The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-08-09
A PERILOUS PASSAGE.
That of Lieutenant Greely's Ship Through
the Icebergs of the North.

The following details from the logs
of the steamship Lock Garry, of the Greedy
relief expedition is furnished by Engineer
W. R. Chambers, who was in command of
the vessel during the cruise to the polar
regions:
On our first day out from St. Johns, a
heavy fog set in, and we encountered a
large iceberg. In steering out of the way
we los. sight of the Thetis, and could only
resume our position by the sound of the
whistles. May IS, when we We're off Cape
Farewell, we met the first great quantity of
ice, and were obliged to go ahead slowly.
May % we sighted Disco, but had much
difficulty in finding Iharbor. The inland
was covered with ice and snow, and the
land marks were invisible. We left God
haven May 80 at 8 a. m. and steamed through
the ice along the coast to poin
about 10 miles below Hare Island.
Here we found the ice so thick we were
compelled to lay to. Lieutenant Schley
signalled for me to go back to Godhaven and
wait for favorable opportunity with an
east wind to proceed to Upernavik. We |
left GOdhaven the second time MAY o. and |
pushed our way and found the Thetis lying |
to at Hare island, having been unable to |
blast passage through the ice. The next
morning the whalers, Archie and Wolf,
joined us, and we started ahead. The ice
was heavy and we experienced great diff
Guilty in making progress, and several times
narrowly escaped collision with the Wolf.
We finally succeeded in gaining head, and
the Wolf followed in the opening we made.
The Thetis was now out OF sight and we set
our course for Omerack Firod. Here we
sighted the Thetis ten miles ahead. We
overhauled the Thetis May %. Captain
Schley headed us and said: eco to the
Upernavik, calling at Proven. If you meet
the Bear, coal her with Dispatch During
the fog which came on us we got on false
lead, and while returning to the water to
try another way we met the Thetis and pro-
,eeded together in the midst of binding
snow storm. which lasted all night, to Up
Dernavik. Upon arrival there MAY 29th)
We found the Bear and coaled her. The
yessel remained in the vicinity for nearly I
week, when the Thetis and the Bear pro-
,eeded northward, while we waited for the
Alert, which arrived June IA. The gov
rnor of Uppernavik told us there was no
lope OF getting through Melville Bay, as the v
eason was unusually close. I
We left with the Alert June 81, and
cached Barry Island June %. We went a
head, pushing the ice all the way, and t.
une % reached Horse head. Here the e
Alert got nipped in the ice and in trying to D
ct her out we .ost so much time that the a
eek had become impenetrable. We lay [
ahmed in the ice off Duck Island until d
uue 80. We worked all night the 2Sth,
lasting and saving the ice, and finally got =,
way into the open water. June 80 we were q
Il Wilcox Head where we had more Il
ushing to get to open water beyond
eviPs Thumb. While busy here we rs
GIFTED the Thetis and the Bear coming to- ~ ~
ard us and knew at once from the signal r
g that the Greedy explorers had been n
aced and survivors, if there were any, on o,
,ard. We returned to open water and o
lick fog set in, and it was some time be H.
re could go on board the Thetis and n
arm the news Of the rescue. We then RI
lshed south with all the haste possible and ~
rived at Upernavik July 2. Capt. Schley n
en- dispatched the Alert and Lock Garry nc
Godhaven, while the Thetis and the Bear rs
ere put into Upenavik, the former to '''
lift broken rudder and the latter to get
al. At Godhaven the latter's machinery or
IS repaired, and we buried there one OF
e Eskimos of Lieutenant Greey's party.
e left Godhaven with the Alert in tow; off ~
e coast Of Newfoundland we encountered ~
gale, and the steel barrier parted three d ds
nes The Alert was finally cast adrift ;.l
ly 10. We cast anchor at St. Johns at De p;
M, July II. Il