■ I il.i m ■Hli m j HUB MnliH [ill IS | fin- Hill jBIIHM Rll WttmMn mmmm Vtti(ffffUff)f!4/4 H I $1 Hi ■H SMI inwrDlMnfiflBERfliBIII ■ ■ [Hlutfaif tfilmfifl itlfvlf wine illn/UKSIJt 960- Pn H MlftlHitMrffff I ■ H Jtifuitfi ■H wfflM $8 SIffffi M W M 1 ' mO»I mil raw I H Iflnflffl 92fii!i0ii!r ■■H JOB Jflfifit TO O . j BllUfllflui I tiff £ Hi H il ■m hi I m ' '" BHSiHiifiiHif llfl lifl ■H II Mil oil HI §M m If ill frll fcfcMTclcf IW ' H msiSfRlt FiMwil MB BSuiHIiiflaiiill 1 HMflBBnMBJflBflHUHlBaSHSh ' * ^ N <**« •\ *> I s> -V- f.r * ,\ " \ X "^r * r oo *P ■ ■ / Ar 'a a . S 5 « <* ' 0^ <*V f --:. ;-. v . /, ^ a * ^ ^ ^ x ^. C> % ^ ,V * o * v * < o. * ••£» ^ ; - A^ \ ^ v^ x ^. "^^ - "oo^ V REPORT OF BOAED OF OFFICEES TO CONSIDER AN EXPEDITION FOR THE RELIEF OF LIEUT. GREELY AND PARTY. / XKjs. V BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1884. Room, Board of Officers, Considering^ Relief Expedition to Lieut. Greely and party at lady franklin bay, Washington, D. (7., January 22, 1884. Gentlemen: I have the honor to inclose herewith the report of the Board of Officers, created by Executive Order, dated December 17th, 1883, for the purpose of considering a relief expedition to be sent to Lieutenant Greely and party at Lady Franklin Bay. The Board has been informed that in accordance with its invitation, communicated through the Department of State, Captain Sir George S. Nares, and other officers of the British Navy, have kindly signified their willingness to submit their views upon the proposed expedition. The Board is also in daily expectation of receiving information, in response to its inquiries, in regard to the possibility of obtaining skin clothing for use on the proposed expedition. So soon as responses from Captain Nares and in regard to clothing shall have been received, I shall have the honor to transmit the formal minutes of proceedings of the Board, the exhibits referred to therein, and any other communica- tions that may be received in the mean time. ^ I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J ^ W. B. HAZEN, M M Brig, and Bvt. Maj. GenH, ^ Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., President of the Board. The Hons. Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy. KEPORT OF Board of Officers considering the Relief Expedi- tion to Lieutenant Greely and his party at Lady Franklin Bay. Washington, D. C, January 22, 1884. To the Honorable.?, The Secretary of War and The Secretary of the Navy: Gentlemen : The Board of Officers, convened by Executive order dated December 17, 1883, for the purpose of considering an expedition to be sent to the relief of Lieutenant Greely and party at Lady Franklin Bay, has the honor to submit the following report : PRELIMINARY. Before giving an expression of opinion upon the subject under con- sideration, the Board considers it necessary to state briefly, its general views as to the character and magnitude of the undertaking. It appears from the records of the War Department that have been submitted to the Board, and which will be found in the Appendix (Exhibit M), that on the 13th and 14th days of August, 1881, Lieut. A. W. Greely, 5th (J. S. Cavalry, in command of a force of two officers and twenty-two soldiers, citizens, and Esquimaux, landed from the steamer " Proteus " at Discovery Harbor, Lady Franklin Bay ; this force constituting what is known as the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition. This expedition was authorized by act of Congress approved May 1st, 1880, and legislation relating to its maintenance is to be found in the appropriations for Sundry Civil Expenses of the Government, approved March 3, 1881. SUBSISTENCE. It also appears from the records referred to, that this expeditionary force was furnished with articles of subsistence stores — the components of the Army ration or their equivalents — for three years. Of beans, coffee, sugar, and salt, a supply for about four and a half years was issued. Besides the articles composing the ordinary Army ration, there was supplied a very extensive assortment of canned fruits, vegetables, pickles, sauces, condiments, anti-scorbutics, and butter, which would probably be equal to another year's supply of food for this party. 1 REPORT. On the L5th of August, L881, Lieutenant Greely reported to the Chief Signal Officer that his "general cargo was discharged", including about one hundred and forty tons of coal. On the 18th of August Lieutenant Greely mentions that he had already succeeded in collecting " three full months' rations of musk cattle". EQUIPMENT. Lor the purpose of carrying on exploration and effecting retreat, this expedition was furnished with a Navy steam-launch and three other boats adapted to the navigation of Smith Sound. Lieutenant Greely also knew that at Thank God Harbor. Polaris Bay, on the coast of Green- land, twenty.-eight miles distant, was a serviceable ice-boat left there by the English expedition, and near Gape Sumner, at the mouth of Newman Bay, some thirty-eight miles distant, was a whale-boat, left there by the U. S. Steamer "Polaris" in 1872. About seven miles from the Signal station exists a deposit of free- burning coal, in unlimited quantities, for the procurement of which implements were supplied. Lieutenant Greely's detachment is quartered in comfortable wooden dwellings, affording ample accommodations for his party, and on the 25th of August he reports the construction of the buildings as very nearly completed. ORDER 8 AND CORRESPONDENCE. The vessel transporting Lieutenant Greely to Lady Franklin Bay sailed thence on the 25th of August, 1881, and since that date no news has been received from the expedition. In the orders and instructions to Lieutenant Greely from the Chief Signal Officer of the Army, dated June 17, 1881, is found the following : It is contemplated that the permanent station shall be visited in 1S82 and in 1883 by a steam scaler, or other vessel, by which supplies for, and such additions to, the present party as are deemed needful will be sent. In case such vessel is unable to reach Lady Franklin Bay in L882, she will cache* a portion of her supplies and all of her letters and dispatches at the most northerly point she attains on the east side of Grinnell Land and establish a small depot of supplies at Littleton Island. Notices of the locality of such depots will be left at one or all of the following places, viz: Cape Hawks. Cape Sabine and Cape Isabella. In case no vessel reaches the permanent station in 1 VV L'. t lie vessel sent in 1883 will remain in Smith Sound until there is danger of its closing by ice. and. on leaving, will land all her supplies and a party at Littleton island, which party will be prepared for a wi liter's stay and will be instructed to send sledge parties up the cast side of Grinnell Land to meet this party. If not visited in 1882, Lieutenant Greely will abandon his'station not later than Sep- tember 1. l v ^-'>. and will retreat southward by boat, following closely the east side of Grinnell Land, until the relieving vessel is met or Littleton Island is reached. Lieutenant Greedy in his report to the Chief Signal Officer dated August L5, L881, and previously referred to, states as follows: "In my opinion a retreat from here southward to Cape Sabine, in case no vessel peaches us in 1882 or in 1883, will be safe and practicable, although all but the most important records will necessarily have to be abandoned". DEPOSITS OF PROVISIONS. It appears that Lieutenant Greely, before leaving the United States, was aware of the existence of certain deposits of provisions left by * T 1 1 • • stores which composed tin* cache wen- such, in quantity ami variety, a- were suggested by Lieu- tenant Greely in letter to tin- Chief Signal Officer, dated August 17, 1881, (Exhibit KEPORT. 5 previous expeditions to Smith Sound, the most important having been made by Sir George S. Nares, commanding the English expedition of 1875-6. A deposit consisting of two hundred and fifty rations was left in 1875 at Cape Colli nsoo, at an estimated distance from Lieutenant Greely's station of one hundred and thirty-seven miles. The same expedition left a depot at Cape Hawks, fifty miles further to the southward, consisting of bread, pickles, and preserved potatoes; this cache was examined by Greely while en-route to his destination. A deposit of two hundred and forty rations was also made by Nares near Cape Sabine, another at Cape Morton, a»nd about one hundred and fifty pounds of meat at Cape Isabella, but these stores were not examined by Greely, neither did he see those at Cape Collinson. While en-route to his station, Greely made a deposit of two hundred and twenty -five bread and meat rations at Carl Ritter Bay, seventy-five miles south of Lady Franklin Bay. He also deposited six and one-half tons of coal at Littleton Island, and knew that at the Ca^ Islands were 1,800 rations left by Nares in 1875. At Lincoln Bay Nares also left a large depot; but these stores would be available only for exploring parties operating to the northward of Discovery Harbor. It is well known that the supply expedition sent out by the War Department in 1882, found the entrance to Smith Sound blocked by ice, and the vessel was unable to communicate with the Signal station. A deposit of two hundred and fifty rations, a small quantity of fuel, together with a boat, was, however, made near Cape Sabine. A boat was also left at Cape Isabella, some twenty-five miles to the southward of Sabine. By the same expedition two hundred and fifty rations were cached at Littleton Island. It is understood that all these supplies were fairly well protected. The relief expedition of 1883, commanded by Lieutenant Garling- ton, was unable to accomplish its mission, the steamer " Proteus " hav- ing been crushed by the ice near the entrance to Smith Sound. A considerable quantity of supplies, approximating five hundred rations, and a large quantity of clothing, was, however, landed near Cape Sabine, and are available for the use of Lieutenant Greely's party, should he retreat to that point. NAVIGATION OF SMITH SOUND. It is well known that the navigation of Smith Sound is, at almost all times, difficult and dangerous. The season of 1881 appears to have been exceptionally favorable and open, as evidenced by the fact that the "Proteus" was able to reach her destination in a period of eight days from the date of leaving Littleton Island. The expedition of Sir George S. Nares, in 1875, consisting of two powerful steamships, was twenty-eight days in passing over the same route, and twenty-five days in returning to Littleton Island in 1876. It will be seen from the instructions previously quoted, that Lieuten- ant Greely had considerable discretion as to the date when he should vacate his station. He was required to abandon it " not later than September 1, 1883". The experience of all explorers of Smith Sound shows that the most favorable season for navigating those waters by boat is in the month of August. If Lieutenant Greely left his station early iu that mouth — which his instructions warranted him in doing — there is a reasonable (i REPORT. probability that lie succeeded in reaching the entrance to Smith Sound, but it may be regarded as extremely doubtful, did lie delay his departure until September 1st, that the conditions would permit him to effect a retreat. Be had already spent two winters at Discovery Harbor, and although there is no reason to believe the health of his detachment had been greatly impaired by his long residence in that rigorous climate, yet the Board considers it necessary to assume that either through impaired health or possible loss of boats and other means of transportation, he was unable to abandon his station as was contemplated. The Board, therefore, is of opinion that the relief expedition to be organized, and which is now under consideration, should have su/m an equipment that in any event it will be able to reach Lady Franklin Bay. If Lieutenant Greely has successfully effected his retreat to Cape Sabine, or to the coast of Greenland adjacent to the entrance of Smith Sound, the work of relief will be vastly simplified. Did he arrive at Littleton Island by the loth of August, he would probably retreat to Qpernavik, the northernmost Danish settlement in Greenland, and it is within the bounds of possibility that the Lady Franklin Bay party is now there in safety. But to assume such a probability is entirely unwarranted, for all the conditions must have been even more than extraordinarily favorable to have permitted such a result. If the organization and dispatch of a relief expedition were to be deferred until the season is so far advanced as to permit communication with the Greenland settlements, it would be impossible in the present year to visit Lady Franklin Bay, or even Littleton Island, and the chance of ever effecting the rescue of the party would be very greatly impaired. The conditions and difficulties which are to be met in effecting the rescue are, fortunately, entirely dissimilar to those which had to be encountered when the Franklin search began. The "Ere- bus" and "Terror," when last heard from in 1845, were about to sail into a region almost unknown to civilized men, and of immense extent. That the search for these lost ships and their crews should have occupied so many years and required so many ships and land expeditions is not surprising when we consider the vast area covered by the search, but the work now under consideration is surrounded with no doubts or uncertainties as to the locality of Lieutenant Greely. The Franklin search, extending from 1848 to 1850, and employing some forty ships at various times, cost the English government many million pounds sterling. But under the most unfavorable conditions that can be named, the Board believes two properly equipped vessels will certainly be able to achieve success, and rescue the Lady Franklin Bay party. RECOMMENDATIONS. The Board, by the terms of the Executive order creating it, is required to make recommendations under the following heads, viz : 1. Transportation and Equipment. 2. Control and Conduct. 3. Organization of Personnel. TRANSPOKTATION AND EQUIPMENT. Although a single vessel might be able to reach Discovery Harbor and return in a single season, as did the "Proteus" in 1881, yet all REPORT. 7 familiar with the navigation of Smith Sound agree that the seasons favoring such free navigation come at long intervals, and it is quite certain that in some seasons the strongest vessel ever built would be able to proceed but a short distance into Smith Sound. But four steam vessels have ever reached Kennedy Channel. One of them, the "Polaris", as is well known, was drifted out in an ice-pack and lost near Littleton Island, and another, the "Proteus", which in 1881 suc- ceeded in reaching Lady Franklin Bay, in 1883 was crushed by the ice near Cape Sabine. On several occasions the vessels under the command of Sir George S. Nares were in imminent danger of being destroyed. In 1876, the "Pandora", under the command of Captain Allen Young, an experienced Arctic navigator, struggled from the 3d to the 28th of August in vain endeavors to effect an entrance to Smith Sound, but was unable to reach Cape Sabine, or any position above latitude 78° 45' N., twenty-five miles north of Littleton Island. In 1882, the "Nep- tune" was engaged in similar fruitless efforts from the 28th of July to the 5th of September, but never advanced beyond 79° 20' N., or about seventy-five miles above Littleton Island. In view of all the facts in the case, the Board is of the opinion that the relieving expedition should consist of two vessels, each supplied for a cruise of two years, not only for its own crew but for the crew of the other ship, and those composing Lieutenant Greely's party at Lady Franklin Bay. Should one of these vessels be lost, even at the outset, the other would be able to continue' her efforts for the rescue, and at the same time render succor to the crew of the less fortunate ship. As it may occur that these vessels, if successful in reaching Dis- covery Harbor the first season, will be unable to extricate themselves and return to the United States, they should be provisioned and pre- pared for wintering in the ice. In the opinion of the Board, the best ships obtainable for the work in hand are the Scotch "whalers" or the Newfoundland "sealers". The "Proteus" and "Neptune" were of this latter class. The Dundee whaling fleet, consisting of some twelve vessels, are built with special reference to Arctic navigation; their cruising grounds are in Melville and Baffin Bays and adjacent waters, where extensive ice-floes are always encountered. When organizing the Nares' expedition in 1875 (the most completely equipped and appointed Arctic expedition that ever sailed from any port, costing, it has been stated, a million dollars), the English Govern- ment purchased one of these whalers, known subsequently as the "Dis- covery", and she was regarded by Captain Nares as a better ship than the "Alert", an English naval vessel, specially strengthened and fitted for that voyage. So far as the Board has been able to ascertain, there are on the Atlan- tic coast of the United States at the present time no American ships suitable for the purpose, and it is believed impracticable for any Amer- ican ship-builder to build and equip vessels adapted to the work in hand by the time they should start. In reaching this conclusion, the Board has given due weight to the opinions expressed to it by ship-builders, that thoroughly constructed vessels can be built in the United States and ready to proceed on their voyage by the 1st of May. But in an emergency where human life is at stake, it is thought to be unwise to place reliance upon the ability of a ship-builder, no matter how well equipped or reliable, to complete his contract for two vessels by a date which should find this relief expedi- tion on its way. 8 REPORT. The Board, therefore, recommends the immediate purchase of two full- powered steam whalers or sealers of from five-hundred to six-hundred tons, and that they be brought to a navy-yard of the United States, and properly fitted for the service intended. These alterations will consist principally of modifications in the accommodations for officers and crew, and in the addition of materials to give greater strength. ADVANCE VESSEL. Considering the contingency of delay from some unforeseen cause in the sailing of the expedition, it may be deemed advisable to procure and have fitted an advance ship, to be dispatched in time to reach the Danish settlements previous to the date which the Board has named as that on which the relief vessels should assemble at Upernavik. In the con- tingency of the delay of the other ships, this advance vessel passing through Davis Strait, Baffin and Melville Bays at the earliest possible moment — taking more risks than should the relief ships — may be able to rescue the party should they have effected a retreat to the entrance of Smith Sound or to the Danish settlements. In this connection, the Board would invite attention to the communi- cations addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury, dated November 4 and December 29, 1883, and that to Senator Miller, of California, dated January 4, 1884, signed by Captain Hooper of the U. S. Eevenue Marine (Exhibit O), in which will -be found suggestions that a U. S. Eevenue cutter be fitted for service in the Arctic Ocean and dispatched in search of Lieutenant Greely. It appears to the Board from these communications, that possibly a valuable auxiliary to the relief expedition could thus be secured at a small cost, by the employment of one of the vessels of the Eevenue Marine, provided such vessel was properly fitted for the necessities of the service. SUGGESTIONS. The following suggestions are made, and it is recommended that all supplies be prepared under the personal supervision of the officers attached to the expedition, who should also supervise the modifications to the ships, construction of boats, sleds, &c. : BOATS. In case the vessels should be stopped by ice or meet disaster, it will become necessary to resort to combined boat and sledge journeys over ice and water. A thorough equipment of boats and sleds will, there- fore, be required. Each of these vessels should be supplied with the following boats : One steam whale-boat. Two ordinary whale-boats about twenty-eight feet long. Two ordinary whale-boats about twenty -four feet long. One dingy (for two pairs of sculls). One balsa. One oomiak (if obtainable in Greenland). In addition to the above, the Board would recommend that the expe- dition should be supplied with one of " White's" steam life cutters. The "Herreschoff" steam whale-boat, such as is used by the American whalers in the Pacific Ocean, the Board believes might be of very REPORT. 