The San Francisco call., 1897-11-21
H. c. Hamlet reached here tonight from

H. q. Hamlet reached here tonight from
San Francisco.
F. Koltchoff also arrived from the same
city by steamer. The latter is an explorer
of experience, who will no doubt prove q
valuable aid TO Lieutenant Jarvis on the
overland expedition.
During the day Captain Tuttle received
several kilograms from Washington en-
powering him 10 proceed in certain mai
;ers He was instructed to purchase the
required i2, 900 rations to be taken north
for the ice-im prisoned whalers. He was
also given authority to discharge and pay
off all men he thought unfit to make the
trip and also 10 tie UP at one of the docks
in Seattle to facilitate the loading OF sup
plies on the vessel.
The authority to discharge any of the
crew is in view of the disin nclination OF
many OF the sailors TO go into the northern
seas SO soon after their return. and Cap
tain TuJtle informed the denartment that
he considered it wiser to enlist new sea-
men rather than take unwilling and dis
contented men. There are plenty OF good
seamen who have volunteered and are
anxious to make the trip.
Tomorrow evening the steamer Rapid
Transit viii be in with 260 tons of coal
from Nanaimo, which will be taken on
board he Bear.
The report has gained circulation that
the command of the overland expedition IS
TO be IN charge OF Lieutenant Ellsworth
?. BerthoIf. who is now en- route TO this
city. While he Is to be one OF the rescu-
ing party the command has been given by
the department TO Lieutenant. JARVIS.
orders having been issued by Cap
tain Shoemaker to-day. Unit! the latter
arrives the other members of this part Of
the expedition will not be selected. Kolt-
choff will nc doubt prove OF use to the ex-
pedition that will leave the Bear after her
progress northward Is impeded by ice
foes
He said 10 THE CALL correspondent to-
night that after he touches Siberia there
viii be no country he has not set foot
upon. He Is very enthusiastic over the
prospects of success for the approaching
expedition. He fully realizes the hard
ships that must be endured in making it,
but from past experience he is able 10 en-
duTe more than ordinary privations. A
number OF years ago when on an English
brig sailing IRON India to England, he ex
listed for tifty-twO days on one biscuit and
half an ounce of water pay day.
In conversation to night he said "a bout
two months ago 1 returned from Alaska,
after having spent ten years in the coun-
try. north from Kodiak and beyond the
Yukon River. l have been in San Fran
CiC 70 -,
ierest fully equal TO the manifestation in
Seattle is expires sed IN The proposed effort
TO rescue the poor whaiers who are now
in the far north. Many a family IN Cali
Iornia knows tie sorrow of having a
father in the icy waters of the Arctic who
may soon be suffering the pangs of hun.
ger Everybody that discusses the matter
heartily appiauds he good work thai has
been done By THE CALL to end aid TO
those poor men.
The effort 10 reach the whalers will not
be without great danger and possibly
much suffering. The winters in The far
north are some hing terrible as to the
temperature. 1t is so cold the mercury
freezes most OF the lime. The country
over which We must 20 is plain and
lie found, as for a stretch sometimes OF
200 miles scarcely stick can be seen.
The level country is very uneven owing
70 the great growth of moss. While bad
for walking this growth will prove OF value
as food for the reindeer that will carry
some ofithe supplies.
II have greater confidence in the dog
trains and th nk they VIII prove of more
value on the trip. A train OF eleven dogs
will carry about 600 pound The dogs
Will iced on dry salmon or fish of any
kind. In fairly good weather they will
av rage about thirty miles per day. OF
course there may be many days when ten
mi es could not be covered.
Il have examined the fur clothing and
oihe- article OF apparel that The CALL is
having made UP for all the officers on the
Bear and the men who viii accompany
The land expedition. They are of the best