Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-12-04
ARCTIC work

I The following is from The annual report
Of the Chief Signal Officer Of the army to
the Secretary of War for the year 1854;
THE two Arctic expeditions, which were
part Of an international series about the
pole, in which many governments partic-
ipated, have terminated. That at Point
Barrow unier Lieutenant Ray having
BEEN abandoned as directed from this Of
| iee, i, arrived at San Francisco, Oct Z,
1855. Lieutenan, Rays prescribed work
duriag the whole two years has been eff
iic,endy performed, in exact accordance
with his instructions, aud be reports tha,
he had no man sick single day during
the entire period; that their dut. there
Was wholesome and pleasant, and without
sataring fron Geld. His full report will
soon be completed.
l will briefly outline the expedition to
Lady Franklin Bay.
The general plan received the signature
Of the President the 2Sth Of April, and
the expedition was established by act Of
Congress approved May l, 1880.
| 1t contemplated sending one ship with
small party and three years provisions
to be left at tl.eir station, and that the
ship should then be discharged.
| This was to be followed by supply
ship the next season, 1882, and by Il
relief ship the second summer, and in case
it did not reach the station, the party was
to establish depot and quarters for the
winter at Littleton Island, with sufficient
supplies for both parties, and remain there
and not later than September lst, Lieu
tenant Greedy, the Arttic commander,
with his party, was to begin his retreat,
and join them for the winter This would
require sending ship to Litsleton Island
the fourth year.
Il Before Lieutenant Greelys departure
from Washington l determined upon q
general plan for carryin. out this work
after full consultation with him, includ
ing plan for the guidance of two pro
posed relief expeditions to sail in 1873:
and 1888, respectively. His genera
outfit was the most complete in all re
speets ever sent into the Arctic seas, an,
{ was the result Of very careful and com
prehcnsivo study.
!. After arriving at his station, I.iea.en
ant Greedy wrote out what he deemed
more complete plan for his relief, and for
wardcd IL to me, earnestly recommending
its adoption. In its support he used tn
y following language: ''Such action, fror
I advice, experience and observation, seem
> to me all that can be done to insure GU
= safety. No deviation from these instrue
~ tions should be permitted l regarde
' that plan as authoritiyc, coming, as
- did, from an officer possessing peculia
. means Of knowledge, charged with th
y performance of hazardous duties in a
'e almost unknown field Of operations, an
: pre-eminently endowed with the qualif
= cations that should challenge respect fo
= his judgement in such matter, and
= had the weight Of being of necessity tn
= prearranged plan, the violation of whic
on my part nothing could excuse.
still hold that, in view of all probabl
d emergencies, it was the wiscst plan tina
E could possibly have been adopted.
le The steam-sealer Neptune" was dis
70 patched in 1882 with proper relic
party and adequate supplies, in charge Q
le Mr.. W. NJ, Beebe, jr, Of the Genera
lie Service Of the Army, but failed to reac
10 the station because of impossible ice.ba,
al ricrs. After watching for an openin
Is through the solid ice Of Smiths Scum
d and kane's Sea until the navigable sea
N son in that latitude had nearly closed
e and discovering none, the exposition mad
10 caches Of supplies at the most northerl
r points Of land that it attained and the,
It returned to Saint Johns.
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