Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-09-11
NEAR THE NORTH POLE.
How the Greeley Party Spent Two
Years on the Frozen Fioe In the
Land Of the Midnight Sun.

bic value OF the scientific observations
made by Greely at Lady Franklin
bay, an associated press agent visited
him Saturday. Greeley first stated
the object OF the Lady Franklin Bay
expedition, viz: To establish polar
station, one Of thirteen suggested by
Lieut.. Welprecht, Of Austria, who
discovered Franz Josef Land. Stimuli
taneous observations Of all physical
phenomena were to be taken. A
complete programme which was to be
followed was arranged by an interna-
tional polar congress in which repre-
sentatives of thirteen nations took
part. The observations in which tile
greatest possible accuracy were to be
had were those Of the declination and
deviation of the magnetic needle, the
temperature of the air and sea, height
of the barometer and mean and max.
imum rise and fall of the tides. All
explorations were incidental to the
main
OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION.
The expedition was fitted out und-
er the authority of congress, was
composed of three officers of the ar.
my, one acting surgeon, and nineteen
enlisted men from the army. Rations
for twenty-seven months were put or
the Proteus, winch left st. Johns
July z, 1881, with the party. She
touched at.Disco island and Upperna.
vik to procure sledges, dogs, skins,
and dog food. Two Esquimaux were
added to the party at Proven. A
landing was made at Garry island in
north water, and the provisions ca.
ched by Mares in 1875 in the Alert
were found in good condition. AT
Iittleton island Greeley recovered
the English arctic mail left by Sir AL.
Ian Young in the Pandora in 1876.
At Carl Ritter bay, in Kennedy chan.
mel, cache of provisions for use or
the retreat was made. 1t was the
original intention to establish the po.
lar station at Watercourse bay but
heavy masses of ice rendered Water.
course bay an exceedingly dangerous
anchorage. Moving to Discovery
harbor the station was there estab.
ished on the site occupied by tbs
English exploring. party of 1875. The
erection of house ws.s at once com
menced and stores and equipment:
landed.
On the 2sth of August came the
parting between the Greely party ant
the men.of the Proteus.
THE LITTLE BAND
gathered on the frozen shore ant
watched the Proteus as she steamed
slowly down through Lady Franklin
bay. On the evening Of the same day
the temperature sank below the freez
ing point and icy, arctic winter wa'
on them in earnest. Their house wa
finished about week after the Pro
teus left. 1t was named in honor O.
Senator Conger, Fort Conger. Dur
ing the first month the cold affected
the men more than at any subsequen
time at Fort Conger. Later on il
December the temperature sank t.
from so to 60 degrees below zero ant
so remained for days at time, bu
even in that weather the cooks favor
lite amusement was dancing barehead
ed and barearmed, and with slipperet
feet on top Of snow drift. Durin.
the day men dressed in ordinary out
side clothing, but their fiannels wer
very heavy. Five men were general.
for a part of the day engaged in sci
entific work under Greeley's direction
and in the duties of the camp. TIL
remainder were employed generall
about one hour day, and devote
the rest of the time to amusement
Ali slept in hunks. The quarter
were heated by large coal stoves, th
average heat in main being fifty de
grees above zero. Checkers, cards
chess and reading were amusement
of the evening. The life, Greely said
was far from lonely one. Many G
the men said they never had passe
two happier years than those spent 6
Fort Conger. On the 14th of Octo
Der the sun left them for 1875 days
and twilight varying from half a
hour to twenty-four hours succeeded
For two months it was so dim th.
the dial of watch could not be rea
by it. On April IL the sun cam
above the horizon and remained thel
135 days, giving the party great sufl
cheney Of midnight sun. During thre
months the stars were visible col
stantly, the considerations of Orion
belt and Great Bear being the brigh
est. The north star looked down
FROM ALMOST OVERHEAD.
Standing alone on the outside (
: the fort one Of these nights the seer
was weirdly grand. To the mort
famed the aurora boreaGs and brig
consultations were set like jewe
around the glowing moon. Ov'
everything was dead silence, so ho
ribly oppressive chat man alone is q
. most tempted to kill himself, so lon
ly does he feel. The astronomer
the party said that with naked eye
star Of one degree smaller magnitut
n than can be seen here in the san
way might be discerned. The mot
would remain in sight from eleven