, with heavy foe about
them, covered it, having doubtless ''ground-
ed" upon the wreck, which caused their de-
tention at the spot, us there was seven to
eleven flthoms OF water around it. at the
camp comfortable wooden house had been
constructed, having in it hunks, mattresses,
furniture. galley, e.. The natives had two
huts made out of CANVASS, evidently from
the Polaris. a rough carpenters bench,
with many shavings about, was in the
camp. Provisions, instruments, books, and
stores of various kinds were scattered
around the small camp in every di-
recton, and all in quite bad condi-
lion. l caused to be brought on board all
the manuscript matter, Including mutilated
log-book, all the books which were not torn
to pieces, some firearms and broken instru-
ments, the ships bell, and some medical
stores. The provisions and other stores
W. re of no earthly value, and l did not
bring them of. A cl;rn, or place of con-
ceallnent for papers and records. was sought,
but none could be found. The weather was
quite threatening, thick, squaly, and snow
ing ut times, with an ice-ptck to the north:
ware, extending as far as the eye could reach
across Smith Sound. At 2:l5 A. NJ, Au-
gust 18th, stood to the sou Inward, keeping
a lookout for the people. The position Of
what | ell Gimp Polaris is, as taken
from the chart, latitude IS degrees % min
utes north longitude - degrees Az minutes
west.
at noon, August 10th. passed Cape York
near enough to have seen signals; found
much ice about it, and stood for Melville
bay. August 10Th, at $50 L. ~, commune
Gated with Governor Jansen at reSsuisak:
obtained no news; ut geo =. NJ. anchored
at Upcrnayik; nothing had been heard there
of the crew of the Polaris; remained at
Upernayik overhauling and repairing MAJ
chinery until August 23d, z. NJ when we
sailed for this place, arriving at a. NJ. Be
iug almost positively assured in my own
mind that the crew OF the Polaris have been
taken aboard whaler Qhe following name d
are known to have passed to the northwai d
this year-yiz., Asick or Ask of DuDd. e,
Arctic. believed to be of Dundee, and SeN G.
raj Others whose names l have not be- n
able. to learn, and they all-thoSe tut
hive been spoken-expccted to sight
c. pc York;, | have concluded in &C
cordance with my instructions from the De-
pa.tmcnt "to make thorough search Tor
tnr crew" TO 20 to the west side Of Davis
straits. skirtiDe the pass until find chance
70 get through them, until | work to the
nortbward in search of the whalerS who are
then returning to the western shore. The
search will be continued Us long as prudence
will Justify, taking into consideration the
conditions of the ice and our supply Of fuel
(which will be used economically. L VIII
then proceed to St. Johns, n. Il. we nave
now on board 155 tons of coal. L expect 10
sail to-day; all hands are well. Appended
is chart showing Camp Polarls.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
rSioned1 JOSEPH. A. GREER,
Commander, commanding.
P,S. Since writing the above | have re-
ceiyed from Commander Bratne, OF the Jul
niata, thirteen tons Of coal.
~ JOSEPH A. GREER.
Forwarded: D. L. Brainc commander,
United States Navy, commanding Junlaia,
and senior officer present.