Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-16

and for the most part precipitous,
and there is no possibility of
travelling over it for any considerable dis
lance. You may find a valley now and
then, which you can follow, but as rule
the travelling on land along Smiths sound
for any considerable distance is an i'm
possibility.
Question-What would be the prospect
Of success in travelling over the ice parallel
with the coast?"
Answer-In case there should be an ice
foot it might be possible 10 travel along it
with sledges, provided it was not too much
covered up by piled up ice. It is not
probable, however, that an ice foot or
smooth shore ice would be found extend
ing all the way from Cape Sabine to Lady
Franklin bay,or even a greater part of that
distance. In all the exposed places it
would be covered up by masses of broken
ice forced up over it by the pressure of the
pack. This broken ice is very difficult to
get over.
Lieut.. Rawson, of the Mares expedition,
attempted to travel along the ice foot
to Lady Franklin bay in October, 1876, but
after ten days struggle,was compelled to
return without having made greater dis
lance than twelve miles. He found broken
masses of ice forced up on top of the ice
foot, and resting against the cliffs in many
places more than thirty feet high.
Question-How is the travelling off the
ice foot near the middle of the channel.
Answer-Worse rather than better. As
DR.. Hayes ice pilot said: ''It's like travel
ing from one end of New York to the other
over the house tops" Hayes himself was
about forty days in making distance of
$50 miles across the ice of Smiths sound {.
Question the relief party to
be landed at or near Cape Sabine, how
soon could they proceed with sledges for
Lady Franklin bay up the coast?
Answer-Probably in September. Kane
and Mares made short journeys along the
coast in the month for the purpose of lay
ing out depots. 1 should certainly start on
such journey early in the fall and ad
vance depots of supplies for the retreating
party if 1 could do no more.
Question-Do you think relief party
would succeed in getting up the coast of
Grinnell Land in September or October to
Lieut.. Greedy station?
Answer-That is impossible to say.
They might, but it would be a journey of
great difficulty. small party of men
with az sleds would succeed better than
a large party.
Question-Would dog sleds be better
than sleds drawn by men?
Answer-They would by all means. No
dog requires spare clothing, no sleeping
gear, and the load of the sled would conse-
| Uuently be diminished to an extent of
weight of these articles, or food be taken
in their places, and the journey thus ex-
tended. l would, however, take dogs only
if there were reasonable prospect of
finding a considerable extent of smooth
ice. Such ice may frequently be found
where the water has frozen during the con-
| tinuance of calm weather or where there
are old foes.
Ouestion-Could Lisutenant Greedy in
your opinion, make good his retreat from
the station to Cape Sabine without the
corporation of q relief partyf
Answer-He probably could, if not in
numbered with sick of disabled men. Much
would depend upon that. I understand
the intervening distance is covered by
three or four depots of provisions left by
Mares, and by Greedy himself, so that he
could renew his supplies from time to
time, as they became exhausted.
Question-Upon the whole, do you think
Lieut.. Greedy has fair chance to escape
from his present position even if the relief
steamer fails to reach the station?
Answer-Unquestlon he has and
there is no reason at present for especial
anxiety, since he is provisioned for an
other year, and the resources of land and
sea, although not very great, would enable
the party to supplement their original
stock of food. In my opinion there is nc
point on The whole extent of Smith;
sound from which a party of able bodied
men with an experienced leader might moi
reach the Danish settlements in northern
Greenland. It might be necessary tc
divide large party into separate detach
menis. in order to facilitate its move
ments, but with proper management al
| should get through in safety.