9 great use, even when the vessels are unable to proceed, for it sometimes happens that an ice-barrier but a few miles in width prevents the further progress of a ship; under such circumstances a " Herreschoff " steam whale-boat could be hauled across and launched in open water beyond, where the navigation was free. The other whale-boats should be built after the New Bedford pattern, as light as is consistent with strength and the rough usage they are to receive.' The balsa, built with special adaptation to the work in hand, the Board believes may be of very great utility. The oomialc, or skin- boat, is used very effectively by the natives in navigating the water leads. in Arctic regions; it is very light and will transport a very large number of persons. SLEDS. Two sixteen feet sleds, and Two eight feet sleds, similar to those supplied the il Proteus" last year. SHELTER ON SHORE. On board of each vessel there should be material for the construc- tion of a house ready to be put up on shore. DOGS. The supply of dogs in Greenland is, at best, uncertain. It is in evi- dence that of those (forty-two in number) taken by Lieutenant Greely, at the date of his last report, all but eleven had died of some epidemic disease. It is therefore recommended that at least sixty dogs, obtain- able either in the region of Pembina and Mackinaw, or in Labrador, should compose a part of the equipment of the vessels. It is also recommended that a naval vessel or tender be provided and proceed as far as Littleton Island or Cape Sabine for the purpose of contributing supplies for the use of the relief vessels, and to aid in any way the efforts to rescue Lieutenant Greely. It is not proposed that this vessel shall winter in the ice — her crew should be reduced to a minimum and supplied with provisions for eight months. All avail- able space in the ship to be filled with coals. In case the relief vessels are obliged to winter in Smith Sound, the naval tender, or auxiliary ship, will bring to the United States intel- ligence of their progress. PROVISIONS. It is recommended that the expedition be provisioned in accordance with the schedule as to variety and quantity which governed in out- fitting the relief vessel " Rodgers", which sailed from San Francisco on June 16, 1881, and those which governed in the provisioning of Lieu- tenant Greely \s party, and that stationed for two years at Point Barrow under the command of Lieutenant Ray, U. S. Army. It has been stated that the provisions supplied to the expeditions named were the best that could possibly be procured for any Arctic expedition. (Exhibit Q.) MEDICAL OUTFIT. It is recommended that the medical equipment of the expedition be made up in accordance with the schedules of similar supplies furnished 10 REPORT. to the relief ship " Rodgers", to the U. S. Signal station at Point Bar- row, Alaska, and to the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, all outfitted in L881. (Exhibit R.) Attention is respectfully invited to the able and interesting paper (Exhibit K.) prepared at the instance of the Board by Surgeon-Gen- eral Philip S. Wales, l T . S. Navy, and it is advised that the command- ing officer of the expedition observe, as far as practicable, the suggest- ions contained in this paper, not only in outfitting the vessels, but in the steps to be taken to insure the health and comfort of the men under his command. CLOTHTNG. Head -(/cay. — Woolen caps and fur caps to cover the ears, neck, and chin; the latter with side extensions to cover the face, if necessary. Hand-year. — Woolen mitts; leather mitts, for use on deck; fur mitts, having transverse slit at the wrist, and with cufl's. Foot-gear. — Cotton woolen-lined stockings reaching above the knees, re-enforced at the heel with chamois leather; blanket wrappers; moc- casins witli Leggings ;" spare half soles of non-conducting material for use with moccasins and for boots; tanned leather fishermen's boots for use on deck; water-proof preparation for same; fur stockings; fur boots; slippers of thick material, and rubber sandals having rough soles. Body -covering. — Best thick merino or red flannel underwear; closely knit jumpers, extending just below the hip ; thick cloth trousers ; light canvas working suits, with blanket lining, if necessary, for summer work; fur jumpers with hoods; fur trousers. All fur clothing to be made from reindeer skins, if possible; other- wise, from young calf-skins. SLEEPING-BAGS. Of reindeer skin, if obtainable; failing to secure that, of calf-skin. BERTHING. If practicable, a berth to be fitted for each man on board. HEATING. By steam, the pipes to be laid as near the decks as possible. WATER. A small distiller to be fitted in each ship, and distilled water to be used for cooking and drinking purposes. AUXILIARY BOILER. A small auxiliary boiler to be put up on the berth or spar deck; the bed for same should have an air space between it and the deck, to insure against fire. DECK HOUSE. Material for deck house to be prepared for use in case the ships should REPORT. 11 winter north, to be put up in the fall. This house to be made double, with air-space on top and sides, to cover two or more hatches, and fitted with double doors, and to be lined with non-conducting material. STEAM WINCH. A steam winch to be placed on the spar deck for hoisting, warping, &c. EXPLOSIVES. Five-pound charges of gunpowder and gun-cotton, to be prepared for use in blasting. FIRE-ARMS. A supply of Springfield rifles for the expedition, and a proportion of breech-loading fowling pieces and the requisite ammunition. COAL. Each ship to be supplied with coal for thirty-five days' full steaming ; and with fifty tons of Anthracite coal for depots. For steaming pur- poses, the best quality of soft coal. METAL SURFACES. Metal surfaces in the living quarters to be covered with a non-con- ductor. TENTS. To be of blue "Denim", in size and arrangements similar to those prepared for the u Proteus " in 1883. PACKAGES. Each package to have stencilled on it the list of its contents. ESQUIMAUX, DOGS, AND CLOTHING. The advance vessel or expedition to carry a letter from the Danish Government directing the authorities in Greenland to aid the expedi- tion in obtaining hunters, clothing, boats, and dogs, should these animals be required. Timely request to the Government of Denmark should therefore be made. SUN SPECTACLES. Glass, wire, and hair goggles should be supplied. STIMULANTS. Wines and liquors, to be used for medicinal purposes only. Ordi- narily, it is believed that tea is preferable to coffee or cocoa. ICE TOOLS. Ice anchors, chisels, small picks, and drills. 12 REPORT. GOODS FOR TRADING. A small supply likely to be useful to the Esquimaux, consisting of knives, carpenter's tools, matches, thread, needles, earthenware, &c. CONTKOL AND CONDUCT. As the means employed to reach Discovery Harbor must necessarily be of a nautical character, it is recommended that the control of the expedition be committed to the Navy Department. Should Lieutenant Greely have succeeded last autumn in effecting his retreat to Cape Sabine or Littleton Island, and supposing he has found a moderate supply of game in that region, he will necessarily, at the beginning of next summer, be very short of supplies. It there- fore seems indispensable that the expedition should be on the ground at the earliest possible date. Experience has shown that the navigation of Baffin and Melville Bays may be practicable at a date as early as the 1st of June. There is no record of a vessel having passed Cape York, north point of Melville Bay, earlier than the date given. The relief ships should therefore arrive at Upernavik, the northernmost Danish settlement in Greenland, not later than the 15th of May, and no opportunity lost to communicate with the natives at Cape York at the earliest moment, so as to obtain intelligence of Lieutenant Greely if possible. The vessels should therefore be fitted and in complete readiness so that they may arrive at Upernavik on the date named. GENERAL PROGRAMME. The following general programme for the movement of the vessels is suggested as the one which will be most likely to result successfully, but it should be remarked that a wide discretion should be given the officer in command, for, as he will be held responsible, wide latitude should be allowed. The problem of reaching Lady Franklin Sound in a steamer from Cape Sabine can only be solved by the exercise of skillful seaman- ship combined with good judgment, unless Smith Sound should be found to be comparatively free from ice. 1. The two relief vessels, designated Nos. 1 and 2, to proceed in com- pany to Saint John's, Newfoundland, fill up with coal and fresh pro- visions ; thence to Disco, and, if necessary, to Upernavik; thence to Littleton Island, communicating with the natives at, and north of, Cape York. 2. The first depot to be established on Littleton Island (before pro- ceeding north of that locality), or in the immediate vicinity, as may seem best to the commander of the expedition — to consist of one of the houses, fifty tons of coal, the steam life cutter, one whale-boat, and pro- visions and clothing for the entire party for one year. The house, coal, provisions, whale-boat, and clothing for" this depot to be taken from No. 1 ; an officer or a petty officer and two men, to be left in charge of the depot. After leaving Littleton Island and reaching the ice-barrier, the design of the expedition would be for No. 1 to take the first favorable oppor- tunity to push to the northward, leaving No. 2 to serve as a base to fall back upon in case of disaster, or for a second attempt to reach Lady Franklin Sound. REPORT. 13 3. No. 2 not to enter the ice-paek, but to manoeuvre constantly to the southward of it, or to anchor in the immediate vicinity ; to be ready to land a second main depot of provisions to consist of the same amount of material proposed for the first, but to include two whale-boats, in case No. 2 be required to proceed north in the event of disaster to No. 1. 4. Should Smith Sound be comparatively open, No. 1 should advance to the northward forming small depots at Washington Irving Island, and the vicinity of Cape Oollinson and Carl Eitter Bay. No. 2, after forming a small depot of supplies at Cape Sabine, to proceed as far north as Dobbin Bay, beyond which point she should not advance unless the prolonged absence of No. 1 should give rise to the apprehen- sion of her loss. 5. Should No. 1 be crushed or disabled, No. 2, before attempting to advance north, should land her house, two boats, and supplies for the whole party for one year, in the vicinity of Dobbin Bay. 6. Should neither vessel be crushed, and should neither succeed in communicating with Lady Franklin Sound, one should winter, in Frank- lin Pierce Bay, and the other in the vicinity of Littleton Island. 7. On the way north the coast to be examined from Cape York to Cape Ohlsen on the east side and from Cape Isabella to Cape Sabine on the west. Cairns should be erected containing notices of the move- ments and intentions of the relief expedition at Conical Rock, Wols- tenholme Island, Cary Islands, Hakluyt Island, Cape Isabella, and Cape Sabine. 8. The whalers from Dundee and the sealers from Newfoundland to be requested to keep a lookout on the ice-floes for Lieutenant Greely's party. 9. The naval vessel, or tender, to go as far as Littleton Island or Cape Sabine. PERSONNEL. As the relieving vessels may be detained for one or more winters in the ice, the complement of each ship should be reduced to a minimum, in order to give each man abundant air space. The crew should con- sist only of useful men, fitted for the rigorous service before them, be- tween the ages of twenty-four and thirty-seven years. Preference should be given to seamen of American birth, and all subjected to a rigorous medical examination. The crew of each vessel should be made up in accordance with the following list: COMPLEMENT OF EACH SHIP. 1 commanding officer ; 3 line officers ; 1 medical officer; 1 engineer officer ; 1 ice master ; 4 petty officers; 10 seamen; 1 machinist; 1 boiler-maker; 1 blacksmith; 1 carpenter's mate ; 3 firemen ; 1 captain of hold and yeoman ; 14 REPORT. 1 ship's cook; 1 officer's cook ; 1 officer's steward j 2 Esquimaux, or men to drive dogs and hunt; aggregating in all thirty-four persons. ICE MASTERS Should be men familiar with the navigation of Melville Bay and Baffin Bay. DOG DRIVERS. If dogs are procured from the northwestern portion of the United States or from Manitoba, a sufficient number of men accustomed to driving these dogs should be taken. If they are gotten in Greenland the same rule should be observed. COST OF EXPEDITION. Although not specially directed to make any estimation of the cost of the relief expedition, yet the Board would respectfully submit the fol- lowing ESTIMATE : Two steam sealers or whalers, if purchased after sealing trip $227, 480 Alterations and additions to the outfit of same, including boats, sledges, and dogs - 35,000 Provisions, independent of the Navy ration 50, 000 Medical outfit 2,000 Clothing 20,000 Coal 6,000 Amount $340,480 If vessels be purchased before sealing trip, add 30, 000 $370, 480 If advance ship be sent, add — Cost of vessel $38,920 Outfit for same 15,000 53, 920 Total cost $424,400 If a smaller ship be purchased instead of one of the above provided for. deduct 8,712 $415, 688 CONCLUSIONS. The best plan and the most complete expedition that can be organ- ized may, from unforeseen cause, be delayed in its movements. The track by which the Dundee whaling fleet reaches its cruising grounds is fortunately favorable to Lieutenant Greely. These vessels always pass in sight of Cape York and the Cary Islands before cross- ing the " north water" to Jones and Lancaster Sounds. The Cary Islands are about one hundred miles from Littleton Island, and it seems to the Board extremely advisable that the Government of the United States should give notice to the masters of these whalers that, if they should succeed in rescuing Lieutenant Greely's party, or in rendering him REPORT. ' 15 material assistance, a large bounty would be paid, provided Greely be found at, or north of, Cape York, and that no United States vessel is in sight at the date of rescue. For the offering of a bounty by Govern- ment for the purpose stated, the history of Arctic expeditions furnishes many precedents. The minutes of the different meetings of the Board will be trans- mitted at an early date, as will also the various exhibits to which ref- erence is made. During the progress of the investigation the Board has heard the expression of opinion of a considerable number of gentlemen, experi- enced to a greater of less degree in Arctic life and exploration. Others who could not appear in person, forwarded papers containing an expres- sion of views upon the subject under consideration. All such communi- cations will appear in the Appendix, and will, it is believed, be found to contain valuable suggestions. A large number of communications relating to the subject under consideration have been received by the Board, either direct from the writers, or by reference from the Secretary of War or the Secretary of the Navy. These communications will be forwarded with the minutes of the Board meetings. An abstract of them will also appear in the Appendix. Upon the suggestion of the Board, the Secretary of War, through the Department of State, requested an expression of opinion upon the best means of effecting the relief of Lieutenant Greely from Captains Sir George S. Nares, H. F. Stephenson, and A. R. Markham, all of the British Navy. It is understood that the gentlemen referred to have kindly responded to the request. When these communications shall have come to hand the Board will forward them and ask that they be filed. A chart of Smith Sound and adjacent waters is inclosed. (Exhibit U.) It was prepared by the Hydrographer of the Navy Department, and shows the tracks of the following-named expeditions, viz : "Polaris", 1871-2 Hall. "Alert " and " Discovery ", 1875-6 Nares. "Pandora", 1876 Young. "Proteus", 1881 Greely. "Neptune", 1882 Beebe. "Proteus", 1883 Garlington The caches of supplies which have been deposited on the shores of Smith Sound and Kennedy Channel are also indicated. Accompanying the chart is a description of the various depots, compiled from official reports and other publications. We have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servants, W. B. HAZEN, Chief Signal Officer, JAS. A. GREER, Captain, U. S. Navy, B. H. McCALLA, Lieutenant- Commander , U, 8. Navy, GEO. W. DAVIS, Captain, lkth Infantry, 77. S, Army. The undersigned members of the Board, while heartily concurring in all the foregoing recommendations and suggestions, have the honor to further recommend : 16 REPORT. That the complement of officers and crew of each relief ship be increased to forty persons, the increase in the personnel to consist of one officer and five enlisted men of the Army. The officer selected should be one who has had practical experience in the northwestern portion of the United States or in the Arctic, and the men selected with special reference to their fitness for the work in hand. The offi- cer should also be trained in the use of the meteorological instruments which should be sent for comparison with those in use by the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition. Should the relief ships be compelled to winter in Smith Sound, these Army detachments to be quartered on shore at the highest favor- able point reached, as the commander of the expedition might deter- mine, and from thence, as directed by the commander, to advance over the ice or along the coast with dogs, sleds, and boats to Lady Franklin Bay. Such a force, made urj of men inured to the cold of Dakota and Montana, where every winter mercury freezes, equipped with the best dog-teams from the northwest would, it is thought, if added to the nau- tical equipment of the expedition, greatly improve the chance of final success — should the vessels fail to reach Lieutenant Greely's station, and operations over land and ice be the last resort. The reasons for the employment of such auxiliary force detailed from the same branch of the public service which established the Signal station at Discovery Harbor — each and every man loyally co-operating with his naval associates in the humane work before them, and actu- ated by the same honorable motives, each striving to excel the other in efforts that may reach the limit of human endurance — are, in the opinion of the undersigned, so numerous and cogent, that to set them forth in detail, seems as unnecessary as does an argument in support of the recommendation to employ such a force. W. B. HAZEN, Chief Signal Officer. GEO. W. DAVIS, Captain, lUh Infantry, U. S. Army. The undersigned members of the Board, in dissenting from the pro- position to send two officers and ten enlisted men of the Army as additional to the projected complement of the expedition, have the honor to submit the following statement of their opinion in reference thereto : 1st. It is desirable that the expedition should be as homogeneous as possible, and to this end it should consist of but one branch of service, under one form of discipline, unless there are strong reasons to the contrary. 