The Dickinson press., 1884-04-19
Bound For The Frozen 1gorth.

The only man among the officers and
Grew Of the steamer Bear, whichis to be
the advance ship Of the Greedy relief
} expedition, who has had any practical
experience in the fer north is Lieut..
John O. Colwell. Lieut.. Colwell was
n Of the search party who sailed to
the relief Of Greedy on the steamer Pro-
teus in 1883. He is now engaged in
experimenting the work on the Bear.
In q recent interview with q Brooklyn
reporter, he said:
"This will undoubtedly be the best
equipped expedition that has ver sailed
to the Arctics, and I have no doubt that
it will accomplish its purpose. Had
three ships sailed on the last expedition
there would have been no necessity for
the present one. AS it was, just as
soon as we lost the Proteus there was
nothing left for us to do except to turn
around and make our way back"
"Are you like Chief engineer Melville,
an Arctic enthusiastic"
mo, I am not" The trip at best is
far from enjoyable, and I should never
have gone again had mot been very
ambitious. If the truth were told, I
think every officer who accompanies the
Greeley expedition does so for a desire
of fame and glory.
did you experience much inconven-
fence from the cold during your last
trip?"
II did not. I was there, you know,
during the summer, and I found the
weather no colder than the winter is
here. We had some fine days, when
the weather was almost spring-like.
After the Proteus was crushedin the ice
off Cape Sabine, I passed39 days in the
open air, travelling 900 miles in a small
open boat"
"What nationality of men did you
find made the best sailors in an expedi-
ton of this kind?"
1.-THE native Americans. They have
the most grit and backbone, and can
stand the cold better than any of the
Others"
"How do you like the steamer Bear?'
II am very much pleased with her,
and I think that she is a strong, service
able vessel. OF course it would be bet
ter if her engines were not in the centre
Of the ship, but we are trying to rene
dy this defect by strengthening her il
every possible way"
consist?"
GAS the relieving vessels may be de
tanned for one OF more winters in til,
ice, the compliment of each ship viii
be reduced to a minimum, in order tt
give each man abundant air space
The crew will consist only of usefu
men, fitted for the vigorous service be
tore them. The officers and crew O
the Bear will be one commanding off
eel, three line officers, one medical off
GER, one engineer officer, one
ice master four petty officers
ten seamen, II machinist
one boiler maker, one blacksmith, one
carpenters mate, three firemen, ont
captain of hold and yeomen, one ships
cook, one officers steward and two Els
auimaux or men to drive dogs and hunt
~aggregsting in all "a persons"
elias the route to be followed by til,
bear been determined on as yet?"
"Not definitely, but the general pro
gramme will be about as follows: w
will proceed to st. Johns, N. F., ant
thence to Upernavik, thence to Little
toms island, communicating with til
natives at and north of Cape York. o.
the-way north the coast will be examine'
from Cape York to Cape Ohisen on tn
east side, and from Cape Isabella t
Cape Sabine on the west. Cairns will
probably be erected containing notice
of the movements and intentions of tn
relief expedition at Conical rock, Wo]
stenholme island, Gary islands, Hakluy
island, Cape Isabella and Cape Sabine.