The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-25
ANOTHER ARCTIC EXPLORATION.
Brainard, of the Greedy Expedition, Will Sail
to the North in 1890

BraiDard, of the Greedy Expedition, Will Sail
to the North in 1890.
Albany IN. W Journal.
A Journal reporter recently met Lieutenant
David L. Brainard, one of the six survivors of
the Greedy Arctic expedition, now sergeant of
the United States Signal Corps, Washington, d.
c., who passed through this city to visit his
sister. now living in Gray. Herkimer county
Mr.. Brainard was born in Norway. ia that coun-
ty, twenty nine years ago. The gallant survivor
is a polished gentleman of classic features and
an interesting conversationalist. In pleasant
chat he was asked many questions about his pro-
posed return to the land of the midnight sun.
Here is what he said:
81 contemplate returning to the Arctic regions
in the spring of 1890 the commander of q
small expedition composed Of twelve persons,
distributed AS follows: One naturalist, one sur
geon. who will act as assistant naturalist: one
astronomer, who will assist the meteorological
and magnetic observer; one meteorologist, one
carpenter, one tinman, one blacksmith, one cook
or steward, and three Eskimo dog drivers and
hunters. The expedition will have for it's OBJ
ject the exploration of Hayes sound and the
bringing back of the original records and scen-
ti6c collection of specimens abandoned at Fort
Conger In latitude 81 degrees A minutes north,
in the autumn of 1888 1t is thought that we
will be absent only fifteen months, but if, in
order to complete our work of exploration it
were necessary to remain two years, we would
be prepared to do so. Our dogs and their Es-
kimo drivers will be obtained from one of the
Greenland colonies through the cooperation of
the Danish government The vessel, a medium.
sized steam sealer from St Johns, N F.. will be
chartered and fitted out with provisions for two
years. On entering Smith sound a large depot
Of provisions will be established at point near
Rice straits. and the vessel then moved north
ward to Fort Conger to bring back the records,
specimens; ETC., depots being made at various
places along the coast TO insure safe retreat in
the event of disaster to the vessel. When the
specimens are loaded the vessel will return to
Smith sound and go into winter quarters in AL
exauder harbor, latitude 78 degrees 80 minutes
north, about fifteen miles west of Cape Sabine
A few miles to the westward of the place Sc
lected as our winter quarters we will enter on
territory which has never been trodden by the
foot of civilized man, and there is no field
within the arctic circle which offers to explorers
such splendid inducements as this unknown re-
gion. 1t is bounced on the east by longitude
about II degrees west. and on the west by the
eighty-Gfth meridian. If there exists a passage
westward to Greedy ford-the furthest point
reached by Lock wood and myself in l883-our
cairn marking our furthest point south on the
shore of that body of water will be revisited
and strenuous effort will he made to explore to
the northward the Grinnell Land coast line to
the point attained by Lieutenant Archer r. N
in the spring of 1876 and thus will the confgura-
ton of the entire coast of Grinnell Land have
been actually determined. Physical and scien.
tl6c observations will be carried on at the sta
tion by a competent corps of observers, but in
no WISE Will THESE ODSefVdLlOnS COnilcC or inter-
fere with the work of exploration the paramount
object of the expedition.
After the departure of the vessel the first sea-
son a small house will be erected near the head
of the bay, and at the scientific observations
will be commenced and the work of laying out
caches of provisions for use in the sledging op-
erations of the following spring. vessel will
visit us in the spring Of 1891 to convey US back to
this country. but should our work be not fully
accomplished we would remain one year longer
the money to defray the expenses will be raised
by private contributions, and the approximate
amount will be not far from $780, 900 My object
in waiting so long before starting is that may
have thorough restoration of my broken health
and to enable me to provide for the use of the ex
petition complete and reliable set OF instru-
ments and full and complete equipment for
sledging and other work"