The San Francisco call., 1897-11-09
THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD DO ITS DUTY

Captain b. T. Tlton, the master of the
whaling steamer Alexander, the last ves-
| sci to sight the ice bound vessels at Point
Barrow, and who brought the news from
the Arctic of the dangers of starvation for
the crews OF the eight whaling ships that
are known 10 be imprisoned by the ice
said, in speaking OF the proposed relief
expedition:
The United States Government should
send relief party as soon as possible, as
each day. delay means SO much more ice
10 contend with in the Berlng Sea. 1t
was an a mericaD whaler that rescued the
crew OF the Government vessel John
Rogers, and our Government should
make an attempt to rescue 800 seamen i'm
prisoned in the icy north, some of whom
are as brave a class OF men as ever .trod q
ships plank, and in case of war once
more they would be found as willing 10
serve their country as they are 10 brave
the dangers of the Arctic icefloes 10 pro-
cure comfort for their fami les
"If any one can suggest any feasible
method OF carrying food 10 them, let it
be done, and that quickly. For myself
see no hope in that line, and l have had
two years experience at Point Hope and
know how much winter travel there is.
One winter the mi sionary, Thomas Lopp,
now at Cape Prince OF Wales, came with
his wife a dogsled from the cape a dis
tance OF 200 miles in January, and did not
suffer any inconvenience. l would sug-
gest sending a Government vessel i'm
mediately from Puget Sound, proba bly,
the Bear-a, she is adapted 10 that busi-
ness-to GolovIn Bay, as | think in Fl iiteen
days she could be driven to that place
where t.ey have reindeer trained 10 har-
ness. Take every available reindeer and
To- ha raIf
Port Clarence. There gather all the
deer that could be driven without
hindrance to Cape Prince of Wales, where
hey have been trained to harness-al SO
competent native drivers. Take from
| here all that can be driven north quickly
and proceed TO Point Hope and authorize
| the station masters at that place 10 hold
ali their supplies until they receive some
| of The men from the north; then proceed
! to Point Barrow. And the road after
leaving Point Hope, W II be for the lasi 200
| miles comparatively easy for reindeer
| sledging as it will be chiefly on the Lagoon
| on smooth surface.
'On reaching Point Barrow take one
| hall of the men (and | think Point Bar
| row could be reached by Christmas, afte r
| which IS the hardest part OF the winter.
| In fact the months OF February and March
| are the most severe on the natives of that
| coast on account OF no water TO hunt for
| seals, that being their main subsistence)
and bring them to Point Hope.
After the wreck OF th= Government re-
lief steamer John Rogers they divided the
| crew among the various native villages OF
| the Siberian coast, and not man was lost
| by starvation. Or course, the conditions
are quite different, as there were many ma
| tive villages on the Siberian coas, while
now The natives on the north coast of
Alaska center around the stations of II.
Liebes & Co.
''As for man to command such an ex-
| petition it will require SOM body OF long
Arctic experience. | consider Captain
Tuttle, present commander of the Bear,
an able commander. one who studies the
interests of the whalers IN the north, be-
| SIDES performing his duties 10 the service
faithfully, but liz has just returned from
fighting Ice through one of the worst sea-
sons for years, and no doubt is now ready
10 take MS well-earned rest.
mo doubt there are other men in .he
revenue marine who would be willing TO
undertake The relief of those men, and if
II is undertaken by the navy no doubt
some whaling master might volunteer to
act as pilot.
IF the reindeer should be OF any adj
vantage in the rescue or relief of these i'm
prlsoned men it will establish beyond