The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-11-17
TO RESCUE The WHALERS
Captain Tuttle Starts North on a
Mission of Mercy.
AN OVERLAND EXPEDITION
Enormous Herds OF Reindeer Will Be
Driven Northwsrdly to Serve as
Food for the Stsrving Men
on the Ships.

Washington, Nov. l6.-Captain Shoe
maker. chief of the revenue cutter scrV-
ice. has prepared l"tcr uf instruc-
tions 10 Captain Tuttlc, IN command
of the Bear. ON her cruise north 10 re-
lieve ice bound whalers owing Ia the
fact that at this season of the year
the route 20 the Arctic sea through Ber-
ing straits Is closed, Tuttlp is directed
to establish communication with the
whaling fleet by means of an overland
expedition. He Ia ordered TO proceed
with his vessel on ~ about November
90 to Cape Nome. thence. IL isr permits,
north between ~. Lawrence island and
the coast of Alaska Ia the north shore
of Norton sound between Cape Nome
and Cape Prince of Wales, where "A
landing will be effected II possible.
The officer In charge of the station
at Unalaska is Ia be communicated
with. with view 10 collecting the en-
tire available herd Of reindeer 40 be
driven TO Point Parrow. W. +. Loop.
at Cape Prince uf Wales. Is To take
charge Of this herd and make all neces-
sary arrangements for herders. cloth
ing. sieds. dogs. etc. The necessary
food for the use of the party viii hc
landed from the ship. when the deer
are collected and the start made, the
party from the Bear will travel with
them as far as keclzboue sound. This
point reached. one officer and the neces-
sary drivers will push out ahead ia
Point Hope. leaving the others and
the herd 10 follow.
II IL should be learned that the fleet
is ice-bound and It's people in distress.
the white people are 10 he Informed
that they will be expected To take care
of such men as may be sent down later.
The expedition Is then 10 push on. fol
lowing the coast. On arrival at Point
Barrow. IL the situation be found Ia
be desperate. ms Is anticipated. the
officers will take charge Of the ships In
the name OF the government and or-
ganize the community for mutual sup
port and good order apportlon the pro-
visions on hand and slaughter as many
reindeer as necessary for food 80 mako
all hold out until August. 1898. when
Captain Tuttle may be expected To ar
rive with the Bear Such reindeer as
are left will be turned over Ia the Pres
byterian mission at Point Barrow. Al
of the rescued whalers should be al
Point Hope by July I. where they cal
he reached and succored month
earlier than at Point Barrow. No oppor-
tunity for hunting. sealing or whaling
whereby the food supply may be added
to. is 10 be neglected.
In case Captain Tuttle finds II impos.
sible To effect a landing IN the north
shore Of Norton sound. he Is instructed
to adopt the most feasible ~ five plans
which are outlined. always bearing IN
mind that food must be- gotten tn tbs
2G5 starving men at the earliest posi-
BILE moment. lie is given full author.
ity and the largest POSSIBLE latitude :,
az, in every exigency that may arise
After landing the overland exln ditior
the Bear will seek such harbur as maS
be deemed proper in WI Ich To await r.
suits and the opening of navigation III
spring.
In closing his instructions Ia Captain
Tuttle. Secretary Gage says: Mimi
full of the arduous and peril0us eNpeG.-
tion upon which You are about 10 en-
ter. bid you, your officers and men
God speed upon your errand Of mercy
and wish You suece cessful voyase and
safe return"