McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-08-28
OBJECTS AND RESULTS
0fGte Latest Explorations IN The Far North
err Regions.

0fhe Latest Explorations IN The Far North.
err Regions.
For the purpose Of obtaining some
Idea Of the general nature and probable
scientific value Of the explorations made by
Lieutenant Greedy, an associated press
agent visited him few days ago. Greely
stated that the object OF the Lady Franklin
expedition was to establish polar station,
one of thirteen suggested by Lieutenant
Wayprecht, Of Austria, who discovered
Franz Joseph land. simultaneously OBJ
seryations of all the physical phenomena
were to be taken. The complete programme
that was to be followed was arranged by an
international polar congress, in which rep
resentatives of thirteen nations took part.
The observations, In making which the
greatest possible accuracy was to be had,
were those OF declinaiion and deviation OF
the magnetic needle, temperature OF air,
sea height Of barometer, and meau and
maximum rise and fall of tides. The ex-
plorations were to be merely incidental to
other objects. The expedition was fitted
out under the authority Of the United
States congress. 1t was composed OF three
officers Of the army, one acting surgeon and
nineteen enlisted men from the army.
Stores for tw nty.seven months were
put on the "Proteus,'' which left st.
Johns, July Z, 1881, with the party. She
touched at Disco Island and Uppernavik 70
procure sledges, dogs, skins and dog food.
Two Esquimauxs were added to the party
at Proven. Landing was made at Corey Is
land In north water, and the provisions
cached by Nores in 1875, in the 'Alert"
were found to be in good condition. At
Littleton Island Greedy personally recovered
the English Arctic mail left by Sir Allen
Wing in the "Pandora' in 1876. At Carl
Ritter Bay, in Kennedy channel, q cache of
provisions for use on the retreat was made.
1t was the original intention to establish
polar station at Water Course bay, but
heavy masses Of ice rendered Water Course
bay exceedingly dangerous anchorage.
Moving to Discover Harbor, the station was
there established on the site occupied by the
English expedition Of 1875. The erection
of q house was at once commenced and
stores and equipments landed. On the 18th
of August came the parting between the
Greey party and the men of the s'Proteus."
The little band of adherents on the frozen
shore watched the s'Proteus" as she steam
evening of the same day the temperature
sank below freezing point and the icy Arc
tic winter was on them In earnest. Their
house was finished about week after the
ttProteus' left. 1t was named, in honor
of Senator Conger, Fort Conger. During
the first month the cold affected the men
more than at any subsequent time at Fort
Conger. Later on the temperature sank
from 30 to IS degrees below zero, and so re-
manned for days at q time. But even in
that weather the cooks favorite amusement
was dancing bare headed, bare-armed,
with slippered feet, on top of snowdrift.
During the day the men dressed in ordi-
Cd nlofhinn h,rf thar "A .nnoto
were very heavy. Five men were generally
for part of the day engaged in scientific
work, under Greely's direction, and in the
duties of the camp. The remainder were
employed generally about one hour day,
and devoted the rest of the time to amuse-
were heated by large coal stove, the aver-
age heat maintained being 30 degrees above
zero. Checkers, cards, chess and reading
were the amusements of the evening. The
life, Greedy said, was far from lonely, and
many of the men said they had never passed
two happier years than those spent at Fort
Conger.
On the 18th of October the sun left them
for 135 days and the twilight, varying from
half an hour to twenty -four hour, succeed
ing for two months was so dim that the dial
of q watch could not be read by 1t. On
April 18th the sun came above the horizon
and remained there 1a5 days, giving the
During three months stars were visible con-
stantly. The consultations Of Orion's Belt
and the Great Bear were the brightest.
The north star looked down from almost
over head. Standing alone outside the fort
on the snow drift these night scenes were
aurora borealis and bright considerations
were set like jewels around the glowing
moon. Over everything was dead silence,
so horribly oppressive that man alone Is al.
most tempted to kill himself. The astrono-
mer of the party said that with the naked
eye star Of one degree smaller magnitude
than can be seen here in the same way
might be discovered. The moon would
remain in sight from seven to twelve
DAYS at time. The Thermometer regis
tered on June 30th the highest temperature
at Lady Franklin hay which we knew during
our stay. It was 81 degrees above zero.
The lowest was in February, 1883, 66 de-
cury froze and remained solid for fifteen
DAYS. The mercury in the thermometer in
yariably rose during storms or high winds.
The highest barometer was slightly above
81 inches; the lowest slightly below % inch
es. The greatest variations were In the
winter. The electrometer, an instrument
used to ascertain the pressure OF cleo
tricity, was up, but not the slightest results
were obtained. The displays Of aurora
were very good, but not compared with
those seen at Uppernayik or Disco Island.
The lieutenant then detailed the further
trip of the party, and their subsequent SUI
In Conclusion he said he considered it i'm
possible to reach the north pole BY the
ToT1te of the t'Jeannette. and considered
the only feasible route to be by way Of
Franz Joseph land.
DISPUTED ACCOUNTS