New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-02
THE GREELY ARCTIC COLONY.
PLANS FOR A RELIEF EXPEDITION.


BILE METHOD OF REACHING THE COLONIsTs.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR The voyage of the supply ship Nep
tune bound for Lady Franklin Bay, to bear relief TO the
Grcely Arctic colony. shows most conclusvey how lit
tie dependence is to be placed the conditions OF me
fee In the Far North TWAS expected here that the Nep
tune would have little difficulty in penetrating Smith
Sound and Kennedy Channel and landing stores at Dis
cOvey Habor for the colony located there The Proeus
during the previous had made extraordinary
to latitude S1o 49, returning without risk delay
early in September The Neptune leaving st. Johns as
early July 8. 1892 found July 20 an impossible
barrier OF ice extending from Cape Sabine to Cape In
glesfeld aud after waiting until September for an
opening in the pack being able TO penetrate fur
tier than latitude 100 20O returned St. Johns warned
by the formation of ice which veinches thick
that the attempt to reach the colony must be deferred
until another The winter quarters OF Dr. Kane
were nearly degree further south than this. The
Release and Arctic in 1855 had their progress arrested
In 7s9 32' DR. Haycss ship frozen ia degrees and
half south of the Nepunes urthest. The Pandora In
1875 could scarcely than enter Smith Sound al
though the Alert and Discovery down from Lady
Franklin Bay the year. Captain Hall In 1873 with
the Poars Cir George Mares in 375 with the Alert and
Discovery, and Lieutenant Greedy In 1881 with the
Proteus, have gone beyond this barrier.
What then can we say regarding the chances for the
ultimate of the ship that will be sent up this
sumneri Three times within twelve years Is certainly
what be proud Of but 1t hardly implies
in OF all the other failures-mOre than possibl
iiy The station lies beyond Hayess furthest point
and Thank God Harbor. where Captain Hall buried
1t is a point which has only twice been passed
In the exploration OF the upper waters of Smith Sound
by Captain Hall in his ship and last sedging journey,
and by Sir George Mares Occupying does the most
advanced position Of the series OF international polar
stations colony is the most important At the same
time this very position advanced aud Important IL
serious apprehension 1t evident that what
happened last year and so many previous years may
occur next The barrier OF les may again be
and coOnists may be forced tho close
of next (having been provisoned only for two
years. to retreat, precisely Dr. Kanes men did, but
from much higher latitude and over more difficult
course IDasmuch neither Cape Hawkes. nor Cape
reached by the Neptune and since the boat
left by the ngsh expedition and taken by Greedy from
Washington Irving Island not replaced, the party
poorly provided with for making their retreat
southwark 1t will be necessary for them before reach
ing Cape Sabine to make their way across many deep
and wide inleis such DObbn Bay, Princess Marie
Bay and Buchanan Strait and failure Of the vessel to
reach them this year. at least 10 land boats and
supplies in higher ATTITUDES than done last summer
must be followed by untold amount of suffering, with
lack of provisions and clothing, if not indeed by loss o.;
life
In letter which Lieutenant Greedy sent back by the
vessel that bore his party norhward, he gave instruc
tons tor his relief He ended that In re-
lief party should reach him In 1892 proved to be
the C, should be in 1883 capable. ener-
gec officer with ten men, eight OF whom should have
had practical experience provided with three whale
boats and ample provision for forty persons for fifteen
months He then specified points at which the proys-
be left the conpes the vessel to
back and added that the party should then proceed
establish winter station at POlaris Winter Quarters,
Life boat Cove. where their main duty would be to keep
their telescopes Cape Sabine and the land to the
northward lie specified also that coal lumber for
hut, complete meteorological and magnetic OUTFIT. with
dogs edges the like the coonists, should
| be provided.
Lieutenant Darlington, OF the 9TH United States
Cavalry been detailed TO command the relief expedi
ton OF this year and is at present in Washington making
preparations fer the so far as az present devel
oped the plan of the sEna Office the bureau having the
matter in charge, to be this Following the sug-
gcstions Of Lieutenant Greedy to charter OF the
Newfoundland sealing vessels and convey an officer and
ten with supply OF provisions clothing. instru-
ments etc, direct TO the station at Lady Franklin Bay,
ca ling at Disco route what Esquimau dogs and
dog drivers may be thought necessary In the vcs
sci again fails 20 reach the station the officers. men,
food clothing. dogs drivers, etc. TO be left o,
point IN smith Sound In the vicinity OF Lttlcton Island.
Here shelter ia to be erected and provision stored and
here pr ion OF the party is to the winter The
other portion with dogs and sedges expected from
this point 10 effect communication with Lieutenant
| Greely aud his parry.
To an officer OF the Weather Bureau sitting in lis
] comfortable quarters IN Washington, his maps
| and charts spread out before him, TO
Lieutenant Greedy himself. steaming lelsurely aud
| quietly through Smith Sound and Kennedy Channel
with fine weather and ice to Obsruct his progress
| until within almost speaking distance OF his destination
ian experience unparalleled and hitherto undreamed
or u slcdge-rde from Lttleton Island to Discovery
narbor might not only practicable but delightful
aud exbilarang sport; but any one who Ia familiar with
Arctic ice foes who has any acquaintance with even a
subArcto temperature VINO Is at all cOnyersant with
the recorded experiences Of Kane. Hayes. Hail. Mares,
NJ rkham, Morton, Bessels, and host Of other brave
anu stout hearted explorers In that locality, Will
pause before selecting such route Perhaps the course
and distance between LittetOn Island and Discovery
HarbOr may be achieved by handful OF men, with dogs
| and sledges over waste OF shifting, hum
mocky ice foes but the scheme appears to me i'll
advised and mpracoabe. The distance is 200 miles at
the very lowest computation aud dreary, cod and in
| hospltable miles they are. Travelling as light MS
possible the distance considering road TO be passed
over is TOO great to bo thought Of foot Journey
and what shall of party loaded down with pro-
| visions and other necessaries for so long tripi
| Taree routes of travel be suggested for this
tourney: First, by land; second along the cefOot
and ,hrd the ice In the open Sound and Channel
The first may DC dismissed at for who has
seen the shores OF Smith Sound and Kennedy Channel
would waste his time planning land journey The
| rocky cliffs too steep and lofty tho glaciers
| intervening the bold headlands too numerous and
| gigantic; the coast line too irregular and
deeply indented Tho cc-oot II continuous would OF
course the par excellence. But 1t is often want
ing for miles and present is heaped and piled
with enormous bOuders and huge fed aud cast
up from ice fields they grind their edges upon
tie shore driven by of wind aud currents 10 0o
for long distances impossible Tie route IN the open
Sound and IN mdc lanDel diicult aud rough ~ 1t ever
IT, is the only left aud probably the most practical
| bic. But why attempt such apparently useless and
hopeless task when there Is n better way, promising
greater and safety. formidable and drcary houh
even this Why tins dozen or so brave fellows Ia
that dismal cherries desert Of ice 10 battle alone with
tho long dark winter and the raging OF ptess eementsi
WHY not make relief and OF the colony now
up there matter OF business and reasonable safety and