2d. It is universally admitted that the number of persons composing the expedition should be as small as possible, consistent with the suc- cessful performance of the work to be done; and they should, as far as practicable, be persons available for all kinds of service which will devolve upon the expedition. 3d. The service required will, up to a certain point, be on shipboard; after that point it may be, according to circumstances, either on the water by means of the relief ships, or by means of boats; or on ice and water, partly by means of sledges and partly by means of boats ; or wholly on land by sledges. The last supposition is considered by the best authorities as the least probable. REPORT. 17 4th. The question of the expediency of adding a contingent of offi- cers and enlisted men of the Army to the Naval expedition, must be considered with reference to the three possible kinds of service above mentioned. If the first or the second supposition should turn out to be correct, no reason can be adduced for their employment, as in either case the service is purely nautical. There remains the third and least probable hypothesis that, after navigation and ice and boat journeys are found impracticable, it may be necessary and feasible to make a sledge journey on land. It is for the purpose of this journey, and for this alone, that an argument can be advanced for the employment of a detail from the Army. In this connection, it may be well to quote from the late Lieutenant Payer, an Officer of the Austrian Army who, together with two jagers or mountaineers, accompanied Lieutenant Weyprecht in the Austrian Polar Expedition Ship "Tegetthoif," for the purpose of taking charge of sledge journeys. Lieutenant Payer attained his highest point, accompanied by a Mid- shipman and a seaman from the " Tegetthoif," his mountaineers having broken down during the journey, and in writing to the New York Herald, after his Arctic experience, upon the subject of the Polar Colonization Scheme, a plan which involved primarily land service and land sledging, he says, " Seamen are better capable of maintaining discipline under such circumstances than members of any other profes- sion, and therefore the colony should mostly consist of them." Lieutenant Payer also says, in speaking of the selection of a crew for the Colonization Scheme, "It is often assumed that the ability to endure cold must be a crucial test of fitness. This is an error. A sense of duty, endurance, and determination are the most essential qualities. Habit soon overcomes cold." 5th. In determining the number of officers and men for the two ves- sels, the probability of land sledging, and of journeys over ice and water, was considered by the undersigned ; and if the force is to be further increased, it would be, in our opinion, preferable to take more seamen. 6th. It is submitted that unity and efficiency will be better secured by confining expeditions of this character to a single branch of the two services ; that it has been decided that the character of the expedition shall be naval, and that it shall be under the control of the Navy Department, and therefore it should be composed of persons in the naval service ; that as few persons should be taken as possible, and they should be such as would be useful for all the work of the expedition ; that undoubtedly the greater part of this work will be nautical, and probably all of it ; that as far as land service may be required, no evidence can be adduced to show a general presumption of superior fitness in enlisted men of the Army over seamen, under the peculiar conditions to be met, but that, on the contrary, the efficiency of seamen for this service has been recognized by high authority ; while, in reference to the officers, it must be remembered that the experience of the Navy in Arctic sledging, has been far greater than that of the Army. 7th. It has also been suggested that the two Army officers which it is proposed to send, should be trained in the use of the meteorological instruments which would be taken for comparison with those in use by the Lady Franklin Bay expedition. In reference to this, it is submitted that as officers of the Navy are required by their daily occupations to S 18 REPORT. make the closest and most accurate observations with the instruments in question, both for scientific and professional purposes, it may be presumed that they are fully competent to perform any service of this character that may be required of them. 8th. The undersigned are of the opinion that the suggestion as to the specific conditions under which the proposed Army detachment is to be employed would, if adopted, have a mischievous result. It has been proposed that the detachment should proceed in the ships, presumably as passengers, for they could go in no other capacity, until the expedi- tion should be compelled to winter in Smith Sound ; that they should then be quartered on shore, at a point selected by the commander of the expedition ; and that they should thence, as directed by the com- mander, advance over the ice or along the coast, with dogs, sledges, and boats. The undersigned, having in view solely the success of the expedition, regard the proposed plan as prejudicial to that success, for the follow- ing reasons : It com templates the increase of the complement, already large enough to meet the demands of all possible service, by the addition of twelve supernumeraries, who would be without occupation until the progress of the ship was finally checked. It requires of the commander of the expedition that he shall quarter the detachment on shore apart from the rest of his command, although the ships would furnish the most suitable place of abode, and that he shall entrust to this detachment specifically, the execution of any sledging operations that may be undertaken on the ice, or along the coast, leaving to his discretion only the selection of the place where they shall be quartered, and the general direction of the advance with the sledges. Such an arrangement, would, it is submitted, result inevitably in that division of responsibility and command which is above all things to be avoided ; it would necessitate the issue of particular and special instructions to those who were thus sent for a particular and special purpose; it would hamper the commander of the expedition, upon whom the ultimate responsibility of success or failure must rest, with conditions by which no commander would willingly be bound ; and, finally, that it would create a command within a command, which, as in previous instances where such a plan has been adopted, would cer- tainly be prejudicial to success. JAS. A. GREER, Captain, U. S. Navy. B. H. McCALLA, Lieutenant- Commander, U. S. Navy, PROCEEDINGS. Signal Office, War Department, Washington, D. C, December 20, 1883. The Board met pursuant to the following order of the President of the United States : Executive Mansion, December 17, 1883. The following-named officers of the Army and Navy will constitute a board to con- sider an expedition to be sent for the relief of Lieutenant Greely and his party, com- prising what is known as the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, and to recommend to the Secretaries of War and the Navy, jointly, the steps the board may consider necessary to be taken for the equipment and transportation of the relief expedition, and to sug- gest such plan for its control and conduct, and for the organization of its personnel, as may seem to them best adapted to accomplish its purpose: Brigadier-General William B. Hazen, Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army ; Captain James A. Greer, U. S. Navy; Lieutenant-Commander B. H. McCalla, U. S. Navy; Captain George W. Davis, 14th Infantry, U. S. Army. The board will meet in Washington, D. C, on the 20th instant. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. All the members were present. An informal discussion then ensued as to the duties of the Board and the steps that should be taken in order to best fulfill the requirements of the order creating it. It was agreed that at the next meeting, each member should submit a memorandum embodying his general ideas as to the character, organi- zation, and equipment of the proposed relief expedition. It was then decided that such persons as are known to have had experience in Arctic service, and are now in Washington, should be invited to appear and give their general ideas upon the subject under consideration ; also, to invite persons remote from Washington, who have had like experience, to submit in writing their ideas upon the same subject. The Recorder (Captain Davis) was instructed to request the Secretary of War to direct, by telegraph, Lieut. Frederick Schwatka, 3d U. S. Cavalry, to submit in writing whatever he might propose for the organi- zation and conduct of a relief expedition to Lady Franklin Bay. The Board then adjourned to meet on Saturday, the 22d instant, at 11 o'clock a. m., in room 88, Navy Department Building. Room 88, Navy Department Building, Washington, D. (7., December 22, 1883. The Board met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. A letter, dated December 21, 1883, from the Secretary of the Navy, (Abstract, Miscellaneous Correspondence, No. 1,) transmitting a letter, dated U. S. Training-Ship "Saratoga," New York Navy-Yard, Decem- ber 19, 1883, from Commander Henry C. Taylor, U. S. Navy, (Abs., Mis, Cor., No. 2), was received and read. 20 PROCEEDINGS. The Recorder was directed to acknowledge receipt of letter from Com- mander Taylor, and to request him to invite Lieutenant Usher to sub- mit a written statement of his ideas concerning the organization and conduct of a relief expedition. A telegram from Lieut. G. T. T. Patterson, U. S. Army, was received and read. (Abs., Mis. Cor., No. 3.) Lieutenant-Commander McCalla, IT. S. Navy, read a memorandum entitled "General design for an expedition for the relief of Lieutenant ( lively and party." (Exhibit A.) General llazen read a paper, which he stated had been prepared in his office, suggesting a plan of relief. (This paper will be found entire 4 in the testimony of Lieut. Ernest A. Garlington, 7th U. S. Cavalry. — Recorder.) Captain Greer stated that he had prepared a memorandum, but as Lieutenant- Commander McCalla had covered the whole ground, expressing exactly his own ideas, he would not read the notes he had prepared. Captain Davis stated he had not yet been able, owing to the press of other duties, to put into the form of a memorandum the ideas he entertained as to the proper steps to be taken to afford succor to Lieutenant Greely and his party. An informal discussion then ensued, and the opinion was expressed by each member that the first step to^be taken was to recommend to the Secretaries of War and Navy the immediate procurement of two vessels suitable for Arctic service, in order that timely preparations might be made to adapt them for the proposed work, and the Board accord- ingly directed that the following letter be addressed to the Secretaries of War and Navy, respectively : Washington, D. C, December 22, 1883. Sir: As preliminary to its general report, the Board of Officers appointed by the President to consider the relief of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, begs to recom- mend that the Secretaries of War and the Navy take immediate steps to procure, by purchase, two full-powered steam whalers or sealers, and to prepare them for service in the Arctic regions. Although it is hoped, and even expected, that Lieutenant Greehy's party will be suc- cored during the coming summer, yet the contingencj^ must not be overlooked of the inability of the expedition to extricate itself from the ice and return the same season, and an enforced detention of the vessels in Smith Sound during the winter of 1884-5 may occur. Therefore, the Board would further recommend that a naval vessel be prepared to act as a tender to the expedition, for the purpose of going as far as Littleton Island or Cape Sabine, to bring back the latest news of the expedition, or, in the event of the hiss of one or both of the steam whalers or sealers, to bring home the officers and men not necessary for the sledge journeys during the winter; to contribute supplies for the use of the expedition, if necessary, and to aid in any way the efforts to reach and res- cue Lieutenant Greet}' and his party. Verv respectfully, your obedient servant, W. B. HAZEN, Brig. & Bvt Maj. Gen' I, Chief Signal Officer of the Army, President of the Board. The Board also directed that the Secretaries of War and Navy be informed that, in the opinion of the Board, the services of a ste- nographer would be indispensable to an efficient and speedy transaction of the duties imposed on it. The Board then adjourned to meet at XX o'clock a. m., December 26, X883. proceedings. 21 Room 88, Navy Department Building-, Washington, D. C, December 26, 1883. The Board met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. The Recorder stated that the person detailed by the Secretary of War to act as clerk and stenographer was unable to perform the duties of both positions, and that the services of a reporter would be necessary. The Recorder was then directed to make arrangements for the imme- diate employment of an experienced stenographer. Upon invitatkfh, the Board then repaired to the office of the Secretary of War for a conference with that officer and with the Secretary of the Navy, and a discussion of the best means of giving effect to the recommendations of the Board, contained in its preliminary report, then ensued. Upon returning to the Board room, Captain Davis read a memoran- dum embodying his views as to the organization and conduct of a relief expedition. (Exhibit B.) The Board then adjourned to meet on Wednesday, January 2, 1884, at 11 o'clock a. m. Room 88, Navy Department Building, Washington, D. C-, January 2, 1884. The Board met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. By approval of the Secretary of War, Mr. James L. Andem, of Washington, D. 0., was employed as stenographer to the Board, and 0. H. Emerson, of the Record Division, War Department, was assigned to duty as clerk. General Hazen then submitted a large number of papers and com- munications received from various parties, offering their services, suggesting plans, &c, for the relief of the Greely party. (Abs., Mis. Cor., Nos. 4 to 26, inclusive.) Capt. George E. Tyson, of Washington, D. C, having been invited to appear before the Board, was interrogated as follows: By Captain Davis : Question. The Board would thank you to make a brief statement of the experience you have had in the Arctic regions, giving dates of such service, how, and where, employed. — Answer. I first sailed for the Arctic regions in the year 1850, and I was einpk^ed continually there, in the whaling service, until 1870, when I entered on board the "Polaris" as assistant navigator. We left New York on the 1st day of July, if I remember correctly, and sailed from New London on the 4th day of July, arriving at Polaris Bay, in Smith Sound, or above Smith Sound, on the 27th day of August, and were frozen in there on the 5th day of September, 1871, in Polaris Bay. We remained there until the next July, when, Captain Hall being dead, the sailing master conclu- ded to return home. On coining down Smith Sound, I suppose you all remember, 1 got adrift on a floe of ice and drifted for one hundred and ninety -six days. By General Hazen : Q. What date did you get on that drift?— A. On the 5th day of October. Q. At what point was it? — A. I got separated from the vessel close L } _' PROCEEDINGS. to Littleton Island, and was rescued by the steamer "Tigress" on the last day of April. 1873, just north of the Straits of Belle Isle. By Captain 1) wis: Q. Yon say that from 1850 to 1870 yon were in the whaling service? — A. Yes. sir. Q. In the Arctic regions .' — A. Through Melville Bay, down the coast of America, Hudson Strait. Cumberland Gulf, and Repulse Bay. A). In sailing or steam vessels : ; — A. Sailing vessels. Q. Have yon had any experience in the Arctic regions since your rescue from the tioe ? — A. Yes, sir; I returned with Captain Greer in the - Tigress." Q. On a search expedition? — A. Yes, sir; a search expedition. and in 1877 I sailed in the " Florence" on a preliminary expedition for a proposed government expedition which was to be made. Q. Where did you go : ; — A. To the head of Cumberland Gulf, to col- lect material, ami we carried Esquimaux over to Disco Island, expect- ing to meet the government expedition there, but did not meet them and we had to return home. Since then (1877) I have not been in Arctic service. Q. Have you given the subject of the relief of the Lady Franklin Bay expedition thought and consideration, and have you any project for the accomplishing of Lieutenant Greely 's relief that you would suggest? — A. Yes, sir; I think a steamer of three hundred tons, sail- ing from here in June or the 1st of July, would be time enough, touch- ing at Cape York, and not finding Lieutenant Greely or his party there, hunting the coast along as far as water would permit, and not finding them there, I would go to the west coast, and finding no trace of them there, I should have two whale-boats prepared, well fitted and manned, to take the land or water, and those boats will go up to Lady Franklin Bay. But I would not put my steamer in the ice; it would likely enough lead to another catastrophe. Q. And you think there is a reasonable probability of reaching Lady Franklin Bay with those boats? — A. I think so; you can always find a little land water where you can get a boat along. But I think it would be impossible to get your ship through, and in going up to Lady Frank- lin Bay, a vessel getting there late in the season and coming down, runs great danger late in the fall. In fact, I consider it almost impos- sible, unless it is a very open season indeed. Q. And reaching Lady Franklin Bay, you would expect Lieutenant Greely to avail himself of his own boats to return ? — A. Y"es, sir; of course, the two boats would require to take back doubleJ:he number of men they would require to go there. In fact they would, bring the whole party down if it was necessary, that is the fact. Q. 1 suppose you are aware of the number of persons in Lieutenant (ri'ccly's party /—A. Yes, sir; I believe there are twenty-five. Q. You spoke of obtaining a steam whaler of about three hundred tons. Can you liken that vessel to any which you have seen in ser- vice; do you remember any one of a similar character, such as you would propose \ — A. No, sir; I never have seen any as small as that. The "Tigress" is about three hundred and fifty tons. Q. Do you think such a vessel, suitable for the purpose, is obtain- able; and if so, where? — A. I think perhaps a suitable vessel could lie obtained at Saint John's, Newfoundland. Q. And how about the personnel; how many should compose the crew of such a vessel? — A. About twenty-five or thirty men. PROCEEDINGS. 23 Q. What reliance, if any, would yon place upon sledges and dogs? — A. None whatever. Q. Would you make no use of the Esquimaux as guides or as hun- ters? — A. No, sir; I think not. Q. About what point in Smith Sound do you think you could safely expect to reach with a vessel! — A. I think it could possibly reach Littleton Island, and then above Cape Isabella. Q. You would expect to be able to reach that point in any event? