The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-28
CRUISE OF THE LOOH GARRY.
Ensign Chambers Furnishes Details Of
the Voyage to the Polar Regions.
How the Vessel Pushed Her Way Through
Fields of Ice and Accomplished Her Mis-
sion-Hazens Response to Mr.. Kent.
THE LOCI eARRY AZ new YoRK.
Ensign Chambers Tells the Story of the vOy-
age to the North.

ENSIGN Chambers Tells the Story of the Voy-
age to the North.
New YORK July 26.-The following details,
from the log of the steamship Loeb Garry, Of
the Greedy relief expedition, are furnished by
Ensign w. R, Chambers, who was in command
of the vessel during its cruise to the polar re-
gions.
"On our first day out from St Johns heavy
fog set in and we encountered large iceberg.
Steering out of the way we lost sight of the
Thetis, and could only resume our position by
the sound Of her whistles On May Is, when we
were off Cape Farewell, we met the first great
quantity Of ice, and we were obliged to go ahead
slowly. On May % we sighted Disco, but had
much difficulty in finding harbor The island
was covered with ice and snow, and the land
marks were invisible. Weleft Godhayen on May
"a at A. NJ, and steamed to point about ten
miles below Hare island. Here we found the
ice so thick that we were compelled to lay to-.
Lieutenant Schley signaed Tor me to go to
Godhaven and wait for favorable opportunity
with an east wind to proceed to Upernavik
We left Godhayen the second time on May
81 and encountered more ice, through
which we pushed our way and
EOunu Gl0 IneUlS lying 10 at dar6 tSlanQ, having
been unable to blast passage through the ice
Next morning the whalers Arctic and Wolf
Joined us, and we started ahead. The ice was
heavy and very hummocky. We experienced
great difficulty in making progress, and several
times narrowly escaped collision with the Wolf.
We were afraid to back very much, for our pro-
peller was only four bladed cast-iron one, and
had we broken blade it would have been all up
with us. We finally succeeded in getting ahead,
and the Wolf followed in the opening we made.
The Thetis was now out of sight, and we set our
course for Comonack ford Here we sighted
the Thetis ten miles ahead. We overhauled the
Thetis on May % Captain Schley hailed us and
said: Go to Upernayik, calling at Prionen. If
you meet the Bear, coal her with dispatch.
During fog which came on, we got into the
VOLTS lead, and, while returning to open water
TO try another, met the TheSs and proceeded to-
gether, in the midst OF q binding snowsstorm,
which lasted all night to Upernavik On ar
rival there, May 20, we found the Bear and
coaled her The vessels remained in the yicin-
ity for nearly week, when the Thetis and Bear
proceeded northward while we waited for the
Alert, which arrived June IA The Governor of
Upernavik told us there was no hope of getting
through Melville bay, as the season was unus-
ually close We left with the Alert on June q,
and reached Berry island June % We went
ahead pushing through the ice all the way, and
on June 25 reached Horses Head. Here the
ALERT got nipped in the ice, and in
trying to get her out we lost
so much time that the pack
had become impenetratable We lay jammed
in the ice off Duck island till June 90 We
worked all night on the 18th, blasting and saw
ing ice, and finally got away into open water.
On June 80 we were off Wilcox Head, where
we had more hard pushing to get to open water
beyond Devils Thumb. While busy here we
sighted the Thetis and Bear coming toward US,
and knew at once, from the signaling that the
Greedy explorers had been traced and the sur
viyors, if any, were on board, for Capt Schley
would never have come back without having
accomplished his work. We returned to
open water; thick fog set in,
and it was some time before
could go on board the Thetis
and learn the news of the rescue. We
then pushed south with all the haste possible,
and arrived at Upernavik on July 2 Captain
Schley there dispatched the Alert and Loeb
Garry to Godhayen, while the Thetis and Bear
put into UpeInavik. the former to shift her
broken rudder and the latter to get coal. AT
Godhaven the Alert's machinery was repaired.
and we buried there one Of the Eskimos of
lieutenant Greelys party. We left Godhaven
with the Alert in tow. Of the coast of New
foundland we encountered gale, and our steel
cable parted three times The Alert was finally
cast adrift July 10. We dropped anchor at St.
Johns at A. M, on July q"