The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-13
NO INSTRUCTIONS AS YET.
Capt. futile Looks for Detailed Or
ders for the Arctic Relief Ex-
pedition TO Come by Mail.

While IL is taken for granted that the
Bear is TO be ordered north Immediately
on the completion OF her repairs, no posi-
tive Instructions have yet been received
BY Capt. Tuttle other than 10 hasten the
work necessary. He was yesterday or
deret to secure doctor for the voyage,
and has asked DR.. s. J. Call, of California,
TO go with him. The doctor has made
several cruises before as physician on
the Bear. but had intended this time TO
return to his home. Detailed instructions
are expected early next week by mail.
Capt futile has resigned himself TO the
prospect OF returning among the icehergs.
even though he had hardly ceased felici-
tating himself on his return. Frantic ef-
forts have been made from San Fran
cisco TO have Capt. II. ]. Healey. now
under suspension for four years on con-
viction OF drunkenness, placed in COM
mand of the Bear for the relief expedi-
ton. In kilograms sent to Washington
his reinstatement has been urged time and
again. The department So far appears
to have given the matter no consideration
The claim that Capt Healey should be
sent because of his knowledge Of north
ern waters becomes absurd when the rec
ords OF the two nayigators for service in
TIE Arctic ocean ara compared
In view OF the optimistic view expressed
by Capt. futile regarding the situation
Of the whalers. II is interesting to know
the opposite opinion held by the officers
Of the steam whaler Alexander, which ar
rived in San Francisco several days ago.
The Alexander was little in advance OF
the four vessels caught in the Ice at Point
Barrow. and she barely escaped being
nipped IN the foe with them In the
Ne :.
were quoted as saying:
I'm all the territory accessible 10 the
crews OF the icebound vessels there Is
not pound Of surplus provisions II is
two months since the vessels were caught
In the ice. and by this time all the food
the crews OF the doomed ships could have
got ashore viii have been exhausted. On
the eight vessels there were more than
80 men. and their suffer!ngs now can be
imagined.
None of thS eight vessels had more
than enough food for their crews on
board to last them until San Francisco
was reached when they. sailed from the
wna!ing grounds east of Herschel island
for home. ard one of them, the Fearless,
! nad put her men on short rationS after
| hegging all she could from the other yes
! homeward voyage.
Engineer Mckenna, OF the Alexander.
! SAID that none of the ics-bound vessels
naa more than months supply Of food.
and by putting the men on half ratfons
the food could be made to last perhaps
TWO months. Ii will be fully nine months
before any vessel can reach them with
supplies, and what they Will do in the
seven months when they have no food is
difficult 10 say. There is no doubt but
the crews VIII be able TO reach the land
and take the provisions OF the ships with
| them. but when it is consumed Il will be
| almost impossible to get more.
The refuge station At Point Barrow
/, which was esta olished by the government
seVeFai years ago. has been discontinued
ana the sore OF provisions that was kept
there for such an emergency had been re-
moved tJst when Il was most needed
There is a small trading station at Point
Barrow but the keeper Of IL was short Of
provisions for the winter when the Thrash
or called there after rEscuins Cnany Of ire
Iost Nayarchs crew. and CAPT Coogan
gave the keeper all the food he could snare
from hts vessel 20 keep him alive until the
supply steamer could reach him next wear
'Gar1e IS very scare during ths winter
along the northern coast Hne. ana the
Indians with The game migrate southwark
When TIE extremely Geld weather begins.
The Indians who remain often die from
Starvation. and most Of them who remain
! n The vicinity OF Point Barrow and Her
faei island depend 70 a Isl ge extent upon
The whaleTs for their food -