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you take into consideration the fact that your vessel might be frozen in there, and that you might fail to reach Lieutenant Greely with your boats? — A. Well, I do not anticipate any failure in reaching Lieutenant Greely or Lady Franklin Bay with the boats. Q. What length of time would you expect to consume in the boat journey from Cape Sabine or Cape Isabella to Lady Franklin Bay and return? — A. I would be gone about fifteen days. Q. At what date would you wish to be at Cape Isabella? — A. I should like to be there on the 25th of July ; the vessel should be there the 25th of July. Q. And, therefore, by the 10th of August you would expect to have returned to the ship? — A. I should hope to return to the ship by the 10th or 15th of August. Q. Do you remember anything of the attempt that Hayes made to reach a high point with boats and sledge's, and the difficulties that he encountered ? — A. Yes, sir ; but that was at a different time of year ; that was in April or May that he attempted to reach Lady Franklin Bay, or some high northern point, with his sledges. Q. He also endeavored to take with him a boat, you remember? — A. Yes, sir; but he gave the boat up. Q. Would you expect to make your voyage in boats on the west shore of Smith Sound or the east? — A. On the west shore. Q. Would you place any reliance on present depots of provisions located along the coast, or expect to carry all of your own provisions? — A. I do not know exactly; I understand there are caches of provisions along the coast, but I should carry fifteen or twenty days' provisions in each boat. Q. W T hat would be the weight of the boat with its complement of stores ?— A. I could not tell you. I know they are handled easily. I should use a whale-boat twenty-seven or thirty feet in length, such as we use in the whaling service, but, perhaps, build the garboard stakes stronger with oak and put a three-inch keel on her, and shoe with good oak, so that when you jump your boat out on a piece of ice you can run it across. Q. And you would expect your crew to be able to pull the boat out very hastily ? — A. O, yes, sir; I have pulled hundreds out with a crew of six men to each boat. Q. If you think it would be so easy to reach Lady Franklin Bay, then you would naturally expect Lieutenant Greely easily to reach the same point without assistance? — A. Certainly. If Lieutenant Greely was .alive, and not in trouble, he would have been down last July or August. It may be that he made an attempt to reach there last spring. General Hazen. His orders require him not to leave much before the 1st of September. The Witness. Then it would be impossible for him to come down. 24 PROCEEDINGS. Q. You arc familiar with Lieutenant Greely's orders?— A. Yes, sir. (). You expect, in any event, he will have made the attempt next spring to go south .'—A. Yes. sir; if living and well I think yon will find him at Littleton Island, or near by there. (,>. What do yen think of his chances of maintaining himself, sup- posing he reached Littleton Island last fall? — A. Well, they have suffered some, no doubt. Are there no provisions at Littleton Island I Captain Davis;. Yes, a small quantity. The WITNESS. Well, there are caches nearby there, are there not? Captain DAVIS. Yes. on the west side of the Sound. The WITNESS. If he reached Littleton Island last fall they have suffered some, no doubt. But nineteen persons floating on the ice for six months and a half, with scarcely anything at all, shows what can be done, and at Littleton Island there is an abundance of game through the winter season, and walrus which they can secure. Q. All through the winter ! — A. Y r es, sir. Q. And in the dark? — A. Y r es, in the twilight; they can catch them in the twilight, the natives capture them. By General Hazen : Q. What is the method of taking walrus during that period? — A. The natives take them with a spear and line. Q. To prevent their sinking? — A. Yes, sir. They get their spear in and hold them. They are very expert in catching them. Q. Yon did not see much of the Esquimaux when yon were on that expedition — on the u Polaris"? — A. O, yes, sir; I have lived with them years and years. Q. Then your opinion is that if Lieutenant Greely succeeded in getting safely to Littleton Island with some supplies, he conld get through the winter pretty fairly l — A. Y"es, sir. By Captain Greer : Q. How about the question of fuel there? — A. They would have to make their tires from the blubber, the oil. By General Hazen : Q. I take it, it would depend more on the heat of the body and their being well protected with good clothing? — A. Y^es, sir; and if they can find plenty of animal food, they can survive whether they have a fire or not. By Captain Davis : Q. Did you see any indications at Polaris Bay that the Esquimaux had ever lived and hunted in that region ? — A. I saw indication of where they had had their huts, and the skeletons of cattle. Q. In recent years 1' — A. The stains of the blood were distinguishable on the bones of the cattle that were lying there. I found indications of where they had tires, and a number of huts, and dug their spear- heads ii]). But I saw no other traces; no living trace. Q. Y r ou would not think the services of an auxiliary vessel or tender would be required \ — A. Xo, sir; I do not think that would be neces- sary. By General IIazen: Q. Have you ever used dog sleds? — A. Yes, sir; I have used them Cor twenty years. Q. I understand you to say that you would not propose to use them in this expedition !—A. Xo, sir; not in that season of the year. PROCEEDINGS. 25 Q. Then that might be done at other seasons if the boats failed? — A. Yes, sir; that would be done in the spring of the year; but we could not use them in the fall. By Captain Davis : Q. I notice a paper among* those sent to the Board in which you ten- der your services for a relief expedition ! — A. Yes, sir. By Captain Greer : Q. How many dogs would you provide for each sled, supposing you were going on such an expedition, allowing for loss by death ; the num- ber required to haul an ordinary load ? — A. Mne to twelve dogs make a very fine team, and they will carry a heavy load. Q. I will put my question in this way. How many dogs would you provide for each load, if you were going to use them? — A. I should provide eighteen or twenty dogs for each sled. By General Hazen : Q. Then there are some driven along; they are not all in the harness at once ? — A. No, sir. Twelve dogs make an excellent team on good ice, and carry a heavy load, but not on rough ice. By Captain Davis : Q. Nearly all the sledge expeditions that have been successful have been conducted in the spring of the year, have they not '? — A. Yes, sir. By General Hazen : Q. For how long a period, beginning and ending when, in Smith Sound ? — A. Well, it would not be safe to have your sleighs out later than the 1st of July, beginning at any time in April. Q. About three months, then? — A. Yes, sir; you could work three months there with sledges. By Captain Davis : Q. Are the dogs found in Cumberland Gulf and Hudson Strait the same as those on the Greenland side X — A. No, sir; those on the Green- land side are a little mixed; they are not so good as the Esquimaux dogs on the west coast. Q. Supposing it was intended to take dog-sledges with the expedi- tion there, what would you regard as the best locality in which to pro- cure dogs ? — A. Sailing at that time of the year, it would be hardly pos- sible to get dogs from the west coast; you would have to find them on the east. Q. How early in the season could you expect to get into Hudson Strait or Cumberland Gulf, where there is a supply of dogs ? — A. In the middle of July, and that would occupy too much time. Cumberland Gulf is not always accessible at that time of the year. Q. Have you ever been at Ponds Bay ? — A. No, sir; but I have been opposite. I sailed for Ponds Bay once, but we were driven back by the ice. Q. At what date in the spring would you think it safe for Lieutenant Greely to start to come down in boats? — A. He would have to use his own judgment about that. I think he could start the middle of July and make his way down. Q. If he has dogs in good condition, at what date could he get down with them, starting in the spring? — A. He could get down there in a very few days. 1>() PROCEEDINGS. (}. Starting in April ? — A. Yes, sir; in April, May, or June. Q. Would you think there certainly would be no difficulty in his crossing Smith Sound with sledges in the spring? — A. In the spring, there woidd be no difficulty. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla: Q. That depends, of course, upon the character of the ice. — A. Of course the character of the ice has something to do with it. What I mean is he would meet with no obstructions from water at that time. By General JIazen: Q. The ice would be strong? — A. Yes, sir. Q. He might meet with considerable obstruction from the ice being rough and piled up ? — A. Yes, sir. By Captain Davis : Q. Was not Smith Sound and Kennedy Channel open a good part of the winter when you were there in the "Polaris"? — A. Polaris Bay was open during the greater part of the winter, but Smith Sound was never known to be open during the winter. It chokes there, and freezes and stays. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla: Q. Have you been above Littleton island many times in your life? — A. Only twice; once in the u Tigress " and once in the "Polaris." Q. Did you go above Littleton Island in the "Tigress"! — A. Yes, sir. Q. How far ! — A. Just about there. Q. Did you go as far as Life-Boat Cove J ? — A. We were right opposite that, I think. Q. Can you give me au idea on this chart of the track of the "Polaris " up and down between Littleton Island and Lady Franklin Sound, or in that vicinity? Please trace it with a lead pencil on that map. (The witness drew, with a lead pencil, the line referred to, on the map of Smith Sound and Kennedy and Robeson Channels.) By General Hazen : Q. Do you know anything about the "Polaris" having left any stores opposite Lady Franklin Bay on the east coast ?— A. Yes, sir; there were stores left there, but I believe that Sir George Nares consumed most of them, if not all. Q. Have you any information that he did do it? — A. No, sir. General Hazen. We can not find any such information. Captain Greer. Not in his book. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla : Q. Did you land in the " Polaris "between Cape Sabine and the vicin- ity of Lady Franklin Sound? — A. Yes, we landed at Cape Frazer. Q. Then the line you made should have gone in there. Is that the only place! — A. Y r es, sir; that is the only place. ' Q. How near the coast did you goon your way up? — A. We were sometimes within one hundred yards of it. Q. Then this line you made does not represent your track, for this is about ten miles out? — A. We followed the sinuosities of the coast usu- ally. ( c ). Then this lead-pencil line does not represent your track? — A. No, sir; it is ;i little too far off shore. PROCEEDINGS, 27 Q. That is the only part of the coaSt that you know, in the vicinity of Cape Frazer? — A. Yes, sir. By General Hazen : Q. About what was the amount of the stores that the "Polaris" left I— A. That I can not tell. Q. A large quantity ? — A. No, sir: I do not think it was. Q. Were they covered or shielded in any way ? — A. They were put in the observatory. Q. What reason have yon to suppose that Sir George Nares did con- sume them ? — A. I saw it published somewhere that he had asserted that the American stores left there were superior to his own. General Hazen. He does not mention having used them all in any of his reports, and he really had no occasion for them for he had an abundance of stores for his own use, and he made an extensive num- ber of caches. The Witness. Those caches are still there ! General Hazen. Yes; Lieutenant Greely was under the impression that those stores were still at Polaris Bay. By Captain Davis : Q. If the Esquimaux should visit that point they would appropriate the stores, would they not f — A. I think that is doubtful, because the Esquimaux in that section do not know anything about such stores, and they would not eat them. By General HAzen : Q. They would prefer their own food? — A. Yes, sir; they are not accustomed to any such thing. Q. And you do not think there have been any Esquimaux there for many years ! — A. They very seldom visit there. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla : Q. In speaking of two whale-boats with six men each, and provi- sions for fifteen days, where would you expect the whale-boats to start from, the vicinity of what point 1 — A. That is owing to circumstances. You might be fortunate enough to reach Cape Frazer with your vessel. Q. You might go all the way up? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Then you had no particular point in view that you would expect to start from? — A. No, sir; start when we met the ice. Q. How many people are there in Lieutenant Greely's party? — A. Twenty five, I believe. Q. Then you would have thirty-seven men in the two whale-boats coming down/ — A. I suppose Lieutenant Greely has a boat there. Q. You said that you would be prepared to take them all in the two whale-boats? — A. Has not Lieutenant Greely a whale-boat there? Q. He may have. But if you go up to relieve him, you would not take that into consideration? — A. Yes, sir; but they have been gone three years next July, and I suppose their number has decreased some. Q. But you could not count on that in sending up a relief? — A. No, sir; we could not. But the two whale-boats, if absolutely necessary, could bring all those men down. I carried nineteen men in a whale- boat in an open sea. Q. I understood you to say that you had had twenty years' expe- rience in sledging with dogs? — Yes, sir. 30 PROCEEDINGS. ling in a country where we (bund plenty of doer-skin, and had the very best of deer- skin clothing and deerskin sleeping bays, covered with tanned seal-skin to keep the moist lire away. By General IIazhn : (,). What do yon consider the very best clothing for Arctic use? — A. Clothing made of reindeer skin. (,). Is it in one thickness or more ¥ — A. We made a double jacket, one with the fur inside and the other with the fur out. Q. Have you any idea where any quantity of that reindeer-skin could be procured l — A. Yes, sir; you could procure an abundance of it in Hudson Strait. Q. At what point ? — A. I do not know that yon can procure any at York Factory, but north of that, anywhere along the coast, I have seen deer as thick as cattle are anywhere. The skins you could pro- cure at the factory. Q. But would that be available for the expedition next year! — A. No, sir. By Captain ])av is : Q. Do the Hudson's Bay Company trade in that clothing and send it to England : — A. I think so. Q.. Could it be found in London ? — A. I do not know whether the reindeer-skin could be found there or not. Q. But the Hudson's Bay people do trade in that clothing i — A. Yes, sir. By General Hazen : Q. Have you any opinion as to sheepskin — its quality for that service ? — A. I think it would be very serviceable, if you were not able to procure deer-skin. * Q. Failing to get deer-skin, you think that would be very service- able t — A. Yes, sir. By Captain Davis : Q. Did you have any scurvy on the "Polaris" expedition ? — A. No, sir. Q. Did you make use of lime juice as an anti-scorbutic l — A. No, sir. By General Hazen : Q. What antiscorbutic did you make use of ? — A. Fresh meat and potatoes. By Captain Davis : Q. Did you ever use lime juice in any of your winterings ? — A. No, sir; I would not have it. Q. Yoirplace no reliance upon it ! — A. No, sir. Q. What kind of provisions would you take in your boats, if you were starting up thereon that trip, or for an occasion where you might be obliged to winter in your vessel ? — A. I would take the provisions that all vessels going to the Arctic regions are equipped with, that is, with canned fruits and meats and pemmican ; pern mi can is very service- abb 1 , up there. Q. The pemmican made and obtained where? — A. I think in Phila- delphia. (). With the ordinary ship's provisions and with fresh meat, would yon expect to maintain yourself and winter there without scurvy? — A. Yes, sir; with ordinary ship's provisions. PROCEEDINGS. 31 Q. How do you explain the breaking' out of scurvy in other expedi- tions then, where they had an abundance of good provisions, includ- ing pemmican '! — A. I attribute the great cause of scurvy to their hav- ing very inferior salt meat, very old, and where the nutriment had all gone from it. I would have good fresh pork, newly killed, and fresh beef, and plenty of canned meats, and vegetables, and fruits. Q. But you can not expect to have fresh pork and beef during the winter there I — A. But you can have it freshly killed here. There is no occasion to put so much salt in it when it is going to a cold climate. Lieut. H. J. Hunt, TJ. S. Navy, having been invited to appear before the Board, was interrogated as follows: By Captain Davis: Question. The Board would thank you to make a brief statement of the experience you have had in the Arctic regions, giving dates of such service, how, and where, employed. — Answer. I was attached to the Arctic relief ship u Eodgers," and sailed in June, 1881, from Ban Francisco in search of the " Jeannette." The ship made a cruise during the summer in the Arctic regions north of Behring Strait, went into winter quarters in October at Saint Lawrence Bay, and was lost by fire the night of November 30th, 1881. From Saint Lawrence Bay, 1 came with the commanding officer overland through Siberia and Europe to the United Sta.tes. The remainder of the crew returned by vessel from Saint Lawrence Bay. Q. Ry what method did you cross Siberia ? — A. To the first Russian town we travelled by dog sledge, a distance of about eight hundred miles. From that town we searched the coast to the westward, I mean with dogs, for a distance of four hundred miles. From there we travelled by reindeer sledges to Verkhojansk, an inland town, and then to Yakoutsk on horse back. That was in the summer. I was then detached by Captain Berry and ordered to join Lieutenants Harber and Schuetze, who were sent out during the summer to search for one of the missing boats of the "Jeannette." Q. Have you given the subject of the relief of the Lady Franklin Bay expedition thought and consideration, and have you any project for the accomplishment of Lieutenant Greely 's relief ? — A. My views on that point I have put in writing in a communication addressed to the Board, which contains all I care to say on that subject. The paper referred to was read, and is as follows: Washington, D. C, December 26, 1883. To Board for relief of Lady Franklin Bay Expedition. Gentlemen : In accordance with the request of the Board to furnish it with any im- pressions I may have formed, concerning the organization and conduct of a relief expedition for Lieutenant Greely and part} T , I respectfully submit the following: Organization. The organization of the proposed expedition belongs properly to the Navy Depart- ment. The officer to command it should be a naval officer of Arctic experience, selected by the department, and ordered without regard to volunteering. Reason: All officers are opposed to the practice of volunteering, and there are many efficient officers, well calculated, both by inclination and requirements, who would refrain from volunteer- ing, even though it were made positively necessary to their eligibility: whereas the selection to command, by the Department, is such an honor that it would indeed be most unfortunate were it to hit upon a man who failed to appreciate the fact. The officers of the expedition should