National Republican., 1883-06-09
TO THE RESCUE.
instructions to the Commander Of the Arctic
Relief Expedition.
The Yantic 20 GO AIong-A Few sug-
gestions 20 Lieut.. Greely.

The following are the instructions Of Gen.
Hazen, the chief signal. officer, TO Lieut.. E.
A. Darlington, who is to command the Arctic
relief expedition to Lady Franklin bay;
You are aware Of the necessity of reaching
Lieut. A. w. Groely aud his party with the
expedition of this year. The necessity can
not be overestimated, as Lieut. Greely's sup
plies will be exhausted during the coming
fall, and unless the relief ship can reach him
he will be forced with his party to retreat
southwark by land before the winter sets in.
Such a retreat will involve hardship, and the
probable abandonment of much valuable pub
lie property, with possible loss of important
records and life.
For these and other reasons which will oc-
cur to you, no effort must be spared to push
the vessel through to Lady Franklin bay.
In tho event of being obstructed by ice in
Smith sound or Kennedy channel, you are ad-
vised to try to find passage along the west
coast, which, beside being usually the most
practicable, will afford better advantages for
sighting and communicating with any party
sent out by Lieut.. Greedy. To make commn-
nication surer, your party must be able to
readily send and receive messages by flag or
heliograph and other means, and tho neces-
sary articles should be kept in readiness for
instant use when communication is possible.
Should the vessel be unable 10 get through
the ice TO Lady Franklin bay or TO reach the
west coast at points above Cape Sabine 1t will
be of great Importance that Lieut.. Greedy
should know of the efforts being made to re-
lieve him, and of the plans for doing so. You
will endeavor, therefore, to convey such in
telligence, and omit no means of informing
him or any Of his party of the situation.
Should any landings be made at prominent
points on either coast during the efforts to
get through the ice, you will leave short
record of the facts, with such information as
1t is desirable to convey, so deposited and
marked as to render it discoverable by parties
travelling southwark. If such landings be
made at points where caches of provisions are
located, you will, if possible, examine them,
and replace any damaged articles of food,
leaving of course record of your action.
If IL should become clearly apparent that
the vessel cannot be pushed through, you
will retreat from your advanced position and
land your party and stores at or near Life
boat cove, discharge the relief vessel with
orders to return to st. Johns, N. T., and pre-
pare for remaining with your party until re.
lieved next year. As soon as possible after
landing or in case your vessel becomes un-
avoidably frozen up in the ice pack, you will
endeavor to communicate with Lieut.. Greedy
by taking personal charge of a party of the
most experienced and hardy men equipped
for sledging carrying such stores as is prac-
ticable to Cape Sabine, whence a smaller
party, more lightly equipped, still headed by
yourself, will push as far north as possible, or
until Lieut.. Greely's party is met. In this
and other matters you will follow closely the
instructions of Lieut.. Greedy dated Aug. IL
1881, printed copy Of which is furnished you
herewith.
The men not employed in the expeditions
will lose no time in preparing the house for
the whole party and in securing the stores
preparatory to the arrival of Lieut. Greeley.
You will be furnished with two observers
and an outfit of scientfcapparatus and will be
guided in their use by instructions herewith.
The character and.amount of the meteors,
logical and other scientific work to be accom-
plished by your party is enumerated in in
closed memoranda.
In addition to the medical officer, enlisted
men, and Mr.. Beebe taken frem this city,
you will employ three hardy ice men at st.
Johns, who have been already selected by the
United States consul there under my direc-
tions, and in Greenland such Esquimaux as
you may require.
1t is important that careful and complete
record of events should be made and in case
your party does not return this year that
full report be sent by the vessel on her re-
turn to st. Johns. Each member of your
party will be required to keep private
diary, which will be open to the inspection of
the chief signal officer only in case it should
be necessary
Whenever junction is effected with Lieut..
Greedy you will report to him with your party
for duty.
Should any important records or instru-
ments have been left behind by Lieut..
Greedy in his retreat they may be recovered
by the steamer to be sent in 1884
1t is believed that with the stores and sup
plies sept last year, which are at st. Johns,
N. F., IND at the Greenland ports, O list of
which is herewith furnished, and which you
will gather ON your way!northward, together
with the provisions and articles supplied this
year, everything needful will have been fur
niSlpl for safety and | hnliaya md
expect that you will zealously endeavor to
effect the objection of the expedition, which
is to succeed in relieving your comrades, since
upon your efforts their lives may depend, and
you cannot overestimate the gravity of the
work intrusted to your charge.
A ship of the United States navy the
Yantic, will accompany you as far MS Little
ton island, rendering you such aid as may be-
come necessary and as may be determined by
the captain of that ship and yourself when on
the spot.
Lieut.. Darlington will also carry the fol-
lowing instructions for Lieut.. Greeley from
Gen. Hazen:
The attempt of last year to open communi-
cation with you is renewed. For this purpose
n well equipped party is sent, with ample sup
plies, under the command of First Lieut.. Il.
ii. Darlington, of the 7th cavalry, with direc-
tiops TO report to you for duty. A COPY of
Lieut. Garliugton's instructions is inclosed
In providing for contingencies and for the
complete success of the expedition nothing
has been omitted which advice and experience
could suggest. Owing to the action of con-
gress at its last session, probably controlled
somewhat by misfortune to other Arctic expe-
dtions, it is necessary to discontinue the work
at Lady Franklin bay, and to direct the
return of your party to the United States by
the first opportunity.
You will, therefore, embark your party
with the instruments and such stores and
material as it appears desirable to- bring
away, and return via st. Johns, N. f., to this
city. The details of the work of abandon
ment of your staticn and your return must of
necessity be left largely to your Judgment
The house or houses should be left for further
use, and such depots as you may think best.
In the event of your remaining at Life Boat
cove during the coming winter your party
may expect to bo brought away as early next
year as the ice will permit; meantime it is
desirable that the scientific work of the ex-
pedition be continued without unnecessary
interruption, and an outline for this has been
given TO Lieut.. Darlington, and will be turned
over to you by him.
sincerely hope that Lieut.. Darlington
will reach you with the relief vessel and that
your party, with its number unbroken, may
speedily return again to home and friends.
ApprehensIons Tor n School.
The principal of the school building corner
l. and Fourth streets has written letter to