Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-08
Revenue Cutter Bear to Be Sent to
Bering Sea.
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
The President Much Interested in
the Matter.
AZ ACTION TO BE PROMPT

House today. attended by Secretaries Gage
Long and Alger. Commodore Melville and
Commodore Dickens of the navy and Capt.
shoemaker commander of the revenue
marine service, TO consider measures for
the relief of the American whaling fleet.
said to be destitute and icebound in Bering
sea. 1t was decided to send the revenue
cutter Bear to the relief of the wnalers
She is now at Seattle, Wash having Just
arrived from Alaska. orders have been
issued to put her I'm condition for the
voyage at once, and Capt. Shoemaker says
she will be ready to sail as soon as she
can be provisioaed. which will take but a
short time.
Secretary Alger was asked if reindeer
were available to be taken on the trip but
the lack of information to where the
reindeer are located in Alaska made IL inn
possible to decide definitely on this point.
Whalers Not Exactly Located
Commodore Melville. who has had great
deal of experience in the Arctic. and es-
pecially in Bering sea. gave the conference
the benefit of his experience and knowl-
edge. but it appears that there is yet a
great lack of informa ton as TO the loca-
ton of the whalers also as to whether they
are In destitute condition. Secretary Long
mas given orders to ascertain more def
nltely. If possible, the existing conditions
aiso whether or not IL was not the inten-
uCn OF the fleet to winter in the north
IhiS information IL is expected to obtain
from the owners of the vessels
President Mckinley is much interested I'm
the matter and asked many questions of
those present at the conference. From a
naval chart which Commander Dickens
brought to the White House the nrohabIa
iecailon OF the neet was pointed cut and
Commodore Melville gave his opinion as
10 now the vessels might be reached In Is
probable that the Bear Will stop at some
point on the Alaskan coast and take aboard
q suppiy OF reindeer and dogs TO be used in
crossing he ice fioes when the vessel can
no longer be 1avigated.
Appeals to the Government.
secretary Long has received number of
appeals from Representatives and other per-
sons on the Pacific coast for some action by
The government for the relief of the Ameri-
can whaling vessels shut i'm by the ice pack
on Point Barrow, Alaska. The San Fran
cisco Call, through Mr.. Carleton. it's cor
respondent here, this morning submitted
to the Navy Department a propositi,n IN
supply tood and other needed stores for the
Whalers, IL the department would under-
lake 10 get them to the distressed sailors.
ms proHer was made because the Navy
department itself had no authority in the
absence of congressional sanction to fur
n;sh any supplies. Secretary Long held a
conference with the chief of the navigation
bureau. and then sent a telegram TO tha
commandant of the Mare Island navy ward
requesting him to procure for the guidance
or the department all of the inform ton oh
talnaple Immediately as to the probable
amount OF stores needed, the situation of
The beset whalers and other facts bearing
upon the case. The Secretary has decided
that none of the naval vessels on the Pa
enc coast is suitable for the transportation
of the supplies. The Thetis a wooden shin
which distinguished herself in the past by
arctic work. has just been condemned and
placed in rotten row. at Mare Island Aavy
yard. The Marion. another wooden shin,
has just been condemned and turned over
to the California naval militia. and the Mo-
hican, the last available wooden naval
craft on the coast, has been placed at the
disposal of the training station. 1t is said
that none of the new steel ships is able to
battle against the ice, so that recourse
must be had tc the Bear. one of the reve-
nGe cutters, which has often male the
Alaskan cruise. In fact, this ship is now
al Seattle, on her way back to San Fran
cisco from voyage in Alaskan waters.
Secretary Long, in company with Com
modore Melville. went to the White House
about noon and suggested to the President
that this ship be used for The purpose of re-
lieving tie whalers.
Secretary Alger and Cap. Shoemaker OF
the revenue marine service were called
into the conference, and the result was a
decision to send the Bear to the relief OF
the ice bound whalers as soon as she can
be made ready. Inasmucn as the steam
whalers cannot get out of the ice il may
be equally impossible for the Bear to get
in, but she will go as car possible and de-
liver the supplies the best way that pre-
sentS itself.
How Far the Bear Could Go.
1t will not require much effort to get tho
Pear in readiness. Captain Shoemaker says
she can be fitted out in a few days. 1t is
a question as to how far she could go. 1t
is probable that she could not get further
than St. Michaers. That place, therefore,
would be the base for operations for a
rescuing party. There is chance that
the Bear might get through the Bering
straits and winter in Kotzebue sound, north
of Alaska, and within close range of the
icebound feet. From there operations could
be conducted by reindeer or dogs. which,
ever it might be decided would be most ad-
vantageous.
The Bear carried most of the reindeer
now In Alaska to that point, and could
carry a number with her to be used in the
work of rescue.
A more extensive conference will be held
so soon as official news comes from the
Pacific coast. II this news confirms that
the Bear, and the work of or
ganizing an expedition will be speedily
pushed.
Secretary Cages View.
Secretary Gage said this afternoon that
prompt measures for relief will be instf-
tuted IL it is found that they are necessary.
The revenue cutter service, which is under
Gage. will cooperate with :he
Navy Department. The latter will furnish
a vessel 20 accompany the Bear.
The Secretary said that it may be found
that the whaling fleet is not in danger aud
Is well provided with food. The fleet, he
said, may be wintering in a safe place in
Bering sea
COMMODORE WALLACE RETIREs.