be selected by the commander of the expedi- 32 PROCEEDINGS. tion, from all available officers of the navy, junior to himself. Reason . Officers of the navy arc preferred, because each should be capable of navigating a boat, and of per- forming all the duties incident to the ship, besides having been educated to military discipline. The crew should consist entirely of able seamen, selected by the commander of the expedition, from men who have served in the navy. Reason: The selection should be made by the commanding officer, in order that he may justly be held responsible for their efficiency and conduct. They should have served in the navy, that they may be thoroughly familiar with the discipline of that service. The necessity of discipline upon such an expedition is admitted by all. but its vital importance is impressed upon those who have taken part in Arctic work, when every man, not strictly under its influ- ence, feels that he has a right to express ami defend his opinion upon a subject not too well understood by any. The ship should be either the property of the United States Government, or she should be an American ship chartered by the Government, without officers or crew. She should be selected by the officer who is to command her, from all available steam vessels, and be purchased, if a foreign ship. Reason: The ship should sail under the American flag, and no other. The boats should lie of the type known as the " New Bedford whale-boat." they being specially adapted, both by their model and construction, for navigating through ice. ami being at the same time probably the best open sea boats in use. One or two lighter built boats should be furnished for use in quick sledge journeys over the ice, should such journeys lie required. In these lighter boats particular attention should be paid to the fastenings, as with good fastenings almost any injury may be repaired. Note : Lieutenant Berry devised a skin balsa to take the place of light boats in quick journeys by sledge. I think the plan a good one, but it was not tried, through lack of necessity. The ship should be provided, to take care of herself and the party she is to succor, for a term of two years. I believe no better guide can be followed than that adopted by the "Jeannette ' Relief Board, of which the late Admiral John Rodgers was presi- dent. Conduct. The relief ship should sail in time to reach Upernavik at the earliest possible moment. If the Greelv party is not found at that place, and there is no information there to warrant another course, the ship should proceed with the utmost dispatch to Littleton Island, from which point the entire conduct of the expedition should be left to the commanding officer. Reason : The commanding officer, having been selected for his coolness, judgment, and other requisite qualities, and having full knowledge of all facts now possessed, will (when actually upon the ground, and with additional infor- mation) be the most capable person of judging of the proper course to be pursued. Respectfully submitted, H. J. HUNT, Lieutenant. U. S. Navy. By General Haze:* : Q. Will you pi ease state your opinion in regard to the different kinds of skin clothing I — A. In the latitude we reached there was no skin clothing required in summer. We had excellent clothing in winter, consisting entirely of reindeer-skin. Q. Do you consider that better than sheepskin, or better than any other kind .' — A. I think it is better than any skin. It has more warmth for its weight. It is much lighter. Q. That is usually adopted by all Arctic people who can get it . ; — A. I think so. Q. Have you any idea where it can be procured? — A. Not on this coast. Q. Do yon know where the clothing for the "Bodgers" was secured ? — A. At Pefropaulovski principally, and part of it at Saint Michaels. Q. Ready-made, or did you buy the skins ami make it up ! — A. Both ; we had gome ready-made, and others we made up. After we landed, we had the native Chukches clothing, for which we traded. PROCEEDINGS. 33 By Captain Davis : Q. Are the garments made of double thickness? — A. Yes, sir Q. With the hair inside and out? — A. Yes, sir; the inner lining has the hair inside, and the outer the hair outside. Q. What do they wear on their feet ? — A. Beindeer-skin boots, com- ing up to the knee. Q. With soles of thicker leather? — A. No, sir; the best soles were of the heavy seal-skin, with the hair inside, and some of them were fitted with bear-skin soles, with large hair outside. Q. In what season of the year were these sledge journeys made? — A. We started from Saint Lawrence Bay a month before leaving the station. The delay was caused by the loss of Mr. Putnam. From that point we started on the 8th of February. Q. And what average distance per day could you make with dogs during that journey, taking into account both the stormy and fair weather? — A. The distance is about eight hundred miles, and we actually made it, including all rests and stoppages, from the 8th of February to the 25th of March. Q. That is, in about forty-five days? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you travel on the land or on the ice principally ? — A. Both ; but principally along the coast on the land. Q. How many dogs made up a team ? — A. Our team consisted, at different times, of from fourteen to eighteen dogs. Q. And what weight had they to pull '? — A. The average weight, I think, must have been about twelve hundred pounds. Q. Less than one hundred pounds to a (fog? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What is regarded as a proper load for a dog in Siberia ? — A. For quick travelling, a dog is supposed to haul about half his weight, aver- aging from thirty-five to forty pounds, that is, for very rapid travelling. But they very often load as heavy as seventy -five or eighty pounds to a dog. Q. Are the Siberian dogs heavier than those of Greenland? — A. I do not know the Greenland dogs. These dogs would average about sixty or sixty-five pounds. Q. In the equipment of an expedition for that region, although you say that you would leave all discretion to the commanding officer, still he must have an equipment that will enable him to remain through a winter, if need be? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Could you specify what supplies should be taken in the way of dogs, sledges, and boats, for operations away from the ships? — A. I think that two teams of fourteen dogs each would be sufficient. That is, I think thirty dogs would be sufficient. I think it would be well to have four whale-boats, in addition to the ice-boats, for light travelling. A New Bedford whale-boat is rather a heavy boat. It is very strong, and a most excellent sea boat. Q. Would you expect to make use of boats and sledges in any single journey, combining the two?— A. I could not tell you that; I do not know the nature of the ice on this side at all. Q. Do the natives in Siberia ever suffer from scurvy? — A. I never knew of a case. By Geueral Hazen : Q. You had no scurvy in your party ? — A. I believe there were a few cases, light attacks of scurvy, after we separated from the party; but we had none in our party, 3 34 PROCEEDINGS. By Captain Davis: Q. Was lime-juice issued, or was it included in t lie preparation of pemmican \ — A. Wehadbothlime-jnicepemmican and plain pemmican. Q. Were the men inclined to eat it; did they like it % — A. I think they were all very fond of it after the loss of the ship. Before that we did not eat pemmican at all. I was very fond of pemmican alter we stinted. By General Hazen : Q. Do you know where the pemmican was secured? — A. I think it was made by a firm in Baltimore, but I am not certain. By Captain Davis : Q. What number of persons would you think should compose the complement of a vessel to go up there on this errand l — A. I think that the ship should be a small one, but it would depend on the ship that is to go. They might find a ship of larger size that was stronger and better adapted to the purpose; but I should think that a ship which would be fully and well manned by a crew of twenty men would be best. Q. And would be sufficient for your boating and sledging parties detached from the vessel, you think? — A. I think so. By Captain Greer : Q. Do you mean a total personnel of twenty? — A. No, sir; I mean twenty, not including the officers. Q. That would be a total personnel of about thirty or thirty-five ? — A. Yes, sir; about thirty, perhaps more, depending on the size of the ship. My opinion is that a smaller ship, provided you can get a proper one, would be better. By Captain Davis : Q. You feel a perfect confidence that such an expedition would be able to rescue the party ? — A. Yes, sir. Q. You would not think a tender or auxiliary vessel necessary ? — A. I do not think it absolutely necessary, but I think it would be an addi- tional precaution to send a tender. But she should have for her sole object the landing of stores and boats at Littleton Island. Q. In the event of the relief vessel failing to reach Lieutenant Greely, or to rescue him next season, you would, of course, expect to winter ? — A. Yes, sir; I think it very likely, too, that the best way of reaching Lieutenant Greely at an early period would be the way suggested by Captain Tyson, using these whale-boats, each of which could be navi- gated by four men and carry provisions for two months. After a short recess by the Board, the examination of witnesses was resumed. Lieut. Ernest A. Garlington, U. S. Army, in response to the invitation of the Board, appeared, and was questioned as follows: By Captain Davis: Question. The Board would thank you to give a brief statement of the experience you have had in the Arctic regions, giving the dates of such service, how, and where, employed. — Answer. I left New York City, June 12, 1883, in command of the Greely Belief Expedition on board the IT. 8. Steamer "Yan^c," arrived at Saint John's, Newfoundland, there 1 put my party on board the " Proteus " and took charge of her, left that port June 29, 1883, bound to Disco, Greenland, PROCEEDINGS. 35 arrived there on the 6th of Jijly, sailed thence on the 10th for Little- ton [gland, where we arrived on the22d of July, then headed for Cape Prescott, but in the afternoon were stopped by the ice ; went into Payer Harbor and remained several hours. I then tried to work my way around into Buchanan Strait and along Bache Island, but on the evening of the 23d the ship was caught in the ice, crushed and sank. The next day, with the part of the stores saved, we landed on Cape Sabine, remained there one night and part of the day, then left in two whale-boats, with the "Proteus" crew in three boats, crossed Smith Sound to Life-Boat Cove, followed along the coast down to Cape York, arrived there on August 10th, and remained in that vicinity until the 16th, when I started across Melville Bay and arrived at Upernavik on the 23d of August, the party being the same as when I left Cape Sabine, with the exception of the boat commanded by Lieu- tenant Coiwell which had been detached at Cape York and sent direct to Disco. His boat had arrived at Upernavik the day before I did and gone on in a larger boat which had been borrowed from the Gov- ernor of the island. Q. Have you given the subject of the relief of the Lady Franklin Bay expedition thought and consideration, and have you any project for the accomplishing of Lieutenant Greely's relief? — A. I have given the subject thought, and have submitted a project, dated the 19th of Novem- ber, to the Chief Signal Officer of the Army, made in conjunction with Lieutenant Coiwell, the officer who had been with me on this expedition. The paper referred to was read, and is as follows : Washington, D. C, 19th November, 1883. To the Chief Signal Officer. Sir: I have the honor, in conjunction with Lieutenant Coiwell, U. S. Navy, to sub- mit the following project of a plan for the relief of Lieutenant Greely and his party during the coming season. The expedition to be commanded by myself, and the relief ship by Lieutenant Coi- well. This expedition should leave New York not later than the 10th of May. Two vessels should be fitted out; the relief ship proper of not more than 500, nor less than 300, tons measurement (gross), and a convoying ship of larger size. For the relief ship, one of the smaller class of steam whalers should be purchased. This purchase to be made, if possible, with the condition that the owners of the ship would re-purchase from the Government, if she were brought back in good order and condition, at a stipulated price. This vessel should be secured at once and put in thorough repair at one of the navy-yards. The hulls of these whalers are as strongly built as possible, and need little repair, but the equipment should be carefully and thoroughly overhauled under the personal supervision of the officer who will command her. Special attention should be paid to the boats, steering gear, navigating instru- ments, spars and rigging, hawsers, steam winches, capstan, boilers and engines. There should be a supply of ice saws, and ample facilities for ice blasting. The ship should be commanded as I have indicated. There should also be three watch officers, one engineer, and one surgeon. The crew should be speciall}* enlisted for the cruise, the greatest care given to their selection, and should consist of three machinists, one steward, four quartermasters, one ship's cook, six firemen, and eight seamen. There should be from the Army, two sergeants (observers) from the Signal Corps, and eight enlisted men from the line, selected by the commander of the expe- dition, these men to be used for sledging. The services of two or three Canadian voyageurs should be secured if possible. Supplies for fifteen months should be carried, although the probabilities are that the expedition would return to the United States in the fall of 1884. A sufficient number of sledges, made after a pattern to be determined upon after consultation with the best authorities on Arctic sledging, should be provided. Everything in the way of cloth- ing, provisions, arms and amunition, signalling apparatus, fishing tackle, &C, &C, must be most carefully attended to, and advantage taken of the advice and experience of those who have been in that region. Supplies for six months only should be carried 36 PROCEEDINGS. by the relief ship, and all available space utilize^ for coal, of which not less than forty days' supply should be carried. The convoying ship could lie one of the third-rate vessels of the Navy. It would be necessary to strengthen her about the bows, put sheathing along her entire water-line : she should be fitted with a two-bladed screw, and be provided with a spare-screw and rudder. Her complement of officers and men should be reduced to a minimum, and all available space utilized for coal and provisions, including the additional nine months' supply of the latter for the relief ship. The Danish government should be requested at once to send orders to the Inspector of North Greenland to furnish dogs, drivers, dog harness, and interpreter, if possible. I do not think it advisable to get skin clothing in Greenland, but think it should be made in the United States. Duplicates of these orders should be requested, and given to the commander of the expedition, to guard against the failure of the ship arriving from Copenhagen. • The two ships should sail in company, the convoy having positive orders to go as far north as Cape Sabine. So early in the season as the end of May. it would proba- bly be impracticable for the convoy to cross Melville Bay. while the whaler could force its way through. If therefore, the ice was found to be very close and heavy in Mel- ville Bay, the convoy, in the discretion of the commanding officers, should be allowed to return to I pernavik, and remain until the middle of June before again attempting the passage — it would probably be found feasible by the 1st of July. The convoy should not abandon the attempt to reach Cape Sabine earlier than the 1st of October. The relief ship should be pushed, at the opening of the season, with the first of the Jones Sound whalers. All efforts should be directed to opening communication with the Cape York Eskimo. The ship could probably get within fifteen miles of Cape York early in June, when two lightly equipped sledges should at once be sent to communicate with the natives. If the Greely party, or any part of it, had reached Littleton Island, or were at that time any- where along the Greenland coast, these people would, in all probability, be aware of it, as they now know that a large part}" of white men are in the far north endeavoring to come south. If. from the natives at Cape York, it were ascertained that the Greely party had reached the Greenland coast, during the preceding winter or spring, the condition of the party and their necessities would be learned. Sledge parties should be at once organized, as many as possible of the natives with their sledges secured, and the parties started immediately for the camp of Greely. The natives are acquainted with the sledge route along the coast, have excellent dogs, (superior to those of the Danish settlements) and with light sledge loads could make very rapid time. This party should have orders to await the arrival of the ship at, or near. Pandora Harbor, or at the place they find the party — taking all precautions to advise the ship of their location on the way to the northward. Life-Boat Cove is but five days by sledge from Cape York in the season for sledging. If no tidings of Greely were received, it would be reasonably safe to conclude that they had not yet reached the Greenland coast, and the sledges should return to the ship. The ship should then proceed north as opportunities offered, visiting Cary Islands and communicating with the natives on Northumberland Island and Saunders Island for possible information. If no traces or news of the party is received at Littleton Island, the ship should at once proceed to Cape Sabine, estab- lishing a large depot at the most advantageous point in that neighborhood, then make a thorough examination there, and if nothing is found, return to Pandora Har- bor and wait for the ice in Smith Sound to break up and pan out. From Cape Sabine, in the absence of news of the party, a boat and sledge part}- should be sent to north- ward with all possible despatch. If the convoy should not arrive at Pandora Harbor by the 10th of July, the relief ship should cross to Cape Sabine ; and if the condition of the ice was not favorable for the northward progress of the ship, a boat expedition of two boats, crews of one officer and six men to each, loaded with as many supplies as they could carry, should proceed north with orders to communicate with Lieutenant Greely. When a junc- tion is made, the united parties should come south as rapidly as possible to meet the ship. The ship in the mean time should take advantage of every favorable oppor- tunity to proceed north, taking advantage of all necessary delays to send parties to examine all likely camping places for tidings of Greely. Such places as Alexandra Haven, south side of Bache Island. "Washington Irving Island, Franklin Pierce Bay, Scoresby Bay, Rawlins Bay. and the depot at Cape Hawks, Cape Cob linson, Carl Hitter Bay, Sue. PROCEEDINGS. 