The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-18


naturalists aud physicists. that Lieut. Karl
Weyprecht the noted Arctic explorer, unfolded
o. plan 10 establish a series of cooperating
Stations in the higher ATTITUDES 10 mako stimuli
taneOus observations, meteorological, magnetic,
and auroml; to investigate solar radiation,
earth currents, atmospheric electricity, tides,
etc. The principal observRtories i'm the tem-
perate zones were TO cooperate in tho work,
and the results published for the benefit Of the
world. This plan developed until III nations
had agreed Ga act together Ia this work.
la SSi The United States sent out two eXpedi-
tiOns. . he first WAS under command Of Lieut..
y, III. lay, 6th Inf, who in July left San
francisco la the Golden Fleece for Point Bar
row, on bo coast Of Alaska northeast OF Boring
Strait. Lieut. Ray succeeded in establishing a
signal station there, and In making the neces-
hAry ana other important observations. He
Returned in October 1853, having done his
work admiralty and brought back his party
without mishap.
The second expedition was under command
OF Lieut.. A. w. Greedy, 9th Cav. and il was his
duty 10 establish a signal station at or near
Lady Franklin Bay, on the east coast Of the
American Continent, north OF 6lgt parallel,
about &C west longitude from Greenwich, and
contiguous 10 a certain coal seam discovered by
the English expedition Of 1875.
Greedy started from So. Johns, Newfound-
land, on the 9TH Of July in the steamer Protcus,
"A
Franklin Bay, and there established his station,
sending back the Proteus aug. 26, aud remain
sing with % officers and men Of the army and
two Eskimos.
In the Spring OF 1884 the fourth and fiuRI
international Polar Conference met in Vienna
AL the expeditions except that OF Holland,
had been successful, and Greedy was still
absent And that time lie and his party were
suffering from starvation and cold at Cape
Sabine, on the shores Of Smith Sound, 263 miles
south OF Fort Conger, the signal station.
Tho instructions given 10 Lieut.. Greedy by
Gen W. ,. Hazen, Chief Signal Officer L. S. A.,
showed that the work OF bis expedition was TO
he exploration, the collection Of specimens, and
fhe making of the observations called Tor by
the international Polar Conference two
years stay was contemplated at Lady Franklin
Bay, and il was promised that 3 vessel should
De dispatched 10 the station both in 1882 and
1883 for his relief
III the vessel of 1852 failed TO reach Fort Con-
ger she was 10 cache portion Of her supplies at
The most northerly point on Grinnell Land
which she could reach, and 10 make q small
depot at Litt!cton Island something less than
30 miles southeast across Smiths Sound,
OF the coast Of Greenland. II the vessel Of
a6s3 also tailed TO get up she was TO remain in
Smith Sound as long as was safe and on leaving
10 land all her supplies and relief party ut Lit
fletOn Island for the Winter. Finally il
pelthIf Neesei reached the station, Lieut..
Greedy was ordered to abandon il not later than
Sept 4, lss3 aud retreat southwark by boat,
until the relief vessel Of 1883 should be met or
LittetOn Island reached where he would find
o fresh party with stores awaiting him.
Greedy was 10 visit ali the caches or supply
copots along the line OF retreat between LADY
franklin Bay and Cape York, Just below the 10th
parallel, some 300 miles north OF Upornavik,
on the north side OF Melville Bay, the most
dangerous body OF water 10 cross in the whole
trip. Oh these depots, placed there by the
English expedition " 1875, there were five,
containing stores Of various kinds and quauti-
ties
The trip from Upeuavik 10 Lady Franklin
Bay occupied but six days, an unprecedented
run, and Lieut.. Greely's party was left at Fort
Conger ready iof their work. They rested ia
the confidence Of a relief at the proper time.
Greedy supplemented tho plans already made
by suggestions 10 the effect that in the case OF
Tie vessels not being able 10 penetrate SO far
north as Fort COngeT, boats and supply dcpots
be lelt al certain points above LittletOu Island
30 that altogether the coast OF Grinnell Land
might bc covered with seven depOts Of 10 davg'
provisions each IN less than 300 miles. not in
Guiding two months supplies at Cape Hawks.
lie inr,her urged that q station OF refuge be
established az LiiebOat Cove where tho POlaris
expedition Of 1873 ended, near Littlcton
Island, where should be party well housed and
well pr0glsiOucd. whose main duty should be
70 Keep their telescopes on Cape Sabine and on
The land 10 the nOrlhWard.n The party should
hend out men IN Bledges 10 meet him, and