New-York tribune., 1885-10-19
TIE RETURN or THE ALERT.
OBSERVATIONS IN HUDSON STRAIT.
UNEXPECTEDLY HIGH NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND
SUFFERING IN NORTHERN LABRADOR.
TnY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

UNEXPECTEDLY HIGH TEMPERATURE-FAMINE AND
SUFFERING IN NoRTHFRY LABRADOR
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUSE.l
HALIFAX. Oct. 1S.-The Arctic steamer Alert
returned to-day from Hudson Bay. bringing back the
staff OF observers who spent Ceen months at various
stations OF tho strait and bay. expedition ordered
by the Dominion Government to take observations or
Temperature tide and movements OF leo with view OF
testing tho praccabity OF opening that route from
the American and Canadian Northwest to Europe.
Among the geological survey staff who went ont IN the
Alert James McNaughton OF New-York. He SAID
to a TRIBUNE correspondent: Tho result OF years
observations shows that the average temperature was
nearly low expected, nor nearly 80 low as
the average winter temperature in the Northwest The
lowest monthly average 800 below zero, remarkably
mild for Arctic temperature. There was no difficulty III
keeping average temperature OF GOO In the rouSh
frame cabins. Regarding the movements OF ice the last
season was late, fully month later than usual Tic
Alert stuck in field Of ice at least one hundred miles in
width that down from Davis strait where tho win
ter hal been exceptionally Portions OF that leo
field thirty feet thick Aftcr being thrco weeks
stuck in that field Of ice. tho ship was
disabled and returned Johns for repairs This was
July g. Three weeks later tho Alert back at the
sano point, and subsequently, fought her way through
the floating ice fields which camo dowa fIom Hudson
Bay without any moro difficulty than naturally
expected under such circumstances All experience and
personal observation prove that the straits AMI tho bay
uaygd5le properly built and equipped vessels Tor
from three four months OF the year, frcm July to Oc-
tUbcr and had not bocu for the Alert having to relieve
at points along the shores the vessel could
have kept right up through the centre OF the straits
feat which three sailing vessels ACCOMPLISHED passing
the Alert. The movements OF ic9 vary from year to
year, and year DO regarded as criterion for
another. An old American whsler put the whole ques-
tion in shell by saying: nave 70 keep In open
water when nd It, wherever the ice is tninncst"
il uly eight months OF the
year Tie whole difficulty lies In the straits There is
an immense amount OF wealth in that region The fish
crcsaro wonderfully productive, especially walrns
porpoisc whale and salmon; whilo enormous furrade
could lee carried with tho Esquimaux, a profitable
business .thcrto UuuopoZcd by the hudson Bhy Com
pauy Valuable black toX ana polar pear SAins can DE
obtained for mere song. a great many furs were
brought homo hy thc Observers, VINO spent uho "ihcr
there. The mineral wealth Is uGJoubedly great, com
pri-ug -od SILVER. copper, Lead iron. asbestos manga
ncsc' mci graphite aAullie ana ahthrdcIIo COAL ihT
opening up OK tnc route VIII undoubtedly develop all
thcse l>hrrleJ ana minerals"
McNahshtOn tells thrilling stories OF pear anu warns
| hunts OF which he takes hOme many trophies. Ihe
observers stood the work we'll Only one man died OF
Interviews with returned observers give the history Of
& - c SC'I 'i Io,. sr~cr "" Gc Si failed
! and famine prevailed among tue Esqulmaux. Stuptrt
relieved elr wants rs well rs Eo could but he only had
two year, provisions for his party Of three and was not
| certain that the Alert would relieve him. Iha year
sickrumg sgdt and life amid such scenes was hardly
worth uyinS month passed by after the time tie
fg nv no wiz" slsn 1''' Of her and fearing that
| the fate That bcic tic EsquimauN Last winter
wou o,crt,Rc him and A.s party Nt winter he deter
mined to undertake the pcrlOus journey To HudsOns
BAY Post at Chino Bay. ~tupirt aud his two mon ac
CotdngN started ~ Hn open whacboat. ana ondlrihg
great sUf RUG from exposure aud exhaustion rOwed
aud sailed amid heavy aud frequent gales ne 800
.iirs To chino in fourteen days arriving there safely
They cui arcd In tine Hudson Bay trading steamer Lab
radon for Rigoucttc, where they hoped to meet ule
Alert II she did not come they LOpGd 10 get 10 81
John, iu % whalcr or fisherman. The Labrador on
the rocks before reaching Kgouletto, hut the grew and
| EaGs WHEN last hcdd TfOIn NtNs OF
| ihc disaster was sent by tho Esquimaux TO Mochh9A
By and theHcc to -. john, from whieh place III
steamer Hercules sent to their rescue. Captain
Gordon believes that the whole party viii be saved and
como ho.Ic am ri.hf. one Oi the most peculiar met
Ocut. story that the Alert aruvel aJ Stupart 5
Bias 10 relieve them tie day after the adventurous party
had started Tor Chino.