Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1884-12-06
ARCTIC WORK.
Brief History of Two Remarkable
EXPEDITIONS,

Expeditions.
Chief Signal Officer W. B. Hazen has
made the following report to the Secre-
tary Of War on the history and progress
of Arctic exploration. We are indebt-
ed to Lieut.. Glass, of the United States
signal corps, Fort Totem, for q. copy OF
the report. It is interesting in being an
accurate and official statement concern.
ing the Greedy expedition, which reads
like the tragedy that it was:
The two Arctic expeditions, which
were a part of an international series
about the pole, in which many govern
ments participated, have terminated.
That at Point Barrow under Lieutenant
Ray'having been abandoned as directed
from this office, it arrived at San Fran
cisco, October 7, 1883. Lieutenant
Rays prescribed work during the whole
two years has been efficiently per-
formed, in exact accordance with his
instructions, and he reports that he
had no man sick a single day during
the entire period; that their duty there
was wholesome and pleasant, and with
out suffering from cold. His full re-
port will soon be completed.
l. will briefly outline the expedition
to Lady Franklin bay.
The general plan received the sigma
ture of ~theopresident the 2sth of April,
and the' expedition was established by
act of congress approved May l, $780,.
IT, contemplated sending one ship
with a small party and three years pro.
visions to be left at their station, and
that the ship should then be dis.
charged.
This was to be followed by q supply
ship the next season, 1882, and by a re.
lief ship the second summer, and in
case it did not reach the station, the
partytwas to establish depot,and quar-
tsrs for the winter at, Littleton island
withosuficient supplies for both parties
and remain there, and not later than
September l, Lieutenant Greedy, the
Arctic commander, with his party, was
to begin his retreat and join them fol
the winter. This would require send.
ing a ship to Littleton island the fourth
year.
Before Lieutenant Greely's departure
from Washington I determined upon 6
general plan for carrying out this work
after full consultation with him, inolud'
ing q plan for the guidance of two pro
posed expeditions to sail in 1882 and
1883 respectively. His general outf,
was the most complete in all respects
ever sent into the Arctic seas, and was
the result of very careful and compre
hensivs study.
After arriving at his station Lieuten.
ant Greedy wrote out what he deemed 8
more complete plan for his relief, and
forwarded it to me, earnestly recon
mending its adoption. In it's supper,
he used theslpllowing language: "such
action, from advice, experience and
observation, seems to me all that car
5Abe done to- insure our safety. No de
Walton from observation-disclosures should
be permitted" Regarded that plar
as authoritative, coming, as it did, from,
an officer possessing peculiar means o.
knowledge, charged with the perform.
anceof hazardous duties in an almos,
unkno~n field of operations, and pre-
esmnriunently endowed with the qualifca
lions, that should challenge respect TO,
hisjudgmeat in such a matter, and i,
& had the weightof being of necessity the
~prearranged plan, the. violation Of
which on my part nothing could ex.
excuse. I still hold that, in view of all
probable emergencies, it YVES the wisest
plan that could possibly have been
adopted. !.
The steam sealer Neptune was
dispatchedSin 1882 with a proper relief
party and adequate supplies, in charge
Of ofsW I'm. y. .a5BEseebe ii, Of the general ser
yiee Of the army, but failed Io reach tic