Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-19
OVER ICE MD SNOW
The Overland Expedition to Relieve
ce-Bound Whalers.
az
LIEUTENANT JARVIS BRAVE PARTY
How Supplies, Were Taken 10 the
| II
Prisoners
DOG TEAMS AND DEER

The Treasury Department has issued
beautifully printed book containing the Of
fetal story of the cruise of the revenue cut
ter Bear and the overland expedition for
the relief of the ice-imprisoned whalers in
the Arctic ocean. The official story is
part of the records of the fiscal year 1899,
although the expedition started in Decem-
ber 1897. and returned in September, 1898.
The reports were written since that time
and their contents have never been made
public.
1t was early in November, 1897, that the
news reached this country that a large
number of American whaling vessels with
large crews had been caught in an early
fce-pack in the vicinity of Point Barrow;
that they were short of provisions, and
that unless help reached them they would
starve to death. The President Immediate
ly ordered that an expedition be fitted out
to go to their relief, although there was
little hope that they could be reached. Con-
gress voted an appropriation and Secretary
Gage of the Treasury was told to spare no
expense.
At the very time the news reached this
country even the waters around southern
Alaska had begun to congest with ice and
no one believed that d ship could do any
good. The only hope was in sending a
ship as far as possible and trust to over
der. Such expedition would have to
travel thousands of miles over the snow
and iceclad hills of Alaska, with the pros
pect that all of those engaged in the eX-
petition would perish in some lonely spot,
with nothing but the everlasting snow for
their winding sheets Notwithstanding this,
the attempt must be made. A great rich
country like this, with hundreds of brave
men, must not let her citizens starve If
succor could be sent
The revenue cutter Bear had just return
ed from six months cruise in arctic
circles and was then at Seattle Wash Her
officers and crew had just met the loved
ones at home and Were looking forward TO
a winter with their families. Captain Tut
tie, who had cruised many years in arctic
waters, received sudden telegram to pre-
pare for a winter journey in the far north.
He did So and few days later received
written instructions from Washington. The
detailed plans for the expedition were pre-
Pared here by Captain Shoemaker, chief of
the revenue cutter service.
Overland Expedition Planned
Captain Tuttle was told that the only
hope was in landing an expedition on the
shores of Alaska and To send it overland to
the whaling fleet, 1t was also decided that
there was absolutely no hope of sending
ready prepared food ON such an expedition
The best thing which could be done was
to serd this food on hoof; that is, to drive
deer to Point BarrSw. To secure these deer
was the main point Far up in Alaska but
many hundreds of miles from the impris-
oEed whalers, We're herds Of deer owned
by traders and natives and one owned by
the government. That of the government
was at Unalakaleet. Another was owned
by Artisa rlook, a. native at Point Rodney
and a third by w. T. Loop, at Cape Prince
OF Wales. The owners Of the deer were to
be informed OF the situation and told that
they would be well paid for their property
by the government. -
The Bear was TO go, as close to Cape
Prince OF Wales as possible for a landing
After the landing was effected the natives
were to be communicated with and arrange
ments made for dog teams, deer teams,
sleds. etc. .s-, -
The Bear sailed from Seattle on the last
day of November. the officers being Lieu
tenant Berry, Lieutenant Jarvis. Lieu.enaa
Bertholf and Dr. Call, the surgeon. Captain
overland expedition. The Rear reached
Unalaska December TO- AT this place fur
Their preparations were made and then the
vessel started out to hunt a landing place
The Bear ran up to the waters of Norton
sound hoping to land near Cape Prince of
Wales, but the ice was such to prevent
a landing anywhere within fifty miles of
shore and Captain futile reluctantly turned
the vessel southwark, searching all along
for a place to land. Cape Vancouver was
steered for, and on December Is a village
was sighted. This was late In the day and
on the 18th the natives were communicated
TuEuEak. half-breed trader lived there
and it was ascertained that he would secure
guides and dogs for the party and would
take them to ST. Michael in ten or twelve
days. Thereupon a landing made, and
from here the overland expedition started
The Bear returned to Unalaska and spent
the winter in Dutch harbor, leaving there
in June for Point Barrow to take on board
the wEalers. 1t was not until August that
the Bear was able to reach Point Barrow
and found all well, Lieutenant Jarvis having
successfully managed the colony. He had
reached there after his desperate overland
trip in the last of March and had arrived
in good time.
The half-breed trader at Cape Vancouver
treated Lieutenant Jarvis hospitality. His
name was Alexis kaienin. Snow was al
ready deep on the ground. From the Bear
seven dogs. two dog sleds and some dried
fish for dog food We're landed. Alexis sup
Piled the other dogs and guides. On the
1Sth the party set out for ST. Michael,
carrying provisions. tents. stoves, etc. on
the sleds, walking most of the time them
selves.
The Dog sIeds and Harness.
-Four sleds and forty dogs were used.
nine dogs being harnessed to Sled except
the heavy one, which had fourteen dogs in
harness. The sleds were from o to 10 feet
long, % inches wide, with runners u inches
deep and the sides about Is inches high.
The Sled is an open framework of hickory
~ oeah' iAo IuoEc WOOu DcAlS uSeu tnln Is
absolutely necessary, and all the parts are
dashed together with strips of seal skin or
walrus hide. few or no nails being used;
so, while the sled is very strong, 1t is also
flexible and able to Withstand the constant
rough usage to which it Is subjected in
travelling. The sled cover. Of light drilling,
Is made large enough to spread over the
whole length Of the sled on the bottom.
The articles to be- carried are then snugly
packed and the sides ,af the cover hauled
up and Tapped ovss OR top. 30 all articles
are entirely coverSds and the whole load is
securely lashed to the sides Of the sled
with strips of 'hid9<o Fope.
The harness Ia flaaddsof strips of heavy
ticking, canvas, sennits FOR seal hide about
two inches wide, apd Is all in one piece for
each dog. A strip goes around the dogs
neck and crosses III ffont of the chest,
where the two pasts are fastened together
to form collar. oFhe ends, then go under
meath between the foHelegs and lead up.
one on each side, to the dogs back. An
other strip Is fasfened'to the top Of the
collar at the back Of 1the neck and leads
along the back 10 meet the other two
ends, and here alisthreS pieces are secured
together and mad9 'fasefo a small piece of
rope about two feet long. In Harvesting q
dog the collar ispputAon over his head,
each Of his forefeet putithrough one Of the
loops formed by tl4es en6s coming together,
and he is ready topbe made fast to the sled
larger rope, the length of which depends
oInnv 1Pd 10 a.,