37 In case of disaster to the ship, all articles saved should be conveyed to the nearest land and a camp established. One light boat, with four men, should be sent to Cape Sabine to communicate with the convoy, and one to the northward to communicate with the relief boats, assist them, and hurry their movements south with the Greely party. The convoying ship failing to cross Melville Bay in company with the relief ship, should be able to accomplish it about the 1st of Jul}-, and should reach Pandora Harbor, or that vicinity, about the 10th of July, where she would meet her consort and all final arrangements would be made. If she should find the relief ship gone, she should proceed at once to Cape Sabine, collect all the provisions in that vicinity and make one well-secured cache of the serviceable stores. She should look for, and pre- pare, a suitable place on the west side of Smith Sound for the winter station (prefer- ably Alexandra Haven), erect the winter house, and get the stores for the relief ship in readiness to land rapidly. If she receives news of disaster to relief ship, the stores should be at once landed. All available boats should be sent away to the assistance of the northern parties, and every precaution taken to avoid the possibility of the ships being blockaded in Buchanan Strait or Pa}*er Harbor, retreating, if necessaiy, to Pandora Harbor, leaving a small part}'' at the station established, to direct the parties as they arrived from the north. Signal communication should be established between Cape Sabine and Littleton Island, and at the first news from the northern parties the convoy should proceed to Cape Sabine and be ready to render any assistance. If no news was received by September 1st, preparations should be made for going into winter quarters at Life-Boat Cove, Foulke Fiord, or Pandora Harbor. After October 1st there would be no prospect of getting the party south that season, and the ship should be prepared for the winter. As soon as possible a lightly equipped sledge party should start up the east side of Smith Sound, and following approximately the track of Doctor Hayes in 1861, cross to the west side of the sound about Cape Hawks, where some news would certainly be obtained of the party. The crew of relief ship should also endeavor to communicate with Cape Sabine and the convoj'ing ship as soon after disaster or delay in ice as possible. The Greely party, their records and valuables, should be brought to the camp estab- lished on the west coast, and as early as practicable moved across the sound to the winter quarters of the convoy. This is an outline of the general course to be followed. The many possibilities of the case preclude definite instructions being given to cover all emergencies. The commander of the relief expedition should not be hampered with detailed orders, but should be directed to act according to his best judgment. It is imperative that the commanding officers should have the same orders as far as the co-operation of their respective commands is concerned, and a thorough under- standing between them should be insisted on before sailing from the United States, and at every point where the possibility of a separation could occur. These agreements should be reduced to writing, and each officer held to a strict performance of his part. The selection of officers and men for the relief ships and sledging party, should be left entirely to their commanding officers. The selection, preparation and disposition of equipments and supplies, should be under the personal supervision of the com- manding officers, and no interference with their plans, by theorists with no practical knowledge of the w r ork in hand, should be allowed. To properly equip an expedition, steps to procure a ship should be at once taken. There are but three steam whalers owned in the United States, and their whereabouts is unknown. Their owner has been communicated with, but he is now in San Fran- cisco and no answer has been received from him. A suitable vessel can be built in this country in about five months, at a cost of about $60,000. The steam sealers of Saint John's are all over ten years old, with one exception, built in 1874, and are out of repair. The price of the best of them is placed at $100,000 by their owners. At Dundee, Scotland, where a fleet of steam whalers and sealers is owned, two com- paratively new vessels are available, one two years old and one four years old. Price unknown. Vessels of the class of the "Proteus," (six hundred and forty-seven tons measurement, gross) costing about $80,000 to build and equip, can be built in five or six months. As difficulty and delay are always experienced in obtaining dogs in Greenland, a supply might be procured from the Northwest Territory, with drivers to handle them. A rough estimate of the cost of an expedition based on the foregoing would be about $150,000 for the relief ship. The repairs to the ship being made at a navy-yard and the pay of the enlisted crew being from regular appropriations. 38 PROCEEDINGS. Since vmting the above, have hoard of tour American whalers in San FrancisCo-^ one reported an excellent ship. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed.) E. A. GARLINGTON, 1st Lieutenant, 1th Cavalry, A. S. O. Washington, D. C, 2Gth November, 1883, To tke Chief Signal Officer: Sir: In reply to your letter, I have the honor to submit an approximate estimate of the COSl of the expedition, based upon the accompanying plan, for the relief of Lieutenant Greely. Total cost. $169,200, distributed as follows: Purchase of ship $100, 000 Pay of crew, fifteen months 35,000 Subsistence sixty-nine men, fifteen months 15,000 Medicines 1,000 House t 1,200 Extra and Arctic clothing 7, 000 Incidental: dogs, dog food, oil stove, sledges, &c, &c 10, 000 Total $100, 200 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed.) E. A.^GARLINGTON. 1st Lieutenant, 1th Cavalry, A. S. O. By General Hazen : Q. Have you any statement to add in addition to that ? — A. No, sir ; that is the plan, in the main. There are details as to the equipment, clothing, provision and sledges, the kind of boats, &c., which are not not touched upon in that plan. By Captain Davis : Q. You say in your memorandum or project, that the relief ship should be one of the smaller class of steam whalers. What inquiries have you made as to the availability of those vessels and the points from whence they can be obtained ? — A. I looked into the subject while at St. John's, and made inquiries as to the whaling fleet sailing from Dundee, and since I returned here I have made inquiries in regard to whalers owned in America. Q. What have you been able to ascertain in regard to American whalers i — A. All the United States steam whalers are on the Pacific coast. I think there are but three registered here, or were at the time the examination was made. But I have since learned that there are four in addition to those three; four have been built recently on the Pacific coast, which are pronounced to be excellent ships, and which fulfill all the conditions that are requisite in steam whalers. The best ships I have heard of are the " Thetis " and the " Resolute," of Dun- dec, Scotland. Q. How old are they i — A. Two and three years. Q . And what size \ — A. About the same size as the " Proteus " — about 4G7 registered tons. (,). Did you make any inquiry as to the possibility of having vessels built by American ship-builders in time for such an expedition? — A. Yes, sir; I have had some correspondence, and Lieutenant Colwell wrote to some ship-builders— to the firm who had built these whalers that are now owned in Maine — and received a reply stating that a vessel could be built, fulfilling the conditions required, in six months from the time the order was given. It would require at least that, and 1 think, from talking to naval men, it would require a longer time. Q. Is there any difference in type, as you understand, between the PROCEEDINGS. 39 sealers of Saint John's and the winders of Dundee ! — A. In the "Proteus "and tlie "Bear," the newest of the Saint John's sealers, their engines are placed differently: there is one whaler built the same way, with the engine amidships. All the other whalers have their engines astern or aft; all the steam-whalers, except the u Arctic," that I have been able to learn about. Q. Are those vessels full -powered ! — A. Yes, sir; I suppose they can make about seven or eight knots, and under favorable conditions they would make nine or nine and a half knots under steam alone. Q. What was the speed of the "Proteus"? — A. She could make about nine and a half knots. Her average was about seven and a half to eight knots. Q. At that rate of speed, what was her consumption of coal per diem ! — A. About twelve tons. Q. You are confident that these newest Dundee whalers are built with their engines abaft the main-mast ! — A. I was so informed by sailing captains at Saint John's. Q. You did not see any of the vessels? — A. No, sir; they were not in Saint John's. The "Bear," owned by Walter Grieve & Company, of Saint John's, is a good ship. She has new boilers, and is a sister ship of the " Proteus," of about the same size and dimensions. • Q. How old is she? — A. The same age — tenor eleven years. The ■• Neptune " is also a good ship, and I was informed by some parties in Saint John's that there are two small ships there of less than 300 tons burthen, the "Iceland" and " Greenland," I think. They are small ships, both have propeller wells, &c, and it is claimed, well fitted for this work; they are about the proper size, I think. Q. What would you regard as the chance of getting a vessel into Lady Franklin Bay next season — a relief vessel 1 mean — considering all the probabilities of the case ? — A. From conversation with people in Greenland, and as near as they can find out from records which they keep and information they get from people who have been up there, they seem to think there is an open season once in seven years. But that of course is merely guess-work ; I think the chances are against it — against getting up to Lady Franklin Bay, always. Q. Would you regard it as probable that a boat expedition could have reached Lady Franklin Bay last summer, judging from what you saw! — A. A boat expedition, purely, could not have done anything at all while I was there ; could not have made any progress north. A sledging and boat party could have gotten at least to Cape Hawks or Cape Prescott. Q. How much ice would they have been obliged to cross to reach the open water around Cape Hawks ? — A. Ten or fifteen miles would have brought them to opeu water. At one time while we were there, we could have gotten to opeu water within a few hundred yards. Q. From your experience in returning from Littleton Island, passing through such ice as you saw getting down to Melville Bay and through it. how large a crew for a whale-boat would you consider necessary to haul it out on ice?— A. With a whale-boat of the size we had, a crew of six meo could get it out, if the ice was not over six inches above the water: more than six inches above it they could not pull it out. We had seven men in one boat and eight in another, and we had to u double up 7 ' every time the boats were pulled out. I think that the boats should be smaller. One of the boats I refer to was twenty-eight and a half feet long and the other thirty feet over all. 40 PROCEEDINGS. Q. When you speak of six men not being able to pull them out of the water, you refer, of course, to the boats and their contents ? — A. Yes. sir; they were loaded with thirty days' supplies. (,). And it took a relay of men to get them out — a "doubling up" of the crew:' — A. Yes. sir: and there are times when it is impossible to do that. Boats have to be pulled up very hurriedly, and the boat's own crew should be able to get it out of the water. Q. Did you have a steam-launch aboard the "Proteus"? — A. No, sir. Q. Would an ordinary steam-launch be useful and efficacious in navi- gating the waters of Smith Sound- in the autumn? — A. No, sir; I think not. The only steam-launches that would be of any use at all are those which use oil for fuel and have their screws under the boat in some way. I forget the name of the launch. Q. You have not seen any such ? — A. No, sir; but I have had them described to me ; they use them on the Pacific coast. On account of the weight, there would be an objection to a steam-launch — getting it on the ice, pulling it out. Q. Who has any knowledge of the boats you speak off — A. Lieu- tenant Pay spoke to me of a boat of that kind, and I also talked with Lieutenant Colw r ell about them — he knows of a boat. I do not think he has ever seen one, but he knows about it from reading or otherwise. I think a boat twenty feet long, with bilge keels, would be better for that work. Q. One that could be put on runners f — A. Keels serve the purpose, to a certain extent, of runners. The boats can be pulled on the ice without subjecting tliem to so much strain. When the ordinary boats are pulled out on the ice-floes, the w r hole strain comes on the keel and it is apt to break it. Q . Where have keel boats, such as you describe, been recently used ? — A. I do not know of their having been used except by one expedition, Parry's, long ago. But he made a more successful sledge-boat expedi- tion than has ever been made since, with other appliances. Q. What kind of clothing were you furnished with on your last Arctic expedition f — A. I carried from here buffalo overcoats, german socks, mitts made of the same material as the socks, some oil-tanned moccasins and arctic overshoes. I took some buffalo shoes also and sheepskin sleeping-bags, and in Saint John's I got a lot of seal-skin clothing, made in Greenland, for the expedition of LS82. This clothing was made up about Disco. Q. Y r ou did not have occasion to make much use of your Arctic clothing ? — A. We used it on the boat, coming back, to some extent. Q. But you did not have any very low temperatures ? — A. No, sir. I used it enough to form the opinion that clothing obtained in Green- land would prove inefficient in extremely cold weather. Q. You say that was seal-skin clothing? — A. Y'es, sir. Q. Did you have any dog-skin clothing? — A. No, sir. You cannot get dog-skin clothing in Greenland; they monopolize that themselves and can't get enough for their own use. Q. Were the buffalo overcoats of service to you ? — A. They w r ere good for sleeping in, but they are of no account when you have to engage in hard work, for they are made in a clumsy way, and the buf- falo-skin is heavy. (,). What were the sleeping-bags made of? — A. Of sheepskin. Q. Have you seen clothing made of reindeer skin ? — A. I have not, but every man who has been to the Arctic regions and lias had any PROCEEDINGS. * 41 experience there sledging*, &c, recommends it as the best clothing, beyond all question. I think sheepskin clothing for an inner garment would be as good, or very nearly so, as reindeer. Q. Do you know anything of the possibility of obtaining deer-skin clothing in time for an expedition next summer! — A. There is no place where it can be obtained, except it be in Norway or Sweden. I think In some parts of Norway they have immense herds of reindeer. . Q. You think an inquiry there might show that it was obtainable? — ■ A. I think so. Q. Do you know whether the Hudson's Bay Company trade in it and have it as an article of merchandise? — A. I do not; but I think it extremely unlikely, because the English expeditions were not fitted with it at all; and none of the expeditions, so far as I have been able to find out, were fitted with reindeer clothing; they had to get it for themselves. Q. You had no occasion to make use of your dogs in any sledging journey? — A. No, sir; I used them a little on the ice-floe after the ship was lost. Q. Where were your sledges made? — A. They were made here. Q. What was their capacity? — A. I think the larger ones would carry a ton. Q. How many did you have? — A. Two large ones, and a small one which would carry about half that amount. By Lieutenant- Commander McCalla : Q. I believe you said that the seal -skin clothing was not good or was not serviceable. Please state on what you base that opinion, if 3011 did not use it much ? — A. I did not use it myself, but some of the men did. Men in my party used it all the way from Cape Sabine to Upernavik. Q. What was the difficulty in regard to it? — A. Seal skin is cold to begin with; it has no warmth, particularly the hair-seal, and if it gets wet it is just like a dish-rag; it absorbs water. Q. It is not water-proof? — A. Not at all. Q. Where did you get it? — A. In Saint John's. Q. What clothing did you have for each man ? — A. A double jumper and a pair of trousers; that was the suit. Q. Any seal-skin covering for the feet? — A. No, sir; but I got a few seal-skin boots in Saint John's. Q. Is that the only arrangement you made for the winter in the way of covering for the feet; I mean in regard to seal-skin clothing. I thought you might have bought some in Greenland? — A. No, sir; it has been stated repeatedly that the request from this government to the Danish authorities met with no response, so far as Greenland was concerned. Almost every man, though, got himself a pair of those Esquimaux moccasins or boots. Q. How high did they come? — A. About half way up to the knee. Q. The clothing that did not prove good, did it come from New- foundland? — A. No, sir; it came from Greenland. It was provided for the expedition of 1882, and was not used by them. Q. Then it was clothing bought in 1882 in Greenland which remained last winter in Newfoundland? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was the hair taken oft'? — A. No, sir. Q. The trousers were not double thickness? — A. No, sir. Q. Anything for the head in the way of seal -skin? — A. No, sir; they never use seal -skin. We had fur caps. Q. The jumpers had no hoods? — A. Yes, sir; they had hoods and 41* * PROCEEDINGS. they pulled them over the cap or whatever they wore under the hoods. Q. Do you remember what rations were left at Gape Sabine? — A. I estimated the number of rations put by Lieutenant Colwell on that iirst boat, as live hundred rations: he thinks there were six hundred and fifty rations. Q. That is simply an estimate ? — Yes, sir. Q. How far was it from the eastern extremity of Cape Sabine? — A. About three miles and a half to the west. By Captain Davis: Q. Did you see those stores after they were landed? — A. No, sir; I did not. They were landed by Lieutenant Colwell. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla: Q. You spoke of boilers being placed amidships. I suppose you mean well forward, where the vessel has the greatest beam ? — A. Yes, sir. I do not know whether I stated it correctly, technically. I know nothing about naval architecture. Q Then that is a non-professional opinion merely ? — A. It is what I have learned from those sailing people, that when the engines or boilers are put amidships, it is impossible to brace the ship; they cannot get those cross-beams in there. Q. Who told you this? — A. I talked with the chief engineer of the u Proteus " about it, and with Mr. Norman, the first officer of two of those expeditions, and also with Captain Pike, and with the officers of the " Proteus," going up. Q. I think you said that the "Proteus" consumed about twelve tons of coal. Might not that have been about seven or eight tons, or as low as that !— A. I do not think so. Q. Do you remember how you got the information about it ? — A. From what Captain Pike told me. I do not state it positively but think that was about it. Q. In your estimate of the whale-boat's dimensions, I think you said they were twenty-eight feet long? — A. One twenty-eight and a half feet and one thirty. Q. How many did you have in the ship, furnished for the relief expedition proper? — A. I had two whale-boats and one dingy. By Captain Davis : Q. Where were the boilers and engines of the " Proteus "? — A. They were amidships. Q. In the region of the boilers and engine of the "Proteus" was there a cross bracing? — A. There was only one beam or one brace about the engine room, a timber one. The " Proteus" had been caught in the ice at one time and kept in the ice all of one season and subjected to more or less strain, and after they got her out they put some diag- onal braces in her, on the sides. Q. They were not in the ship when built? — A. No, sir. