Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-19
Lieutenant GreeIy,s Fate

NO EXPEDITION THIS YEAR-AN OLD WHALER'S
vIEwS-wHY CAPT. TYSON WOULD GO TO THE
RESCUE WITH SMALL. VESSEL AND A CREW OF
WHALERS.
Another conference on the question of the relief
OF the Greelys party was held at the Navy depart
ment yesterday afternoon. There were present
Secretaries Chandler and Lincoln, Commodore
Walker, Dr. Emil Bessels, the Arctic explorer, and
Capt Mills, of the signal service. The conclusion
reached, after DR.. Bessels had been heard. was
that it would be unadvsable to send relief expe-
dition this year.
ANOTHER VOLUNTEER.
Mr.. l. O. Caldwell of Rome, Ga, has volun-
teered to the Secretary Of the Navy to go on a
Greely RELIEF expedition as meteorOl0g1St
CHIEF ENGINEER MELvILLE's PLANS.
Chief Engineer Melville has submitted plans to
the Navy department for an expedition for the re-
lief Of the Greedy party this fall volunteering to
take charge of the expedition. Secretary Chandler
mas tne plans under advlSement.
AN OLD wHALER's OPINION.
Capt. George E. Tyson, the old whaling captain,
who has been connected with several expeditions
to the Arctic regions, and who, last Friday, volun
teered his service to command a vessel to bring
back Lieut.. Greedy and his party, said to-day, in
answer to a question by STAR reporter whether
any immediate aid could reach the exiled crew,
Secretaries Lincoln and Chandler Monday evening,
when the advisabllty and feasibility or sending
out We vessel was discussed. and all were doubtful
that no vessel or crew can get up Smiths sound
before next summer"
"What do you suppose Is Lieut. Greely's stua-
ton at present." asked the reporter
'.Well." said the old salt II think he has pro-
visions enough, an VIII be safe II ne remains in
tured down in September his crew have suffered
very much. do not think any one can come
down Smiths sound in boats or sleds in the fan
them: think it is more than likely that he will
remain in Lady Franklin bay; The government
ing an expedition out now It would be impossl-
BILE for any steam or sailing vessel to get up Davis
strait uppernavlk harbor Is frozen up. and 1t is
vessel would n reach its destination, and no
time would be gained. The vessel would be up at
Davis strait, and the men worn out by one win
ter'S exposure. / wonder that Lieut. Greedy did
not send letters to Lttteton island last spring.
Then Then his Whereabouts and Intentions would be
ADVANTAGES OF SMALL VESSEL FOR EXPLORING
"It is said," suggested THE STAR, "that you
want very small sailing vessel, and to man her
with whalers."
"My reasons for that are these, !" said the cap.
tain. "In the first place, small vessel can be
worked quicker than a large one, and her move
about one hundred tons burden. rsome Of the
made by our ancestors in vessels of from twenty
five to fifty tons burden, and tell you we haven't
made much improvement on them In vessels or
discoveries. In relation to enlsting the service Of
whalers, would simply say that should want
men could rely upon, and men who know the
peculiar dangers OF the northern seas, and how to
avoid them. There are no men who understand
the northern ice fields better than whalers."
''How is it that when the government ships
crews to go north that the whalers don't 60 into
the service 2" asked the reporter.
'That is because whaler won't be subordf-
nate on his own grounds where he knows more
about the business than any one ese He knows
the danger he has to encounter, and he wants to
be at liberty to meet them according to the die
tates OF his own mind and experience"
"What would be your mode OF procedure after
you got fitted Out?" was the next question.
II would examine the coast up to Littleton island
to see If could find any traces OF Greedy or his
Cape Isabella on the American coast There 1
would have everything prepared to drop two boats
manned by picked men. IwOuld send my vessel
back to Fort Foulk would then go with my
boats and reach Lady Franklin bay In about five
days II there were any survivors there would
bring them down to my schooner and return home.
1t could be easily done. The only time you can
venture up Smith Sound is in the month of Au-
their trying to take their vessels up Smith Sound
There never was but one vessel that went up and
came down in the same season, and that was the
Proteus The proper way is to go up this sound
on shore when the Ice is dangerous"
Capt. Tyson stated that TIE cost OF an expedi-
tiOn such as he would recommend would be about
s25 600. His crew would consist of twenty-four
men.
Capt. Tyson commanded several ships In the
whaling service after 1850, and he went with
Capt. Hall on the POlaris assistant navigator,
and he and nineteen others We're adrift 1856 days
could manage to kill. They drifted 1900 miles.
before they were received by the Tlgress, on
which Capt Tyson was subsequently, made
acting lieutenant and Ice pilot