The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-06-03
The Polar Stations.

The Polar Stations.
The net of Congress making appropria-
tions for Sundry Civil Expenses, during the
next fiscal year. set apart a sum for complct-
ing the scientific observations now In prog
ross at Point Barrow aud near Lady Frank
lin Bay with the proviso that the work at
both stations should be closed and the Off
GERS and men OF the expeditions returned
to the United States within the year 1884"
Tho time thus specified for breaking up
the stations is to be anticipated. and one or
both Arctic parties will be sent for during
the present summer. There nre obvioas rca-
sons for this course. Last July's relief ex-
petition, which set out from st. Johns with
supplies of provisions for Lady Frank
lin Bay, failed to reach Lieut.. GREELY's
party or to open communication with
it.. The approaches to the bay are
through narrow passages. likely to be
cloggcd with ice. or to be frozen
from shore to shore ut an early date in the
scason This latter misfortune happened last
summer, the whole month of August being
spent in cndcavors to get through to Lady
Franklin Bay Under these circumstances
1t is expedent TO a!lowa greater margin than
one season for bringing away the GREELY
party. The expedition for this purpose will
start In n few weeks, and IL 1t can push
through toits goal, so much the better; but
should lust years disappointmont be re-
peated, the expedition will winter ut Life
boat Cove, near LittletOn Island. to which
point Lieut.. GREELYs party will retreat.
As to the Alaska party, no difficulty will be
experienced in reaching it and bringing 1t
away. Point Barrow ID practically on the
open ocean, and, although Behring's Strait
being very narrow, often contains masses OF
ice coming down from the north until late
in tho season, yet only inconccivablc mis-
calculation could prevent the rescue party
from reaching Lieut.. RAYS small force
and bringing it away in time. In any case
there could be no peril. Besides the album
dunt supplies, this party has tho advantage
OF being very near native settlement.
| In the case of Lieut.. GREELY's party, more
elaborate provisions have been necessary,
and body OF picked men. under Lieut.. GAR
LINGToN, will undertake the task OF relief, in
good sealing steamer. The Protess is
likely to be chosen for this purpose. Two
large whaleboats, one smaller boat, three
capaclous sledgcs, supply OF tents, and
more than years provisions, besides q
complete outfit for an Arctic winter, will be
carried by Lieut.. DARLINGTON s party. There
is no danger, 1t should be understood that
the Lady Franklin Bay party is suffering
from lack Of food. For, besides the game to
be had last years expedition left stores in
caches and two good boats at Littlcton
Island and Cape Island, according to q plan
OF operations concerted at the outset.
The question may arise how Lieut. GRIZZLY
will be communicated with in case the
relief vessel should be blocked this year,
AZ it was last summer. This, however was
provided for by that officer in the instruc-
tions which he sent back by the Proteus
after being landed near the scene of his
labors. 1t had been originally arranged that
there should lie annual visits to tho station
both for bringing supplies and instructions
and for replacing the sick with fresh men
and perhaps also for extending the scope
OF the explorations. But Lieut.. GREELy
wisely wrote that. In case the 1882 expedition
should not reach him, a sklful and cner
getic officer, with ten experienced men,
provided with three whalcboats and ample
provisions for forty persons for fifteer
months" should be sent out in 1888. Should
this second expedition DO blocked by the Ice
tho vessel was not to leave Cape Sabine, Ii
Smith Sound, before the middle Of Scptem
, Der; and, in retreating, caches OF provisions
, wore to DO left both between Cape Sabine ant
Bache Island, and at another point agree,
/ upon. In this way. no said. tho Grinncl
Land coast would be covered with scvel
depots OF ten days provisions in less thai
three hundred miles, not including the tw,
months supplies at Capo Hawks The relic
party were then to proceed to establish
, winter station at Lfcboat Cove, where thei
0 main duty would bc to keep their telescope
0 on Cape Sabine and the land to the north
0 ward. Lieut.. GREELY further prescribc
, that the relief party should take Jumbo
5 enough for house and observatory, lift
!, tons OF coal and a complete meteorological
| and magnetic outfit, besides dogs, sledges
$ and Il native driver; and no even dirccte
o that n party OF six men should proceed
G when practicable. to Cape Sabine, whence
s scdge party northward should reach Cap
d Hawks, II not Cape Collnson.
/ These provisions when first made, SCENE
o almost excessively cautious; but now thei
r prudence is appreciated and recognized to b
3 OF the greatest value. Lieut.. GARLINoTo
n knows exactly what he must do. and the +,
o lief problem Is clear. Even should tho Lad
q Franklin Bay station not be reached durin
o he present summer, the safe return OF Lieu
p l0rREKLY's party Ia practically assured.
n I'M, Whether these Arctic stations win ever /
Z 'ttsasSstablisAed by C0ngress. or whether otbsl