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla: Q. Have you seen any of these Dundee whalers? — A. No, sir; but I have seen several of the Saint John's sealers that are built on the same plan. The "Thetis" and the " Resolute" are considered by everybody up there as the best ships afloat of that character, because they are new. and in building them they had the experience of years. I talked with several Newfoundland people about it. Q. These whalers do not go to Saint John's, do they ? — A. Not as a PROCEEDINGS. 43 general rule, but some of them make a trip sealing before they go whaling. But a great many of these people 'are Scotchmen ; go back and forth, and are acquainted with all these whaling captains. By Captain Davis: Q. Do you think there would be any difficulty next season in getting dogs for sledging in Greenland 1 — A. That depends upon whether they have any dog disease there this year or not. I could have gotten them the year I was up. Q. You did get all the dogs you needed? — A. Yes, sir; but those dogs had been bought the year before, and had been left with the Gov- ernor of Disco. I left a request for thirty dogs to be furnished the expedition of this year, and also a request for as many dog-skin sleep- ing-bags as could be got; but that number would be very few, because the dog-skins are very scarce, and, as I stated before, they keep them all for their own use. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla : Q. Did you leave that request with the Governor? — A. I left it with Governor Elborg, at Upernavik to be sent down to the Inspector at Disco, by the mail this winter, as Commander Wildes declined to stop at Disco on the way back. Q. When was the mail to go down? — A. They make one trip every year from Upernavik to Disco as soon as the season is favorable. By Captain Davis : Q. That communication is probably at Disco before this time '? — A. No, sir; I think they make the trip in February, or about then. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla : Q. Then the request would not get there before February ? — A. Not until spring, probably not until March, and then there is no certainty of his acting on it in the absence of instructions from his home gov- ernment. They will not do much, if anything, unless they have orders, and whatever supplies are to be gotten from Greenland on this next expedition, duplicate orders should be carried by the vessel which goes up there. Q. How is that mail taken down in February ? — A. By sledges. Q. Did you hear whether they ever failed to communicate by mail during any winter ? — A. I did not ; 1 was informed they made the trip once every winter. Doctor Pavy made the trip the year before he went up with Lieutenant Greely. By Captain Davis : Q. Of the provisions that you saw in caches, what portion of them could be relied on for use during the coming season ? — A. I think every tiling was intact and in perfect condition in the caches left by Mr. Beebe. Of those I saw, left by the English expedition, I estimated that sixty per cent., at least, were in good condition. Q. That is at the Cary Islands? — A. Yes, sir; and the probabilities are that seventy-five per cent., at least, would be eatable. Q. Were there Esquimaux around Cape Ohlsen this season? — A. I saw no recent traces of Esquimaux until we got, to Saunders Island; they had evidently been there within a month. There were also Esqui- maux on Northumberland Island. Q. Did not Mr. Beebe leave some supplies at Littleton Island ? — A. He did. 44 PROCEEDINGS. Q. Did you examine that cache I — A. I did not. Q. I know there was some apprehension expressed by hiin in his report that the Esquimaux might get at those supplies and appropriate them, and it would be interesting to know whether they were intact ? — A. I do not think they have interfered with them, because he secreted the provisions, and left a record in the coal, describing the locality where they could be found. By Lieutenant-Commander McOalla : Q. At how many points did you land on the west coast of Greenland south of Littleton Island, coming down f — A. I landed at Pandora Harbor, Sontag Bay, Cape Chalon, Cape Saumarez, Cape Parry, and also near Cape Kadcliffe, Cape Athol, and between Cape Athol and Potowik Glacier, and landed two or three times between that point and Cape York. By Captain Davis : Q. Where did you see your first Esquimaux in coming down? — A. At Cape York. Q. Did you mention having seen them at Saunders Island? — A. From the signs, I should judge they had been there about* a month before. I saw an Esquimaux dog' there. The most important article of Arctic clothing is the foot-gear. That will all have to be made before leaving the United States. That has caused the most trouble to all expeditions. Q. Could proper equipment for the feet be obtained around Assina- boine, Pembina, or in Moutaua ? — A. I think not. By Captain Greer : Q. From your reading and experience, of what should you say the foot-gear ought to consist ? — A. I think a soled canvas boot with blanket foot- wraps, blanket inner-soles, and soft pliable straw inside, is the best thing. By Captain Davis : Q. Have you seen such in use ? — A. I never saw them used. These northern people use something similar to that. The great difficulty about foot-gear is caused by perspiration. All these fur coverings cause the feet to perspire, and as soon as you stop, it is the same as if your feet were wet, then follow frost bites and inflammation of the feet. In this journey we had in the boats, I suffered a good deal with my feet on that account, and Doctor Harrison has not yet recovered from the effects of the same thing. I think that these german socks they use on the frontier and in the extreme northwest, and what they call shoe-packs, would be worth a trial any way. I think a variety of these things should be provided so that by trial you could get the best. You do not want anything to confine the foot or cramp it. Q. Lieutenant Schwatka in his journey to King William Land, speaks of suffering very greatly from his feet being cut by rocks and stones when ho was using moccasins ? — A. That is the reason I think a sole would be better. It is all rock up there on the coast, and there is no soil to walk on. As soon as you leave the ice you get on these sharp stones and it is very hard on the feet, as it is also in walking on hum- mocky ice, broken ice. Q. Is the mainland down to the water covered with moss about Cape York, and above? — A. No, sir. Where it is not perpendicular rock it is either shelving sandstone rock, gneiss, or granite, and PROCEEDINGS. 45 where there is anything approximating to a beach you only see little patches of moss among the boulders; but there is a good deal uear old glaciers where there is much moisture. I think that the ship that goes there next year should be up to the ice by the 30th of May ; otherwise I think the Dundee whalers will rescue the party if they come down. By Lieutenant-Commander McOalla : Q. What time do the whalers leave Dundee and Peterhead? — A. I do not remember, but their aim is to get to the ice about the 1st of June. Q. Do you mean to Melville Bay? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Melville Bay, or further south? — A. No, up to what they call the uorthern passage. By Captain Davis : Q. Don't they first go to the mouth of Cumberland Gulf and cross from there? — A. No, sir; not to my knowledge. They go direct to Melville Bay and cross over. They have to be on the other side by July 1st. Q. What do you mean by "the other side"? — A. Across Melville Bay in Jones Sound, and unless they do get across they generally abandon it, go down and take a southern passage. Q. How early in the season have you heard of the whalers reaching Cape York? — A. June 12th is the earliest on record to 1873. Q. On what date do they generally, or usually, get there ? — A. Any time from that until the last of June; if they do not get across by the last of June they abandon it. Q. Where do you think Lieutenant Greely will be found ? — A. I think on the coast of Greenland. Q. Above Cape York? — A. Yes, sir; unless his party has been weakened and rendered unfit to travel. Q. Do you think he failed to start last fall ? — A. I think so; because in the first place it was impossible for him to come down by sledge in the fall of the year, and if he started in his boats he would have had to start in the latter part of July or very early in August. I do not think he started that early, because he labored under the impression that the station was to be kept up another year, and it was contemplated he would be there about the first of September. In addi- tion to that, I do not think the condition of the ice, from what I saw, was such as to allow him to leave Lady Franklin Bay in boats. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla : Q. Of course you could not judge of the condition of the ice in Kennedy Channel by what it was at Cape Sabine ? — A. You could form some idea. If the ice had not passed out of Smith Sound, the suppo- sition was justifiable that he was up there. Kennedy Channel is com- paratively short, but he could not get down unless he had open water. Q. Do you know how long Kennedy Channel is ? — A. About sixty miles, I think. By General Hazen : Q. Taking into consideration the fact that he was under orders to leave, don't yon think he would have gotten away last summer ? — A. No, sir; I do not think he would, because we know from all the attempts that were made last year to get to the Arctic regions, it was a very bad season. U> PROCEEDINGS. By Lieutenant- Commander McGalla: (,). Don't you think if he had found open water in Kennedy Channel and had been ordered to come south, he would have taken the steam cutter and come south I — A. 1 think he would. Q. And a northeasterly wind which would block Smith Sound at the entrance, would be likely to clear Kennedy Channel of ice I — A. It depends upon what body of ice had passed out of Smith Sound at the beginning of the season. Q. 1 speak with reference to what you saw when you went up there: you found it blocked! — A. Yes, sir. If the ice in the lower part of Smith Sound had moved out and they had a north wind, the ice would come down. But if it did not move down, it would not necessarily clear Kennedy Channel. By Captain Davis : Q. Do you think there is any probability that Lieutenant Greely at- tempted last spring to send down to find out as to the success or failure of the Beebe expedition ? — A- He did not evidently get down as far as Cape Sabine, if such an effort was made. I think it would have been natural for him to have tried it, however. Q. Supposing he starts next spring from Lady Franklin Bay, do you think he will have great difficulty in getting to Sabine by means of sledges I — A. He would have to drag his sledges all the way and it would be a hard trip, of course. Q. He had some dogs hadn't he '? — A. Very few; I do not think he had over three or four dogs. I gather from Captain Pike and those people who were with him there, that nearly all had died at the time the ship left. Q. Do you think he would have any difficulty in getting across Smith Sound to Littleton Island l — A. I think he would have diffi- culty in getting across with sledges. If lie followed the track of Doctor Hayes I think very likely he would get across. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla: Q. Of course it would depend entirely on the character of the ice, no matter whose track it was? — A. Of course I know it depends on the character of the ice, but I am speaking now of the probable presence of water between Sabine and Littleton. Bv General Hazen :. Q. Is there not a current setting through the sound? — A. Yes, sir; there is a strong current out of Buchanan Strait, a strong current in Smith Sound and a strong tide current. Doctor Kane's experience, and Haves', and that of the "Polaris" people show there is always more or less water in the entrance to Smith Sound. Q. The wind and currents keep it open I — A. Yes, sir: which makes it impossible for a sledge party to cross, and extremely difficult for a boat. But up above, striking over from Cape Ingleiield they might find comparatively good travelling. Lieut. P. H. Bay, U. S. Army, having been requested to appear before the Board, made the following statement in answer to interrog- atories : By Captain Davis : Question. Will you please state to the Board what experience you have had in the Arctic regions, giving the dates of such service, how, and PROCEEDINGS. 47 where employed .'—Answer. My experience in the Arctic regions com- menced in 1881 when I left the United States on board the steamer " Gol den Fleece" for a voyage to Point Barrow. I passed into Behring Strait in August of that year, reaching my destination <>n the 8th of Sep- tember. I there established a station, maintained it, and carried on the observations required of me by the Chief Signal Officer, from that time until the 29th of August, 1883, when I broke up the station and came back to the United States through Akotan Pass and by way of San Francisco. Q. Yon were at Point Barrow how long? — A. Two years, lacking nine days. During that time I made three different expeditions from the Point to the interior, with dogs. In 1881 I made a trip of a little over one hundred miles into the interior for the purpose of pro- curing fresh meat. In the spring of 1882 I made an expedition and travelled in all one hundred and fifty miles south, in a direct line. In the spring of 1883 I also went eastward along the coast forty-five miles to the mouth of a river I had discovered. The sledging alto- gether, for hunting and exploration, footed up between seven hundred and eight hundred miles, the most of which I did alone or with the natives; I was the only white man. Q. In what season of the year were these journeys made? — A. In March and April. Q. Did you have an equipment of dogs ?— A. I used dogs; there is no other transportation on that coast. Q. Have yon given the subject of the relief of the Lady Franklin Bay expedition thought and consideration, and have you any project for the accomplishment of Lieutenant Greely's relief! — A. I have given it con- siderable thought, and so far as my experience on the western side would guide me, I think there is but one course to pursue, and that is to have at least one strong vessel, probably with a tender, sent out ; to have that vessel strongly built and fitted for the ice, and to start so that it will come up with the ice the latter part of May or the first of June and follow it right up. If she should not reach him any- where about the 1st of September, I should then land a small party, well equipped, with a house, fuel, and everything prepared to winter, and allow the ship to come south, witli the understand- ing that the party left on land should push on to the point where Lieutenant Greely was left, and, if possible, when the sun came back in the spring so that sledges, could be used, have him aud his party brought back down the coast to a point agreed upon before the vessel left. All those details could be arranged by a person who knows more about the region than I do. The party left there should have sledges and dogs and be furnished with skin-boats for crossing water-leads, and the sledges should be made so that the people could travel the same as the Esquimaux do along the northern coast of North America and Siberia. There they make long journeys of two hundred or three hundred miles in March, April, May and June by having skin-boats, which they put on their sledges and take along with them, and which are easily put into the water aud hauled out. These boats are of light weight, say, one hundred pounds, and carry ten or twelve people. Q. Of what is the frame- work of those boats made I — A. It is made of spruce and other drift-wood that they pick up on the coast, lashed together with whalebone lashings. These boats are from thirty to thirty lour feet long, about seven feet beam, and fiat on the bottom. It takes three or four walrus hides to cover one boat. 48 PROCEEDINGS. By General II azex : ( v ). Where are such boats to be obtained ? — A. The nearest place I know is Saint Michaels. By Captain Davis: Q. They put to sea in them 1 — A. Yes, sir; I have seen them fif- teen miles out at sea. Q. They weigh how much ? — A. Seventy-five to one hundred pounds, and some one hundred and titty pounds, including frame-work and everything. I have had two men take them up and walk off with them, and 1 have seen twenty persons in one of those boats. A ton to a ton and one-halt* of freight is an ordinary load. The three tim- bers in the bottom make up the greater part of the weight. When the skin is wet the boat will weigh more. I give the dry weight. Four men at any time can pick up such a boat and walk off with it. Q. Is it propelled by paddles :' — A. Yes, sir; by paddles and sail. They run square before the wind, free, and in travelling alongshore, whenever the beach is open, they put dogs on a line and tow them like a canal boat, and make ten or fifteen miles a day in that way. That type of boat would be an excellent one to have along in addition to the ordinary whale-boats. In crossing the ice I know of no boat equal to them, and a number of whale-ships are adopting them; I saw several this year. Q. Do they use them as whale-boats ? — A. No; but they keep them in case of necessity and use them for light work paddling around. They are much handier than a dingy. Q. Have you seen anything of the whalers of the Pacific — steam- whalers t — A. I have been on board of every steam-whaler in the Pacific, and on twenty-seven other whale-ships. I think I have been on all American whale-ships except three. Q. How many of these steamers are there ? — A. Four from San Fran- cisco and three from New Bedford. Q. Where were those vessels built ? — A. Four in San Francisco, and the other three in New Bedford, I think. Q. What is the size of the most improved type of the steam-whalers in the Pacific l — A. I cannot give displacement. The best type of the improved vessel is one called the u Narwhal." Her registered tonnage, new measurement, taking out engines, boilers, and cabin room, was 389 T 6 o 7 o tons; registered horse power, 2f5, and draught, twelve feet; consumption of coal for twenty-four hours about four and a half tons. Q. You are confident about the consumption of the coal f — A. Yes, sir; that was told me. and I took it down. Q. What would probably be the displacement of that vessel t — A. I do not know. It is generally from thirty to forty per cent., in excess of the registered tonnage. Q. What was the length and beam of that vessel ?— A. I do not remember, and I could not get that information here. Q. What speed could she maintain in a smooth sea f — A. I was on board the "Bowhead," a vessel of 395 tons, 280 indicated horse power, and drawing eighteen feet, when she was making eight knots in still water. But I have seen her make thirteen and a half knots under sail and steam. Q. Has the -Narwhal" as great speed as the "Bowhead"? — A. Yes, sir. I have never seen that decided in any test, but the captain told me he could make better speed than the "Bowhead." The latter was PROCEEDINGS. 