Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-03
PLANS TO SAVE GREELY.
CAPTAIN TYSON IN FAVOR OF
TWO WHALE BOATS.

The Steamer by His Plan not to Put
Into the Ice at ALLIE is Hopeful OF
Greely's SurvivaI-Lieutenant Hunt
and Lieutenants COlweI and CARING
ton Submit Plans.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-Capt. George f.
Tyson, of Hall Arctic expedition fame,
was before the board to consider an ex-
pedition to be sent for the relief of Lieut..
Greedy to-day, and in reply to inquiries by
members of the board gave a sketch of his
Arctic experience and at considerable
length his opinion of the course which
should be adopted for the rescue of Lieut..
Greedy and his party. He would secure a
steamer of 300 tons and sail early enough
in June to arrive in the Arctics by the 1st
Of July. He would search Cape YORK, and
not tinding the missing men there push on
to LittletOn Island, hunting along the
coast as far as the water would permit
Not finding Greely at LittletOn Island
he would cross to the west coast If he
found no trace of Greely there he would
have two whale boats fitted out and pro-
ceed nOrthwaTd from the point where the
ice was encountered. He would not in
any event put the ship into the ice. He
wOnld proceed by boats by land water,
which can nearly always be found along
the west coast of Smith sound. NOreliance
should be placed on sledges, nor should Es-
quimauX guides be employed. Capt. Tyson
thought boat journey would only occupy
about fifteen days after leaving the ship.
But his boats would be built of eXtraordi-
nary strength and fitted with shoes so
that they could be hauled over the ice.
Being asked about Lieutenant G.eeIy's
chances for sustaining himself and his
urf ha
Tyson expressed the opinion that if Lieu
tenant Greedy and party were well they
would be found at LittletoIrs Island. He
probably has suffered some, no doubt. but
1t would hardly compare with the hard
ships of the nineteen persons
who were floating six months and
a half on the ice. There is abun-
dance of game during the winter
at LittletOn Island. Even without fuel.
if they can get plenty of animal food, they
Will not suffer seriously from the cold.
LIEUT.. H. j. HUNT,
of the United States navy, one of the Off
GERS of the Rodgers in her expedition in
search of the Jeanette. was before the
board, and, in reply to request, gave the
board his views upon the organization of
the proposed expedition. He read a pa
per in which he had formulated his views
upon every point, giving his reasons for
his opinions. He would have the expe-
dition entirely naval, officers and men,
with naval equipment, and he would
have the commander selected from
the navy by the Navy Department, Civ
ing the Commander the privilege of select
ing his subordinate officers. He would
have no volunteering in any part of the
expedition. The ship should sail under
the American flag, and if foreign vessel
be selected she should be purchased An
American vessel might be chartered. His
scheme adopted Capt. Tyson's idea of
whale boat journey through the ice.
LIEUT.. DARLINGTON WAS NEXT CALLED
before the board and told the story of his
recent experience in the north. By re-
quest he submitted to the board a project
prepared by Lieut.. COlwell and himself
for the relief of the Greely party. It's
chief features are as follows: The eXpe-
dition to be commanded by Lieut.. CARING
ton, relief ship by Lieut.. Colwell, to
leave New York not later than the 10th of
May. His plan included a reliance upon
dog sledging for the nOrthernmost part of
the journey to Lady Franklin Bay in case
the Gtreely party is not found at Littleton
Island or along the route.
LIEUT.. p. H. RAY,
who had charge of the Port Barrow,
Alaska, signal station, for two years,
stated to the board the result of his
observations as far as it had bearing
upon the subject in hand. He thought
that but one course was practicable. He
would send strong ship to get to the ice
barrier at the earliest possible date and
make her way north as far as she could
If by the last of August, or early in Sep
tember, Mr.. Greedy had not been reached
party with house and supplies should
be landed for the winter, when the vessel
should come south. The winter party
should send expeditions north to find
Lieut.. Greedy and relieve him. He should
be brought south in the spring to some
point to be agreed upon before the ship
left After describing his method of life
at Port Barrow, he said that in his party
OF nine men during the first year, and
eleven during the second, there had not
been moments sickness from the begin
ming to the end. The mean annual tenn
perature was plus seven, and the mean
winter temperature about minus twenty
the lowest extreme was minus fifty
elgnt. Inc men were required, in addition
10 thelr regular duties, to spend one hour
out CT tWenty-fOur in the open air.
There were seventy-twO davs without
sunlight. In his travels Lieut.. RAY never
used tent, but constructed huts of ice
Lieut.. Ray recommended the employment
Of some of the voyagers from the Red
river Of the North as being experts with
dogs and otherwise qualified for the work
of relief expedition.
A LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT SCHWATKA
was read setting forth his views with re-
gard to the conduct of the proposed eXpe-
dition. He favOrs the purchase or con-
structiOn of two strong vessels for the eX-
pedition, both to be prepared for ice work,
No. to make dash for Lieut.. Greely's
position, lightly loaded, and to attempt
to bring Lieut.. Greedy, and his party with
their records and valuable instruments,
away This vessel Will take every risk
and in case of loss a second vessel will at
tempt to effect the purpose by more cauti-
Gus methods. Lieut.. Schwatka recon-
mends the employment, at salaries Of not
less than $4,000 year, of the most eX-
perienced ice masters to be found. with
picked crews of experienced men. The
ice masters should receive a bonus for the
success of the contingent, however. Upon
the recommendation of the commander of
the expedition the pay OF all concerned,
except the commander, should be doubled
from the day they reached the Arctic cir
Gle. A large number of letters of
advice and others rendering the service of
their writer's have been received by the
Board. A letter has been received from
Gen. Miles recommending that Lieuten-
ant Schwatka be placed In command of
the relief expedition.
BALLOONS ADVOCATED.
Among the papers laid before the Board
is a letter from Lieutenant Commander
John p. Cheyne, of the British navy, writ
ten last August setting forth plan to be
carried out conformity by the Canadian
and United States governments for reach
ing the pole by balloons from st. Patrick's
D"r, noor GPeoly's oto tinn Mr. Ghaynn
has had experience in three British polar
expeditions.
Tomorrow Captain Pike is expected to
give the Board the benefit of his expert
ence and his opinions.
AN ELEVATOR FALLS.
Five Persons Injured in the Brewery
Where it Plunged.