The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-18

The entire two years, and few are found north of
Cape Sabine. The vegetation at Lady franklin
bay is about the same as at Cape Sabine and
comprises leichens, willows and saXifrage The
highest velocity of the wind was registered dur
ing terrific snow storm-seventy miles an
hour.
LooKwooD's OBSERVATIONS
Lieutenant Lockwoods trips to the North in
1882 and 1883 were productive of most valuable
results. Standing, on the 10Th Of May, in each
year, where Dr. Hayes had formerly stood az
about the same time Of day Lockwood, from a :.
elevation of 1000 feet, using his strongest glf
on Halls basin and Robesons channels, b 20 :
discern nothing but ice packs Here it was 81 s
Dr.. Hayes claimed to have seen his open polar
sea On the trip of 1882 Lockwood reached the
nlgheSt latitude ever attained-S32 % north
This was about 500 miles directly north of Lady
FRANKLIN bay but to get there he travelled
over one thousand miles. open water and broken
packs frequently causing HIM to retrace his
steps fifty miles. Lockwood sounded the sea
both years between Cape Bryant and Cape
Britannia. but could not touch bottom with 135
fathoms of line. Markham, few years before,
about one hundred miles to the west, got bottom
at seventy two fathoms. Lockwood found at his
furthest Eothern point about the same vegeta-
ton as at Lady Franklin bay, but no signs of
the polar current or an open polar sea-
In 1888 he was stopped near Cape
Bryant, 125 miles from Lady Franklin
bay, by an open channel extending west
to the coast of Grinnel land. The width of this
channel varied from two hundred yards to five
miles, but on the north the ice packs extended
as far as could be seen with a glass With a
sufficient supply of provisions, the failure of
winch had caused his return the year before,
Lockwood was confident he could have reached
80 north, If this open channel had not barred
his way. No fossil remains were discovered on
this trip and the only ones found were the trunks
OF trees on the southwest coast of Grinnell
land The only sea animals seen by Lockwood
at 50 degrees, % minutes were walrus and seals,
and. strange to say, walrus is not to be found at
Lady Franklin bay. At SO degrees % minutes
the detection of the magnetic needle was 104
degrees west, more than one-fourth of circle
As far as Lockwood went the northeastern
trend Of the Greenland coast continued. The
maps Of the regions he discovered are in posses.
sion OF Lieutenant Greedy, and are very careful
II made.
All through the two years at Lady Franklin
bay the magnetic needle was never quiet except
during storms.
In February, 1883. preparations Tor retreat
were made by establishing a depot at Cape
Baird, twelve miles to the south. Day after day
the anxious men looked off over Lady Franklin
commence their journey towards home.
At last, on August 10, 1888, the well
come news that the ice was open was
brought. All had been made ready and that
very day the party embarked in a little steam
launch. Behind them they left their dogs, as
they could not be taken Four barrels of pork and
some seal oil were left for the animals Lady
Franklin bay was crossed to Cape Baird, dis
lance of thirteen miles, and then the Western
coast of Grinnell Land was followed south as
far as Cape Hawkes.. Large quantities of heavy
ice were met and there was danger that at every
movement the little launch would be crushed
Several times all the boats were nearly
lost. The suffering of the men was great They
were now within fifty miles of Cape Sabine Strik-
ing from Cape Hawkes. direct for Bates island.
the party was caught IN an ice pack and frozen
in, ten miles south Of Cape Hawkes. In thirteen
days they drifted south twenty-five miles on
foes suffering horribly from cold, SO
they drlfted to within eleven miles of
Cape Sabine and were Obliged to
abandon the steam launch Sept TO- The pack
now remained motionless for three DAYS and
several times the party got within two or three
miles OF Cape Sabine. only to be drifted back by
southwest gales. Five seals were killed and
eaten while the party were drifting about
Eventually heavy northwest gale drove them
by Cape Sabine, within mile of Brevoort isl
and, but they could not land
A NIGHT OF TERROR
On September % there arose the most terrific
gale they had yet seen on the Arctic ocean.
Their ice-foe was driven hither ana thither by
the tempest, and the waves washed over them
again and again, the spray freezing to them and
causing them intense suffering Night came on
"a night of inky blackness-the wind threw
ice breaking from their own foe warned the men
that death was near to them No man knew the
minute the foe might break up, and the
water engulf them, The first faint light of
down showed them that little remained of the
foe on which they were. The sea washed an
other close to them; closer it came and at last
at the word, the men succeeded in getting upon
it. The storm slowly subsidized, and they gained
the land at Eskemo point near Baird's inlet
on Sept. 30. Here winter quarters were built,
and scouts were sent to Cape Isabella and Cape
Sabine In few days they returned. Their re-
port sent a thrill of horror to every heart. At
Cape Isabella and Cape Sabine were found only
1880 rations, and from Garlington's records
they learned the fate of the Proteus
Everyone knew that death must come to
rearly all of the party long before a ship of res
cue could force its way into Melville bay. Efforts
were made to sustain their spirits now by
lectures and light reading On October 10, the
party removed to Cape Sabine. On January Is
Cross died of scurvy. In.April the ratons issued
daily had swindled to four ounces of meat and
six ounces of bread. Man after man died. and
all hope had fed when, on that day, the blast of
the whistle reused the survivors from the
.lethargy of approaching death
Lieutenant Greedy, when asked as to his ideas
upon the probable results of arctic explorations
said: II do not think the north pole can be
reached unless every circumstance hitherto
found to be unfavorable should prove favorable
to the party attempting to reach the pole. If it.
is to be done at all it will be done by way of
reached by the Jeanette route. That
there is an open polar sea, l am well
nigh certain; this is proved by the ice
drifting out of Melville pay and Spitsbergen,
and the northern drift of the polar pack The
experiment by Pavey and Lockwood in 82o, 83,
shows that men can stand two winters very we'll
at Franklin bay, but the physical strength rap
idly deteriorates If we had had every supply
and necessary of food, we could perhaps, have
lived eight or ten years at least at Franklin
bay"