The San Francisco call., 1897-11-07
ARGUS ING
GOVERN MBGT
TO Send AID
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of succeeding, which is not the case, for
believe an expedition, properly equipped
and starting Immediately, would stand
every chance OF reaching the men and
saving most, if not all, their ives
During the day the initial step was
taken to induce the Government to act.
by the sending of the following dispatch
to President Mckinley:
SAN FRANCISCO Move mber g. 1897.
To the President, Washington, d. L.: There
over 500 men connected with the whaling
fleet in The Arctic Ocean now III imminent
danger OF starvation. Their pltiable condi-
| tion has aroused profound interest among our
citizens, and must awaken sympathy all over
The country. Whaling captsins and others
acquainted with the situation believe that II
the Government takes prompt action relief
may reach The men in time TO save the lives OF
many, if not all The proposition in brief is
10 have the Government dispatch relief ves-
sci. 1t is the opinion OF Lieutenant Stoney, as
expressed to me ted ~, tnat a vessel suitable
Tor ice navigation viii be able 10 reach Norton
Sound.
1t is a short distance from there overland to
Port Clarence where the Government has a
large herd of reindeer. These reindeer can be
hitched 10 sleds, or the supplies can be packed
on their backs; and thus, accompanied by suit
d i
is believed that they can traverse the distance
to Point Barrow along the coast Three or four
of these imprisoned snips are directly off Poin I
Barrow, and four others are some ifty miles 10
the eastward.
l earnestly urge upon you the importance of
taking immediate action in this matter. LIEU
tenant Stoney's past experience In the Arctic
would seem 10 lit him especially Tor the conl-
mand OF this relief expedition. This is a mere
suggestion on my pari.
JOHN D. sPRECKELs.
Captain William l.. Merry, secre tary OF
the Chamb Der of Commerce, believes the
Government should act without delay,
and has promised that The organization
10 which he belongs will send memorial
to the President to-m morrow.
''It is absolutely necessary that some
thing be done to relieve those men," said
he. Humanity demands it and the
chances of >uccess are not SO remote as
some people may think. With compe-
tent men at the head of the expedition l
firmly believe the journey along the coast
TO Point Barrow can be made in time to
Save them from starvation"
"WEo would have placed in command
OF the expedition? Captain Healy of the
revenue service. He is by all odds the
best posted man on Arctic navigation
and climatic conditions in the country
and he, of all men, would be best fitted
TO command such an expedition"
This opinion of CAPTAIN Merry was
heartily Endorsed by every body spoken
to on the SUBJECT Every shipping man
In town holds Captain Healy in the high
est esteem as an Arctic navigator, while
the whalers regard him as an authority on
that region.
Every whaling master in port named
Ca ptain Healy as the one man above all
others who should be given command of
tie relief ship. They assert that with his
knowledge of the Alaskan coast and
waters he could take ship farther north
at this season than anybody else and
safely land her cargo where almost any
body else would fail 10 get near the shore.
1t might be necessary to send some one
else to command the land expedition, for
it woui,i require all OF Captain Healy's
experience and skill to care for his ship
during the long winter months AMI be
prepared to bring the rescued men back to
civilization IN the spring.
In that case all agree that Lieutenant
Stoney would be the best man 10 COM
mand the land expedition because of his
familiarity with the country and his ex-
perience in making long journeys in the
regions of Alaska.
To a representative of THE CALL Captain
Healy last evening expressed The opinion
that there was every chance OF re -cuing
the unfortunate men If the necessary
steps were taken without delay.
''But it can only be accom- plished by
the Government" he continued. "A
suitable vessel-one that is capable of
battling with the ice-would have TO be
obtained and start at once with picked
crew for Alaska. There Is no reaon that
l can see why such ship cannot reach
the north shore of Norton Sound, or even
Cape Prince of Wales, where the first
reindeer station is located. There the
stores would be landed and the land ex-
pedItion prepare for its part OF the work.
"It would lie necessary, in my opinion,
to have the consent of the Government to
use ali the reindeer in ALASKA il needed,
to insure the success Of the undertaking
At the Cape Prince of Wales station there
are 253 of these animals, according to the
latest report of Rev. Sheldon Jackson,
chief of the Bureau of Education in
are 2I8 more, at Golden Bay 206, and at
he Teller reindeer station 423, making
HOO reindeer in all.
LAS the expedition advances it could
gather the various herds and drive them
on. The reindeer would serve three pur-
poses. They could be used as beasts of
burden during the journey north, ana
when Point Barrow was reached they
would be used as food for the rescued
men, while their hides would be made
into clothing.
"Of course, many would die during the
journey. but they would not be total
loss. AS soon as an amin al showed signs
of exhaustion it should be slain and its
carcass buried in the snow. Frozen meat
will keep perfectly for months. and these
carcasses could be used for food on the
return journey.
"The distance from Cape Prince of
Wales to Point Barrow, following the
coast line, is approximately 500 miles and
the journey ought to DE made in from
thirty TO fifty days, according 10 the
weather conditions. l think the entire
distance would have to be covered, for
there is good winter-house that the Gov
ernment built when it established its sup
ply station. now abandoned, and it is my
belief that the men will convey their
stores and remain there until spring.
at would be imprudent for them to
start down the coast in NV ind n