Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-24

up the SclentlHc parties, again visit
the Greenland harbors, cruise leisurelv
along the Labrador coast, and return
to st. Johns about the first week in
October. being gone just three months.
The steamer Hope, chartered for the
conveyance of the expedition. is a
staunch wooden ship, constructed en-
| tirely of oak and greenheart. heavily
strengthened by crosspeams. and built
expressly for the seal and whale fish
cries. Her keel was laid in Aberdeen
| in 1873 She was built for the cele-
brated Captain Gray. perhaps the most
famous of whaling captains.
She has had an eventful career. hav-
ing prosecuted that industry for years
and been in every danger that the
| Arctic regions are noted for. In 1889
she was chartered by Sir Allen Young
to convey relief expedition to search
for Leigh Smith. who had gone two
years before to Franz Joseph Land in
the steam yacht Ezra. The Hope found
the castaways, the Ezra having been
crushed in the ice, and brought them
back to England and it is curious CO.
incidence that she is sister shin of
the Windward of the Jackson Harms
NuTtH chBtuIlioLf W men fecenIlV
brought hansen home from the same
region. The Hope is barque- rugged.
1872 tons register. l49 feet long, rs beam
and II deep. has compound engines of
10 horse power. makes eight knots.
with a daily coal consumption of seven
tons. and had new boilers two wears
ago and new shaft before she started
besides being thoroughly ovcrhaulcd
| and repaired both inside and out. She
carries crew of is men. Is months
provisions, 800 tons of coal and nine
whale boats, 50 that all can bid de-
lance to the rigors Of an Arctic winter
in the very improbable event of anv
mishap to the steamer compelJina
| them to remain there until next wear.
She is commanded by Captain John
bartlett, who successfully handled the
kite in last years expedition
captain Bartlett IS a skillful mariner
and comes of four generations of per
maps the best known seamen in New
ioundland. famous for producing brave
and hardy fishermen and sailors. His
uncle, Isaac Bartlett. in the Tigress.
rescued the survivors of the i'll fatcd
Iolaris expedition on an ice foe out in
the broad Atlantic, and his brother,
Henry Bartlett. was lost, with ali
hands, in the Falcon in October 1894,
after successfully landing the Peary
expedition of that year at Philadelphia.
Captain John is the eldest of four
brothers, all ship masters. He was
born in 1913, went to sea at IL. com
inanded local schooner at H. was
ceftlHed master mariner at 10, sailing
to America and Europe; had charge of
vessels at the seal fishery before his
majority, and when only 90 was sent
ny Baine Johnston & Co.. (the Hopes
oWners) to Miramichi n. s., to super
intend the building of the sealing
steamer, Panther When launched he
sailed her to Greenock and had he,
fitted with engines, bringing her to this
colony under steam. He commanded
her and other steamers at the seal
fishery for several years, and in 1863
took the Hayes Bradford expedition To
Greenland in her. being then only %
years old. DR.. Hayes was preparing for "A
large Arctic expedition. and Bradford.
the celebrated marine painter was
seeking material for the splendid pic
lures which afterward make him ia
nous The expedition was fully sue
cesstul and 70 years after. upon the
death of his brother Captain Bartlett
stepped into the breach and took the
Kite there last year, bringing home
Peary and his companions safe and
well.
Lieutenant Peary has now made SO
many voyages north that a resume of
them may be desirable. In 1855 he first
visited Greenland, that time alone, TAX
ing passage by the whaler. Resolutc of
this port, landing near Upcrnavik. |
studying the glaciers and making a |
trip inland to gain experience for the |
great expedition he was then planning.
The Resolute picked him up on her re-
turn voyage. 1t was not till 1891 that |
he matured his plans, chartered the |
Kite. Captain Pike, and sailed from
Sydney for Mccormick bay with a |
party of scientists to put in operation |
his plan of wintering in Greenland ana !
crossing the ice cap to the pole. If pos
Slbie. In June, 1892, he and AStrup the |
Norwegian, since dead. started on this |
tfip. ana on July 4. reached the north |
eastern point of Greenland. in latitude
HL4t north, which he named Indcpen-I
dence bay When they got back to
headquarters i'll August, the Kite was
there, having come UP again with a |
relief expedition to bring the party |
back. Stimulated by the success of
this undertaking, he planned a larger
expedition for 1893. and started from
st. John on July .. in the Falcon. "A
sister ship of the Kite but larger.
Captain Pike having died Captain
Harry Bartlett was given the COM
'nand. The expedition consisted of II
persons, including Mrs. peary and hcrl
nurse. and perhaps the most interest
ing incident was the birth of a baby
gin to Mrs. Peary in September, a
month after the ship had left and they
had settled down in their frame house
10 the long dreary winter before them.
In March next the party started out to
ross the ice cap and attempt greater
Kings than before, but disaster logged
them from the first. Terrible snow
storms were encountered. the Their
froZe and the dogs persisted.
several men had to be invalided back
md the journey eventually to be given
Up, the party never getting beyond 1875
allies from headquarters.
When the Falcon came up that year
Of Ir. I 81