The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-17
SPEEDY RELIEF FOR WHALERS
ROUTE OF THE BEAR AND OVER
LAND EXPEDITION.
Desperate and Arduous Trip-Rein-
deer to be Collected as Food For
265 Starving Men.

Washington, Nov. 16-Captain Shoe
maker, chief of the revenue cutter ser
vice. under the direction of the secre-
tary of the treasury, has prepared a
letter of instructions to Captain futile,
who is to be in command of the steamer
Bear on her cruise north. on the relief
of the eight whaling vessels. ice bound
in the Arctic ocean. Owing to the fact
that at this season of the year the route
to the Arctic through Bering Sea is
closed by ice, Captain Tuttle is directed
to establish communication with the
whaling fleet by means of an overland
expedition. With this purpose in view,
he is ordered to proceed with his vessel.
on or about Nov. %. to Cape Nome;
thence, if the ice permits, north be-
tween st. Lawrence Island and the
coast Of Alaska, to the north shore of
Norton Sound, between Cape Nome and
Cape Prince of Wales. where a land
ing will be effected, if possible. At the
point of landing will begin the over
land expedition north.
The officer in charge of the govern
ment station at Unalaska is to be COM
municated with, with view to collect
ing the entire available herd, to be
driven to Point Barrow. Mr.. w. T.
Lopp, at Cape Prince of Wales, is to
take charge of this herd, and make all
necessary arrangements for herders,
clothing, sleds, dogs, etc. The neces-
sary food for use of the party will be
landed from the ship. When the deer
are collected and the start made. the
party from the Bear will travel with it
as far as Kotzebue Sound. This point
reported one officer, and necessary driv-
ers, will push out ahead to Point Hope,
leaving the others and the herd to fol-
low. At this point the expedition will
probably get news of the condition of
the imprisoned fleet at Point Barrow.
If it should be learned that the fleet
: is ice-bound. and its people in distress,
the white people are to be informed
that they will be expected to take care
of such men as may be sent down later.
The expedition is then to push on, fol-
lowing the coast. On arrival at Point
Barrow, if the situation be found to be
desperate, as is anticipated, the officers
viii take charge of the ships in the
name of the government, and organize
the community for mutual support and
good order, apportion the provisions on
hand and slaughter as many reindeer
as may be necessary for food, to make
all hold out until August, 1885, when
Captain futile may be expected to ar
rive with the Bear. Such reindeer as
are left will be turned over to the
Presbyterian mission at Point Barrow.
All OF the rescued whalers should be
at Point Hope by July l, where they
can be reached and succored a month
earlier than at Point Barrow. No op
portunity for hunting, sealing or whal-
ing, whereby the food supply may be
added, is to be neglected.
In case Captain Tuttle finds it impos-
sible to effect a landing on the north
shore of Norton Sound. he is instructed
TO adopt the most feasible of five other
plans which are outlined. always bear
ing in mind that food must be gotten to
the 26s starving men at the earliest
possible moment. He is given full au-
thority, and the largest possible lati-
tude to act in every exigency that may
arise. After landing the overland ex-
petition, the Bear viii seek such harbor
as may be deemed proper in which to
await results, and the opening of navi-
cation in the spring.
In closing these instructions to Cap
tain futile, Secretary Gage says:
Mindful Of the arduous and Derilous
expedition upon which you are about
to enter, 1 bid you, your officers and
men, God speed upon your errand OF
mercy, and wish you a successful voy-
age and safe return