Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-05
PLANS To SAVE GREELY.
DIR. BESSELS OF THE POLARIs
EXPEDITION SPEAKS.

a Vessel to PayOr Harb0r and Small
Boats to be Employed Thenee-JOurn-
alist Kennan Urges the Necessity of a
Competent Commander aud Depend
ence on His Judgment.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-Dr. Emil Bes-
sells, Chief of the Scientific Corps of the
Polaris expedition, by invitation gave the
Greely Relief Board to-day his opinions
respecting the proper course to be taken
for the relief of Lieut.. Greely and his
party. He favored an expedition In
yessel-nOt too large-tO Favor Harbor.
Cape Sabine, and from that point, in case
the water should not be open so as to
permit further northing by the ship, seve-
raj boats should be sent up along the
west coast Of the sound.
Lieut.. Colwell was introduced to the
board and asked if he had anything
to suggest further than con-
tanned in the lOint scheme
of himself and Lie,it. Darlington.
He said that he had nothsag further eX-
cept that whatever was done ~ the gov
ernment for Lieut.. Greely's relief should
be done at the earliest possible moment,
IL there is any delay in preparing the exs-
pedition and the relief shi p is not at Cape
York early it will be useless to send at
all. If Lieut.. Greelv is 70 require relief
he will require it in the spring, and some
of the Scotch whalers Will undoubtedly
be on the ground and on the lookout for
Lieut.. Greely's party as soon as the wa
ter is open. The last person to appear
before the board was Mr.. George Kennau.
now journalist Of this city. who
was called as an expert in the
methods of sledgng and camping ouf
IN winter practiced by the natives of Arc
tic Asia. In reply to questions asked by
Lieut.. Davis Mr.. Kennan said that his
Arctic experience was comprised in three
years of active service in Northeastern
Siberia, where in the course of the time
mentioned he Travelled in sledges about
1000 miles. He had only two or three
suggestions to offer with regard to the
general question of affOrding reliet to
Lieut.. Greely, and they We're as follows:
First. He thought that the United States
Government should offer a suitable re-
ward to the officers and crew of any
whaling vessel that succeeded IN sue
cOring or relieving Lieut.. Greely's party
at the head of Baffin Bay next spring.
He considered it quite probable that the
Greely party might be found among the
EsquimauX Indians around Cape York in
a state Of destitutiOn. and the chance that
the st. John and Dundee whalers might
Hnu iueiu bueIe, WAS 100 kaludDie 10 De
slighted. His second suggestion was to
consult at once Sir George Mares, Capt.
Stephenson and Commander Markham,
the British explorers, who were familiar
with Smiths Sound. AS third general
suggestion Mr.. Kennan urged the im-
pOrtance of the prompt selection of a
leader for the proposed expedition. 1t
was, in his judgment, the very first thing
to be done, partly because the man
chosen should have time to study
the problem presented to him, and partly
because he could not justly be held re-
spOnsible for results unless he had taken
part in the preparations. Every step in
the fitting out of an Arctic expedition
should be taken with knowledge and un-
der the direct supervision Of the man who
is TO lead it. Mr.. Kennan also urged the
Importance of selecting as such a leader
a man who had had ArcticA experience.
''This," he said, 'is a prime requisste,
Character and seamanship are Of course
TO be taken INTO consideration. but with
out Arctic experience they may be utterly
unavailing. Choose an experienced and
competent leader, and then don't hamper
him with unnecessary instructions. Give
him, in writing, every suggestion obtained
from every Trustworthy source; and then
let HIM have discretion to act on the
ground as circumstances may require. II
he is fit to lead an Arctic expedition at all,
he is fit to take entire charge of it,"