, 1884-08-19

purpose OF obtaining some idea oil thu
general nature and probable value of the
scientific observations made by Greedy al
Lady Franklin bay, an Associated Press
agent visited him Saturday. Greely first
stated the object of the Lady Franklin bay
expedition, viz. to establish a Polar sta
ton, one of thirteen suggested by Lieu.
tenant Weiprecht of Austria, who discov-
cred Franz Josef Land, at which observa-
tons of
ALL PHYSICAL PHENOMENA
were to be taken. The complete pro-
gramme which was to be followed was ar
ranged by a Polar congress, in which rep
rcsentatives of thirteen nations took part.
The observations, in which the greatest
possible accuracy were to be had, were
those of the declination and deviation of
the magnetic needle, temperature of the
air and sea, height of barometer, and
mean and maximum rise and fall of the
tides. All explorations were incidental to
the main objects Of the expedition. The
expedition was fitted out under the au-
thority of Congress, and was composed of
three officers of the army, one acting sur
geon, and nineteen enlisted men from the
army. Rations for twenty-seven months
were put on the Proteus, which left st.
Johns July 7, 1881, with the party.
She touched at Disco island and Uper-
navik to procure sledges, dogs, skins and
dog food. Two Esquimaux were added
to the party at Prooen. Landing was
made at Garry island in the north water
and the provisions cached by Mares in
1875 in the Alert were found in good con
dition. At Littleton island Greedy per-
sonaly recovered the English Arctic mail
left by Sir Allan Young in Pandora in
1876. At Carl Ritter bay, in Kennedy
channel
CACHE OF PROVISIONS
for use on the retreat was made.
1t was the original intention to establish
the Polar station at Water Course bay,
but heavy masses of ice rendered. the
Water Course bay exceedingly dangerous
anchorage. Moving to Discovery harbor
the station was there established on the
site occupied by the English exploring
party of 1875. The erection of a house
was at ono commenced and stores and
equipments landed.
On the 2sth of August came the part
ing between the Greedy party and the men
of the Proteus. The little band gathered
on the frozen shore and watched the Pro-
teus as she steamed slowly down through
Lady Franklin bay. On the evening of
the same day the temperature sank below
the freezing point, and the icy Arctic
Winter was on them in earnest. Their
house was finished a week after the Pro-
teus left 1t was named in honor of Sen
ator Conger, Fort Conger. -
During the first month the cold affected
the men more than any subsequent time
at Fort Conger. Later, or in December,
the temperature sank to from so to 65 de
grees below zero, and go remained for
days at a time. but ever in that weather
the cooks favorite amusement was dane
ing bare-headed, bare-armed and with
slippercd feet
ON o OF A SNOW DRIFT.
During he day the men dressed in or
binary outside clothing, but their hannels
were very heavy. Five men were gener-
ally for a part of the day engaged in scien-
tific work under Greely's direction. and in
the duties of the camp. The remainder
were employed generally about one hour a
day and devoted the rest of the time to
amusement. All slept in hunks. The
quarters were heated by a large coal stove,
the average heat in the main being 500
above zero. Checkers, cards, chess and
reading were the amusements of the even
ing.
The life, Greely said, was far from a
lonely one, and many of the men said
they never spent two happier years than
those spent at Fort Conger.
On the 18th of October the sun left
them for 1876 days, and twilight varying
from half an hour to twenty-four hour.
succeeded for two months. 1t was 30 dim
that the dial of a watch could not be read
by it.
On April II the sun came above tn,
horizon, and remained there 1876 days
giving the party a great suficiency o
midnight sun. During three months tn,
stars were visible constantly. Standing
alone outside of the tort on one of thes,
nights the
SCENE WAS wEIRDLY GRAND.
To the North famed aurora borealis, anC
bright consultations were set like jewell
around the glowing moon. Over every
thing was the dead silence so horribly
oppressive that a man alone is almosi
tempted to kill himself, so lonely does b,
feel. The moon would remain in sigh
from eleven to twelve days at a time
The thermometer registered, on June 30
the highest temperature at Lady Frank
tin bay which we knew during our stay
1t was $50 above zero. The lowest was il
February, 1888, &C. below zero. High
est barometer, 81 inches, and loves
slightly below 29 inches. The creates
variations were in Winter. The electro
meter nm instrument used tn ascertai,