Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-18
GREEDY STARTS.
Sailing of the Expedition from St.
John, n. f.

Sailing of the Expedition from st.
John, n. f.
In pursuance of arrangements ms6e b. the
United States Government, the screw steam
ship Protees, with the GreelY Arctic colony
on board, departed from St. John, n. f., on
July Z, 1851, bound to Lady Franklin Bay.
Five days after leaving the expedition en-
countered vast bodies Of ice, which necessi-
tated the navigation Of the ship from the
crows nest at the foretopgallantmast head.
RAISING safely through the pack no obstacle
was met with until the coast of Greenland,
gesolate, dark and dreary, loomed up ahead.
Ihe harbOr of GOdhavn, with its calm sur
race thronged with the kyaks of the Esqui-
mauN, was reached, and the inhabitants flock
cd to the shore to obtain a closer view of
the vessel. At GOdhavn fourteen dogs and
TWO edges were taken on board, as well as
several tons of walrls flesh and dried fish to
iced them on. Several hundred pounds of
white whale skin. famous as an antiscorbutic.
were added to the stores. In its dried state it
resembles an inferior quality of glue. but
when cooked it is said to possess the flavor of
trlpe. Sailing from GOdhavn, the Proteus
reached Upernavik on July "a, after having
stopped day Rittenbank, where DR.. Pavy
ana Mr.. Clay were taken on board as mem
bers of the expedition. Upefnavik was left
Denlnd on July 29. The Proteus was put at
iull speed, with her head pointing to the
north. The white top of SandersOn's Point
FADED fast from view and Melville Bay was
entered. Here the party expected to meet
Gus bergs, some Of them of immense size,
were encountered, there was no pack ice to
obstruct the ship in her onward path. On
August l Cape Dudley Digges was sight
ed and then the POtOric glacier loomed in
sight. Soon afterward the Carey Islands were
made, and party landed on the southeast
ernmost OF the group where they examined
the calrn erected by Captain Allen Young.
His records were taken away and Lieut.
Greely left in their place a record of his own
voyage. A letter to Sir George Mares was
found IN the earn. The cache of provisions
lett by Captain Mares was also found, the
puncheon OF rum being sampled and pro-
nOunccd excellent. The stores were in fair
condition, though the biscuit was rather
mouldy. The boat which formed part OF the
depot seemed also to be seaworthy.
ENTERING SMITH SOUND.
On the following day Cape Alexander, the
key 10 smith Sound, was sighted. Passing the
Crystal Palace cliffs and glacier and the GRIM
gon snow Of Sir John Ross Port Foulke, DIR.
Hayes headquarters was reached. The Pro
teus then anchored at Litteton Island, where
Capt. Allen Young. of the Pandora, deposited
ms papers and letters for the Mares party,
and where also the wrecked PoIaris party
passed their second winter after Capt HalPs |
death. Landing in Life Boat Cove demol-
lshed calrn was discovered; also the debris of |
tMhe M camp OF the Polaris party. The Proteus
lett LIttleton Island the same night and next
day got as far as Cape Hanks and Washington
irving Island, passing on the way the famous |
humboldt glacier, which is said to be the |
|
Cape Hanks, which has been called not in |
APPLY the Gibraltar of the Arctic, was then |
left behind. The voyage up Smith Sound had |
been so tar most successful and encouraging.
The navigation of the channel since its dis |
coYery IN 1916 was, until a comparatively re- |
cent date, considered impracticable on ac-
count of the vast quantities of ice disgorged |
through It. 1t remains frozen nearly all the |
year, the ice breaking up and being carried |
south for short time only. Kane and HAYES |
qua much to make the geography of the strait |
known. Capt. Hall, in his daring voyage, |
reached the highest latitude that up to his |
llme had been made. The Mares expedition |
OF 1913 made the passage with great difficulty.
battling with the ice continually and nearly |
losing their ships. They were twenty-one |
days In reaching Cape Frazer from Littleton |
Island, but the Proteus made the same dis |
tance IN sixteen hours. After stopping a |
short time in Coal River Bay, where they |
landed some stores to be used in case of re- |
treat, they resumed the voyage. They passed |
cape Constitution, kane's highest point. and |
there they met with the first obstruction. On
the 4th they steamed up to the solid main |
pack, extending right across the channel and |
appearing to be at least twenty feet thick. |
The PrOteus had then reached the southwest |
part OF Lady Franklin Bay and was within |
ten miles Of her destination. For seven days |
the vessel was moOred to the ice, and Lieut.. |
Greely almost despaIred of attaining his OBJ |
Ject. But the Ice moved to the eastward and |
the ship was forced at full speed until Discoy- |
cry Harbor was reached, and there Lieut.. |
Greely determined to locate his camD