Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-09-21

despatch printed in another column gives
an account of the loss of the steamer Pro.
teus, which was sent by the government to
the relief of Lieut. Greedy and his party Of
Arctic observers Lieut. Greedy is the CON.
mander of one OF several Arctic observing
stations selected for the taking of meteoro-
logical, tidal, magnetic pendulum and other
observations, under a plan arranged by the
international geographical congress held at
Hamburg il 1879. II is known that the
more important of the meteorological changes
that take place in the northern hemisphere
have their origin within the Arctic circle. and
It has been the opinion of scientific men that.
If simultaneous records were taken at differ.
ent places of climatic changes occurring
there, it would be possible to formulate gen.
eral meteorological laws by which climatic
changes throughout the northern hemisphere
could be determined. Various countries as
sisted in the work the English having sta
ton near the Great Slave lake in British
America the Germans one at Prince vii
liam Land and one on the coast Of Iabra.
dor the Austrians one on the island Of Jan
Mayen the Nor wegians one near tine North
cape; the Swedes one on the island of Spitz-
bergen the Russians three at various points
on the northern border and our own gov
eminent one near Point Barrow in Alaska. and
the other at Lady Franklin bay. This last
station, which was the post assigned Lieut.
Greedy, was the most exposed of all the in.
ternational system, 1t is about . north Of
the eightleth parallel OF latitude, thus being
some . nearer the north pole than any of
the other stations
Lieut. Greedy and his party were taken to
their post two years ago by the government
and were left there supplied with provisions
for three years with boats, sledges and shell
ter, and with all the appliances for health and
comfort which science could suggest. The
plan was TO send vessel in each of the two
following years to reach the Greedy party il
possible, and If not to leave supplies for them
at points agreed upon If no relief reached
him Lieut.. Greedy was to abandon his most
not later than September lst of this wear and
start on his retreat overland toward home.
Last year the steamer Neptune made an ef
fort TO reach Lieut. Greedy, but could not
penetrate the ice in Smiths sound. This
'NN~AA4NA
tue same Grand accompanied, as far as the
Danish station at Upenayik, by the United
States ship Nantic. The latter has lust re-
turned, bringing news Of the loss of the Pro.
teus, which was sunk by the ice at the en-
trance of Smith sound.
The loss Of the Proteus raises grave cues
ton as to the fate of the Greedy party. As
the matter now stands on the first of the cur
rent month the commander of the LADY
Franklin bay station, following the instruc.
tons that he received from the secretary If
war, must have abandoned his camp and
have started on his homeward Journey Ac-
cordlng to tine official programme ne WAS 10
ind at various locations in and near Smiths
sound depots of supplies, placed there at diff
terent intervals during the last two wears
For this reason it is fair to presume that Lieut.
Greedy has not loaded himself down with
what would seem to be an unnecessary amount
OF provisions. 1t is not an easy task to drag
heavily loaded boats and sedges over broken
and rifted ice, and hence, assured of obtain.
ing what he needs at intervals along his road
Lieut., Greedy in all probability has started
out poorly provided to Withstand the demands
OF long journey. But as a matter of fact
these supplies have not been placed at the
designated places, at least not at the most
northery points Opinions vary as to the
praeticability of attempting to send the par
~ relief this season. AT the consultation in
Washington, Wednesday, list of the sup.
plies landed at Lady Franklin bay in the sum
mer OF 1881 was presented for inspection.
This return shows that the Greedy party was
provided with meat for four years, with cot.
fee for four and one half years, and with
canned vegetables, fruit and other delieaoies
for even longer periods, decision is said