The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-11-17
A PERIL0US EXPEDITION
THAT OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR
RELIEF OF WHALING FLEET.

1t Is Icebound in Arctic Ocean and Two
Hundred and Sixty-flve Men Are Starry
ing-Landing Will be Made at Cape
Prince of Wales and from This Point the
Expedition Will be Overland.
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
letter of instructions to Captain Tuttle,
who is to be in command Of the steam
er Bear on her cruise north for the re-
lief 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 Behring
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 or
dered to proceed with his vessel on or
about November % to Cape Nome then,
if the ice permits, north between st.
Lawrence Island and the coast of Alas
ka, to the north shore of Norton sound
between Cape Nome and Cape Prince
OF Wales, where a landing will be eff
fected If possible. From the point of
landing will begin the overland expedi-
ton north. The people in charge OF
~a., e,%o oh
Unalaklik are to be communicated with,
with a view to collecting the entire
available herds to be driven to Point
Barrow. Mr.. w. 7. Lopp, at Cape
Prince of Wales. is to take charge of
this herd and make all necessary ar
rangements for herds clothing, sleds,
dogs, etc. The necessary 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
That point reached, one officer and
necessary drivers will push ahead along
the coast to Cape Horn, leaving the
others and the herd to follow. At this
point the expedition probably will get
news of the condition Of the imprisoned
fleet at Point Barrow. The expedi-
tion is then to push on, following the
coast. On arrival at Point Barrow, if
the situation is found to be desperate,
as is anticipated, the officers will take
charge in the name of the government
and organize the community for mutu-
al support and good order, apportion
the provisions on hand and slaughter
as many reindeer as necessary for food
to make all hold out until August 1898,
when Captain Tuttle may be expected
to arrive with the Bear.
Such reindeer as are left will be turn
ed over to the Presbyterian mission at
Point Barrow. All of the rescued whal-
ers should be at Point Hope by July /,
where they can be reached and succor-
ed a month earlier than at Point Bar
row. No opportunity for hunting, seal
ing or whaling, whereby the food sup
ply may be added to, is to be neglected.
In case Captain Tuttle finds 1t impossi-
BILE 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 265 starving men at the earliest pos
sible moment.
He is given full authority and the
HleAe uI loe on epnlaeI eIq!ssod 4seSIeI
exigency that may arise. After land
ing the overland expedition the Bear
will seek such harbor as may be DEEM
ed proper in which to await results and
the opening Of navigation in the spring
In closing his instructions to Captain
Tuttle, Secretary Gage says: Mindful
of the arduous and perilous expedition
upon which you are about to enter,
bid you, your officers and your men
Godspeed upon your errand of mercy
and wish you successful voyage and
safe return"