New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-18
H0R TO RESCUE GREELY.


HOV TO RESCUE GREELY.
The military and naval authorities at WASH
ington have decided that it will not be prac-
tlcabe to send vessel to the relirf of Lieuten-
ant Greedy this autumn. They have acted
wisely. If n ship could be dispatched to Little
tom Island at once. it could not reach its destina-
ton before October under the most favorable
circumstances, and probably it could not go
beyond Upernavik without being exposed to
extreme peril. 1t is more than doubtful II
sledce Journey could be made during October
and November from the Greenland settlements
TO LttletOu Island, and nothing would be
gained if il were possible to skirt the glaciers
of Melville Bay ana the bleak headlands above
Cane York, for tho Tescuers could not carry
with them sufficient stores TO feed themselves
during the winter, to say nothing OF relieving
Lieutenant Greely's party. Active operations
will have to be suspended until next spring !;
but in order that the work may then be re-
sumed with intelligence and thoroughness, the
general plan of the next campaign In Smith
Sound should be formed without unnecessary
delay, the officers for this hazardous service
should be selected as soon as possible, and all
preparations requisite for the expedition should
be made in good time.
When the expedition sets ont next spring, it
will have TO face four contingencies: l. That
Lieutenant Greedy and his party. having
reached LlttletOn Island in October, have either
made n desperate attempt to reach the Green
land settlements before the close OF the season,
or have set out early in the spring for Cape
York and Upernavk. 2. They may have de-
scended Smith Sound to Lttleton Island, and
either have been too enfechled to resume tho
march southwark, or have persisted there from
exposure or inadequate supplies during the
winter. 9. They may have left Lady Franklin
Sound at the appointed time, and have been
unable to reach Lttleton Island, dying by the
way, rs did De Long and his companions in tho
Lena delta. 4. They may have persisted from
exposure or scurvy at Lady Franklin Sound
during the two years wintering; or they may
have .born forced to return to their house after
finding it impossible to make any progress over
the ice in the direction of Lttleton Island.
OF these contingencies tho first seems to rs
the most probable. Kennedy Channel IL ordl-
narily free of ice during a portion OF August,
even when Smith Sound is INSTRUCTED by an
impossible barrier. Lieutenant Greedy may
have taken advantage of open water and trans
ported his supplies and men by means OF his
steam launch and whalcbOat as far as Carl
Ritter Bay or even Cape Collinson before
September /, and i'll this way have materially
reduced the distance to be trayersed over the
| ice. If his men reach Littlet0n Island COM
| parative.y early in the season they may SGT out
| for Cape York. but it is more probable that
they will remain through the winter where
| scanty supplies OF provisions are at hand and
make start southwark early in the spring.
1t il possible that the relief expedition will meet
the rctrcating garrison Of the northernmost
Arctic station at the Danish settlements. But
! the other contingencies must be faced. 1t may
| DO necessary to search for Lieutenant Greey's
party alive or dead, i'll four quarters: the coast
between UpernayIk and LittlctOn Island; the
| island itself and the adjacent Esquimau settle
ment the coast from Cape Sabine to Lady
Franklin Sound and finally, the observing
station itself in latitude 81 degrees DO minutes.
In view Of these contingencies preparations
for the expedition ought not to be deferred
until next spring. The matter should 40 taken
into consideration at once and the work that Is
to be done clearly defined. In our judgment
the Navy Department ought to have sole charge
of the expedition and the Mar Department
| anu Signal service OIucc DC cDLllcly IclcVcu OF
| responsibility. Cavalry officers can find work
| enough on the Western frontiers. Two vessels
should be selected 10y competent aud expert
fenced engineers or naval Constructors, and
ollcered for this service from tile active list OF
| the Navy. If there are no vessels in United
States ports that are especially adapted for
voyage in high attitudes, Engineer Melville or
some other competent man should be sent TO
St. Johns, or better still to Dundee, to charter
| or purchase two steam sealers Of tho right
| model and construction. These should he
manned as far rs possible with scamcn of the
United States Navy, somc recruits being picked
up among the hardy fishermen and ice plots of
Newfoundland. One or both of these ships
should bs at Disco island us early as the first
week in June, and as soon as the ice In Melville
Bay will permit, the passage n0rthward should
be attempted. While one of the vessels lands
provisions at several points above Upcrnavik
and searches the shore and islands above Cape
York. the other should strike directly for Little
ton lsaId Ii no tidings OF Lieutenant Greedy
are received at that point, Que of the ships
| should remain there, while the other proceeds
north as far as possible, and whene yer her pas