New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-23
arctic MEMORIES And DUTIES.


The mournful pageant witnessed in Broadway
and at the Navy Yard was q timely reminder of
the yicisStudes of Arctic adventure. De Long
and Chip, whose memories were honored by an
IMPRESSIVE ceremonial, acquired their first ex-
pcricnce in the North while serving III relle1
expedition similar to the orc which is now
organizing for the rescue Of the Greedy Colony.
They were fellow officers on the Juniata, which
accompanied by the 1igress set sail eleven years
ago for the purpose of searching the coast OIL
Greenland for the POlaris survivors. The same
shore from Upernavik to LittletOn. Island Is to
be slirted anew this summer Three ships IN
place of two are TO be dispatched on this errand
of mercy; but the localities to be visited and
The general conditions OF success or failure are
essentially the same. The new expedition Is
cnlisting the services Of officers as Inexperienced
in Arctic navigation as De Long and Chip then
were They have won. however, an honorable
rcputation in lower ATTITUDES, and promise to
give a good account of themselves in the
perilous enterprise which they have undertaken.
The country expects them to prove every whit
rs courageous. efficient and loyal to duty as were
Che officers of the Jeanette.
Three excellent ships are to be employed in
ths Arctic cruise. The Bear is pronounced by
good Judges at the Navy Yard to be a stanch
vessel wei adapted for service in Smith Sound.
Although purchased at ST. Johns, she is a Scotch
vhaler, strongly built and well modelled. The
1hcts is a Dundee whalcr, somewhat larger
than the Bear, but SIMILAR in shape and con-
struction. Either of these ships can be de
pended upon to make the run to Lady Franklin
Sound, il the condition of the ice Is favorable.
The third vessel has already passed that point,
having been the advance ship in the English
Expedition Of 1875. The Alert leaving the
Discovery, her companion ship, in the very
halbor 0hcre Greedy has spent two, and
possibly three. winters, succeeded in outstrip
ping Captain Halls record. The point where she
wintcrcd is the closest approach to the Pole that
has vet been made. The British Government
have given this gallant ship to the United
States in return for similar courtesy rendered
in the past. 1t will be admirably adapted for
the purposes of the expedition supply ship
being requisite and naval tender like the
Yantic being unfit for Arctic navigation. The
action of the British Government in surrender
ing this famous ship will be heartily appreciated
bv Americans. 1t is a most honorable incident
in the relations of the two Governments and
one which will promote good feeling.
The Alert can be accepted with good grace
since the British Government pOlntedly refers
to it as a gift in exchange for the ResOlute.
This was one of five ships employed in the
search for Sir John Franklin, which were
abandoned in 1S53-'5l, the crews taking
passage for England in the North Star In
September, 1875, Captain BuddingtOn, in
command of an American whaler discovered
the Resolute drifting in Baffin's Bay. The
movement of the ice had carried her ont of
Barrow Straits and Lancaster Sound, and there
she was, floating at the mercy of wind and ice,
without commander or crew. The ship was
taken to New London by Captain BuddingtOn,
and being purchased by the Government was
rettted, sent to England and formally presented
to the Queen in 1876. This was the courtesy
which has now been handsomely returned
by the British Government in the presentation
of the Alert. The Resolute was one of the first
ships sent out i'll the long search for Sir John
Frankln-that great humane undertaking
which enlisted the sympathics of Americans
and the active cooperation of DIR. Kane. The
Alert is now offered to the United States in
corresponding spirit of amity and humanity.