Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-04-13
on For Che Arctic.

Of the signal stations Of observation at
Point Barrow, Alaska, and at Lady
Franklin Bay, established in 1881, is one
OF the problems now being considered at
the Signal Office. These stations, as Is
known, are two OF the International chain
OF posts established. in pursuance Of a
plan adopted BY tho Congresses. held at
Vienna in 1879, Che final details OF which
were completed at n Congress held in
st. Petersburg the following year, -
It was hoped TO, maintain. these OBJ
servhtlons until 1884, but the terms of
the last appropriation for this work are
such that ittbas been decided TO recall
both parties during the coming summer,
If possible. There islittle doubt with
regard TO the station at Point Barrow
being reached, and avesselwill sal from
San Francisco during June next with
orders to Lieutenant Ray to cease opera
tions and return with his sparty. ep :. 4
The relief Of Lieutenant Greely at
Lady Franklin Bay Is a more difficult
task. Not only is the latitude higher
one but the narrowness of Smith Sound
and Kennedy Channel, which form the
only southern outlet for the vast masses
Of ice in the great Polar Sea, render
nayigationip those waters both perilous
and UNCERTAIN,
The expedition Of last year sailed from
st. Johns, N. F.,July 8, and after vainly
trying TO get through the ice from July
2S to September 2, when the new lee was
already four inches in thickness, was
obliged to return without having COM
municated with Lieutenant Greedy.
Caches of stores and two whaleboats
were, however, left at Littleton Island
and Cape Island, the localities having
been agreed upon with Lieutenant Greedy
in the eventilofs q failure Of the vessel to
get through the ice. The original ihten-
ton was to communicate with this sta
ton yearly, renew thesupplies, bring
back tile sick and disabled, recruit the
colony with able-bodied men, and grad
ually extend the field of research into a
more northern latitude. -"
This year determined effort will be
made TO communicate with this station,
and q vessel will leaye,, st. Johns as
early as July with a complete outfit of
provisions and everything needful for
the relief of the party. II, the condition
of the ice will permit and the station can
be reached, the entire party, numbering
about thirty persons, will be brought
away and the work discontinued. 1t is
probable, however, that this can not be
done, but that the ice barrier will prove
as formidable this year rs last. In view
of this contingency supplies of all kinds
will be taken, sufficient for the entire
party for fifteen months and should the
apprehension of, failure be realized
winter station will be made By the relief
party at Life-boat Cove, near Littleton
Island, to which Lieutenant Greedy must
retreat with his party during the coming
fall. This will involve march over the
ice-foes 1.-The almost impossible cliffs
which form the shore of not less than
two hundred miles. AS soon as possible
after the failure to get through the ice
is evident party;of men will sledge up
the Sound, following the west shore, to
communicate with Lieutenant Greely
and render his party assistance.
The service has had constructed in this
city three sledges, which are believed to
combine the essentials of strength and
lightness, SO necessary to Arctic travel.
AT any rate they have the approval of
Chief Engineer Melville and Lieutenant
Berry,, of the navy, who are good
authorities on the subject. The more
prominent features in the construction
of these sledges were suggested by the
| iirst-named officer, and are theresult of
his experience while on the Jeanette
and during the memorable retreat which
followed the loss, of that vessel. The
larger sledges are seventeen feet. in
length with double runners. one four
inches in width and the other fiat for
snow, three inches wide, slightly rounded
and intended for. use on the ice.
These runners arei brought together
at the end and strongly secured.
They are shod with thin Norway iron
specially rolledifor the purpose. Along
the body of the sledge the upper and
lower runners are separated by posts
twenty inches in length, along the CEN
ters of which and supported by project
| ing shoulders of wood run two thin rails,
one on each side of the posts, upon
| which the cross-beams are securely
lashed. Instead of mortising these posts
into the runners, as is ordinarily done,
| they are fitted at each end into sockets
of bronze, having a flat base three inches
square, through which they are firmly
riveted to the runner. upon which they
rest. The runners and posts are kept in
position by small rods of Norway iron
parallel to the posts and passing through
the runners and the iron shoes. The
wood of the runners isonly one half inch
in thickness, but is of the best hickory
and extremely tough. These sledges
complete, weigh less than two hundred
pounds each, and it is believed will be
found great improvement on both the
native and the Nc Clintock sledges here
| tofore relied on. A small sledge of SIM
liar construction has been supplied.
The expedition will have two whale
boats and a smaller boat for use in case
of necessity. Sledging tents made of
blue denim and capable of sheltering six
men each have also been provided, as
have ice chisels, boat compasses, Sleep
ing bags of sheep-skin and all articles
| necessary for extended travel on the ice
| during low temperatures, boats, sledges
and implements being painted black to
render them more distinguishable on the
| ice or snow. w ~. t-LL t fa
The relief party of this year will con-
sist of one officer, Lieutenant Ernest A.
Darlington, of the Seventh cavalry; one
surgeon, not yet selected, and ten OF
twelve men, all of whom have been de-
tailed from regiments serving in the
northwest, where they have become in
ured to extreme cold. In view of the
probable failure to reach Lieutenant
Greelv a suitable building will be taken
from st. Johns, in which the combined
parties can be sheltered during the long
months of an Arctic winter.
"A war canoe brought from Queen
Charlotte's Island, off the coast of British
Columbia, was deposited recently in the
Museum of Natural History in Central
Park, New York. The boat was hewn
out of single cedar by Hydah Indians
1t is sixty-three feet long, seven feet ter
inches wide, and has depth of five feet
1t is painted inside and out. and is in ar
almost perfect state of preservation. Il
is said to be upward of one hundred
years old. The sides are ornamented
with heads of dragons and other mytho