49 built in 1882, and the other in 1883. The " Bowhead" was an experi- ment, and after trying her they built the other three. Q. What was the rig of the " Narwhal "1 — A. She was bark-rigged, full. The " Bowhead " is light rigged ; her spars were lighter, but the others were all full-rigged barks. Q. Where and how was the maehinery of the " Narwhal" located ? — A. Her boilers and everything were abaft the main-mast. Her smoke-stack Avas, I judged, fifteen or twenty feet forward of the miz- zen-mast. Her shaft was not over forty feet long from the coupling, back to the screw. The engines were way aft. Q. Where were the cabin of the oificers and the quarters of the crew ? — A. On deck above. The floor of the cabin is flush with the spar- deck. They are deck cabins. Q. And the waist of the ship was occupied by the coal, oil, and casks ! — A. There are no casks on these ships. The lower hold is built in sections, of half-inch iron tanks, built to fit the ship exactly, and ip between decks is the blubber room, in the waist of the ship. Q. You have never seen any of the Dundee whalers ? — A. I know nothing of them except from hearsay. These vessels for about eight or nine feet forward from the stem are solid timber. They are very heavy and strong. Their side timbers are only about four inches apart, are sawed out to fit accurately, and the outer sheathing is of oak. From two feet above the water-line down to the keel they are sheathed with six inches of white oak, and back from the cut-water forty feet and down to the keel they are sheathed with boiler-iron,* the stem is very raking so that in running her into the ice, they do not hesitate where they wish to break through, to run right on, riding right up on the pack, and if that does not give way beneath, they slip back into the water. Q. The sledging you did in Alaska was on land? — A. Yes, sir; principally. I did a little on one stretch along the sea where I travel- led about twenty miles on foot. The tide is practically nothing up there, so that there is no ice-foot, and it is very fair travelling on the ice along the shore. Q. What kind of Arctic clothing were you supplied with for your stay in Alaska ? — A. the clothing I wore entirely during the winter was made of deer-skins by the natives and procured there. I bought the skins from them. Part of the men's clothing was made of skins purchased in Siberia by Captain Hooper and turned over to me in Plover Bay. Reindeer is the only clothing an Indian will use. You cannot get him to use seal-skiu. There is no warmth to it; it is very cold and they will not use it even for boots. Q. Is there any trader in San Francisco who would have this clothing on hand ! — A. Xot unless the Alaska Commercial Company have some. They make it an item of trade with the Indians at the mouth of the Yukon, and they may possibly have some skins on hand. When I was there in 1881 they had some skins I would rather have than deer-skins, these pup fur-seal. Q . Are they expensive ? — A. No, sir; they are valueless in the market. The natives on the island were allowed to kill 10,000 of them a year for food ; these skins fall into the hands of the compauy and they use them for clothing and other purposes ; they had a number when I went up there. They would make fine artegas. The ordinary dog-skin will make the best artega that I know of — that is the native name for jumper. 50 PROCEEDINGS. By General Hazen : ( v ). Do you think the native dog-skins here would be suitable ? — A. Yes. sir. Skins of dogs like the setter and the finer kinds of Newfound- land dog would make fine junipers. The trouble with all that cloth- iug which is made in that country is, that the Esquimaux do not know anything about tanning, except the Chukches. The Esquimaux simply dry and scrape the skin and it becomes offensive in a short time especially when wet. By Captain Davis: Q. What kind of foot-gear did you use? — A. The native foot-gear. The leg of the winter boot, up to the knee, is made from the skin taken from the leg of a reindeer that lias short smooth hair, the snow will not adhere to it at all — the sole is of seal-skin, cringed to fit the upper. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla : " Q. Are they water-proof 1 — A. No, sir; not water-proof. But that is not necessary until the snow begins to soften. These seal-skin boots that the whaling people use are not winter boots, and cannot be w r orn in winter; they are too cold. I tried to wear them, and found from experience they needed a fur cover for the upper part of the foot, and under the foot we always wore the scrapings of whalebone; we made a pad of that and put it underneath the foot. It absorbs the moisture from the foot, and is the finest foot-gear I ever saw. By Captain Davis : Q. What socks did you use? — A. There I found the natives wearing deer-skin, but from San Francisco I had some fine sheepskins, the wool cut oif pretty close, and I had the natives make socks of them, and they preferred them. By General Hazen : Q. It was sheepskin with the wool inside! — A. Yes, sir. I could give you the pattern. The5~ need to fit the foot nice and snug. The moment you make them loose, you ruin the gear. I wore them, with my wiiole party, and we found them excellent. Q. You had no frost bites? — A. No trouble at all. The longest trip I made on foot was forty-eight miles in thirteen hours with that kind of gear, and my feet were in as good condition when I came home as when I started out. Q. What temperature have you had when travelling ? — A. Banging between — 30° and — 45°. I had no tents; never used them. I slept in snow. I made an igloo every night. And any party going out there should be furnished with a long broad knife, made strong, with a handle that a man could take hold of with two hands, the same as the Esqui- maux use. Q. A kind of spatula? — A. Yes, sir; and with snow shovel and a knife — that would make up the gear. Q. How many dogs to a team do they use? — A. That depends on circumstances. You rarely ever see more than four, but I used eight to carry my provisions for twenty days. By Captain Davis : Q. What do you know about the time taken to build those whalers in San Francisco ! — A. It is all derived from hearsay and information from those people. The "Bowhead" took between sixty and seventy days from the day the work was commenced on her until she was launched, PROCEEDINGS. 51 The "Belinda" and "Narwhal" were built under contract in sixty days and were launched on time. The " Orca " I do not know so much about. She is lour hundred and sixty tons, new measure. There had not been a blow struck on the three ships on the first of November, 1882, waiting for the " Bowhead " to return with her catch and report. She was successful, and in December a contract was made: these vessels were at sea in March to my knowledge, for I saw them all in the Arctic Ocean in August. By General Hazen : Q. How long would it take one of those ships to go around to New York ? — A. I could not say. By Captain Davis : Q. Where are those ships now, probably? — A. I was informed that the • • Bowhead " would lay up to receive tanks this winter. The others are probably in the South Seas off the coast of Australia. Before these vessels were constructed, these people sent experts to Dundee, Xew Bed- ford, and other ports; they came back and- reported, and these ships were built with all the improvements they could gather. Q. What do the sailors generally think of the vessels ? — A. There seems to be but one opinion, and that is they are the best they ever saw. They are men of thirty years' experience, New Bedford captains, and the best of them are leaving the Xew Bedford fleet and sailing in these San Francisco vessels, with a smaller "lay" than on the other ships. By General Hazen : Q. What kind of a ship was the " North Star " that was crushed ? — A. She was a New Bedford ship, sister ship to the " Bodgers." By Captain Davis : Q. You were aboard the " Bodgers "? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What decided differences were there in her construction from that of the modern whaler ? — A. They are the same, bark-rigged. The San Francisco steamers were heavier than the "Bodgers." They had an additional sheathing of iron and oak which the " Bodgers" had not, and the experts say that in every way they are stronger vessels. I know this year a vessel of the same construction as the " Bodgers," the " BeMdere," was up there and would not go into the ice where the San Francisco ships went and passed right along without any difficulty. The " Belvidere " remained out. Q. What was her steam power as compared to the others ? — A. It is lighter. I do not know what it is exactly. For foot-gear T have often thought if I was going again, instead of using the skin of the leg of the reindeer, which is very delicate and tender and will not hold thread well, that young calf- skins tanned with the hair on, in our fashion, would be better than anything else. They should be worn with the hair out. Q. You would have it of double thickness also? — A. No, sir; they never wear them of double thickness. By General Hazen : Q. Is the german stocking used there? — A. No, sir; I only saw the native clothing. By Captain Davis : Q. When the whalers have to winter in the ice are their crews afflicted 52 PROCEEDINGS. with scurvy .' — A. No American whaling ship has wintered on the North American coast, so that that has not been decided. The furthest north a ship has ever wintered was in Saint Lawrence Bay. south of Behring Strait. By General Hazen: Q. What was the diet of your party, and what was its health during the two years you were there ? — A. I took from the United States a lull supply of bacon, canned corned beef, sugar, flour, coffee, and the necessary groceries for an ordinary diet, with dried apples, cranberries, a few peaches, and syrup, and there was sent me from the east about forty gallons of lime-juice. We had fresh meat at least three times a week, after the first four months, of either seal, walrus, bear, or rein- deer. Q. What was the size of your party? — A. The first party, from 1881 to 1882, consisted of nine men besides myself; the second year there were eleven besides myself. Q. What was the health of the party ! — A. I never had a man on the sick report from the time I landed until I sailed. Q. What was the latitude ?— A. 71° 16 / north. Q. What was the average temperature in winter \ — A. The annual mean was plus seven ; the mean for the winter months I could not give accurately from memory, but I should say minus twenty. We had as low as minus fifty-eight by the corrected thermometer. Q. Did you use lime-juice at all ? — A. I issued it, but more as a lux- ury than anything else, because we never had any indication of scurvy, or any disease in fact. Besides the regular duty which the men per- formed, which was six hours out of the twenty-four, I required them to be one hour in the open air, which was compulsory during the whole time I was there, unless it was blowing so hard that a man could not stand up. We were seveuty-two days without sunlight. Q. How dark does it get? — A. At Christmas noon it was so dark that stars of the third and fourth magnitude were visible. By Captain Davis: Q. Your fuel was coal ! — A. Yes, sir. Q. What quantity per diem did you find it necessary to use to main- tain a fair degree of comfort in your shelter? — A. Two hundred and fifty pounds for two fires. Q. What temperature did you aim to keep up in your living rooms ? — A. Seventy degrees. Ice never formed in my sleeping-room or living- room, during the whole time I was there, that is, in the pitcher. Q. Was it aboard building? — A. A redwood building, sealed up; the studding was two by four, and the space at the bottom between the outside and the sheathing was tamped up with clay to make it air- tight so that there would not be any circulation of air in this space. The floor was ordinary inch and a quarter pine and was close to the ground, as close as I could lay it and get a level. The earth there is perpetually frozen. I used stoves for heating and cooking. I banked up the building with earth for about eighteen inches, and as soon as the snow was hard enough to cut I got a wall of snow built up around the house to the eaves, connected the building, by snow channels, with the astronomical observatories, and the snow drifted over until it was flush with the roof. Q. What illuminating material did you use? — A. Kerosene oil, 150 fire test. PROCEEDINGS. 53 Q. Did you use alcohol in your sledging journeys'? — A. No, sir; I think kerosene is preferable. I did not use a gallon on either one of ray trips, and the last time I was out eleven or twelve days. Q. Kerosene does not stiffen like lard oil, in those temperatures'? — A. No, sir; it was always liquid. By General Hazen : Q. Did you use pemmican at all ? — A. 1 used it in my journeys. Q. Where was it procured ? — A. It was procured by the Chief Signal Officer at New York and shipped to me. It was excellent, and the best food for travelling I ever saw. By Captain Davis : Q. Did the men like it? — A. Yes, sir; it made excellent soup, and could be used cold. Eight ounces is a good day's ration. I could not eat over that while I was hard at work. Q. Is there enough warmth in the summer to grow cresses or lettuce ? — A. The first summer I raised a few radishes and some lettuce, but the second summer there was a frost every day, the ice hung on the shore and we could not raise anything. In 1882 many flowers appeared, but I did not see so many in 1883. By General Hazen : Q. How deep does the soil thaw in the summer? — A. From eight inches to a foot. Black spots, where exposed to the sun, would thaw down to eighteen inches. By Captain Davis : Q. Did you have any experience in sledging over ice hummocks ? — A. No. I went with the natives out to a crack five or six miles only, and through an old ice pack. Q. Do the natives make long journeys across the ice! — A. No, sir; that is absolutely impossible. It took forty men thirty days to work a sled and boat out to a lead about a mile and a half away so that they could get through with their provisions, boat, and outfit. They were working day after day right along and putting in all their spare time. I would like to make this suggestion, that any one going up there, should engage some ot the voyageurs, who can be found around the Bed River of the North. These men are expert with dog teams, thoroughly accustomed to cold, and, travelling in all seasons of the year, very hardy, and patient under hardship ; I have had them under me and know what they are. By General Hazen : Q. Do you know anything of the facilities for getting dogs with those men in that section ? — A. There used to be some of the finest bred dogs at Pembina and Fort Garry before the railroad was built. At that time everything was carried by dogs, the mails and all. By Captain Davis : Q. Is there a reasonable probability that those dogs would stand the life above the Arctic Circle, and on the food that they would have ? — A. Yes, sir; I took with me a dog from the United States, a setter, and brought him back ; he was never sick a day ; he travelled through the interior with the team and lived on their food. I could not see but what he stood it just as well as the Esquimaux dog. I think you could get some dogs at Mackinaw if you needed them ; I have seen them there. 54 PROCEEDINGS. Iii regard to those whalemen, they had a boat I never saw used anywhere else, that is a steam whale-boat. It is about thirty-two feet Ion*; - and has a " Berreshoff" engine and screw in the centre, working on a universal joint. It is made on the exact pattern of the ordinary whale-boat they use up there, and can be worked under steam or sail. In regard to sledging, every sledge should be rigged with a light lug-sail. That answers two purposes. When the snow begins to soften in the spring you can build up side walls of it and cover over with the sail ; when the wind is on or abaft the beam of the sledge, it counts for a good man}' dogs. Q. Did you see one of those " Herreshofl'" launches 'I — A. Yes, sir; I have been in one of them. Q. How was the screw, amidships? — A. Yes, sir; to lower or raise the same as you do the centre-board of a boat. When you haul it up you have a sailing vessel. You can run them up in the shallow water. With the screw they draw about four and a half feet. Q. What fuel did they use ?— A. Coal. Q. Do you know how much coal the boat you saw could carry, or for how many days steaming l — A. They loaned me one, and I was steam- ing three days with what coal was on board, and we had considerable left, then. Q. Did you make four or five knots ! — A. Part of the time we made seven knots with steam alone for a long distance. It is the fastest steam whale-boat that is made. Q. It would take a large crew to pull one of these boats out of the water, would it not 1 — A. That would depend upon your tackle. Q. How long do you say these boats are? — A. The ordinary whale- boat they use in the fleet is thirty feet, but these were two feet longer than the ordinary whale-boat. Upon the conclusion of Lieutenant Ray's testimony, General Hazen stated that in regard to the matter of dogs for the proposed relief expedition he desired to submit a letter received from Lieut. Thomas J. Clay, 10th U. S. Infantry, which was read. (Exhibit 0.) A letter from Lieut. Frederick Schwatka, 3d U. S. Cavalry, giving his ideas as to the organization and conduct of an expedition to be sent for the relief of Lieutenant Greely and party was then read. (Plxhibit D.) The Board, then adjourned to meet to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock. Boom 88, STavy Department Building, Washington, D. C, January 3, 1884. The Board met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present except General Hazen. Oapt. RlCHABD Pike, of Saint John's, Newfoundland, appeared, in response to the invitation of the Board, and was interrogated as follows : By Captain Davis : Question. The Board would thank you to give a brief statement of the experience yon have had in the Arctic regions, the dates of such service, how, and where, employed. — Answer. The first experi- ence I had in the Arctic regions was iu 1881, when I took Lieu- tenant Greely and party to Lady Franklin Bay. I left Saint John's PROCEEDINGS. ZZ on the 7th of July, and went from there to Godhavn, that is Disco Island. We arrived there on the 16th, and from there we went to Upernavik to get some dogs, and then proceeded on north. We pro- ceeded up as far as Cape Lieber, and I think it was on the 10th of August that we met the ice there. We did not meet any obstruction at all in going up Smith Sound. Q. You got to Lady Franklin Bay when! — A. We got to Cape Lieber on the 10th of August on our way up, and there we met a block right across 5 it was one solid block in Robeson Channel. When the break up came we were driven back to Franklin Island, and then we got a gale of wind from the western shore and sailed up the harbor. I think we arrived in Discovery Harbor about the 20th of August, and left it again on the 26th, and returned to Newfoundland without any difficulty. Q. Preceding this, what Arctic experience had you had? — A. Nothing in the Arctic Seas, but I have had years of sealing on the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, and last summer I went up again in the " Proteus." Q. Have you given the subject of this relief expedition thought and consideration, and have you any project for the accomplishment of Lieutenant Greely's relief? — A. Well, I would advise two ships, for the reason that then you can run more risk, with one ship if you have something to fall back upon, in case there should be an accident. I believe it was possible this year for a sledge to go right on to Lady Franklin Bay on the ice. Q. You think Smith Sound was closed all the way up to Robeson Channel 1 — A. Yes; I think so. Q. You think there was no chance of getting a vessel up? — A. Late in the season there might have been. I believe later in the sea- son a vessel could have gone a good way up there. Q. W^hat kind of vessels should these two ships be that you propose to use ? — A. Steam whalers. Q. What time would you expect to reach Littleton Island ? — A. About the latter part of July is time enough. That would give some of the ice a chance to be coming down out of the sound. Q. You would work those two ships all the way up, conjointly? — A. Yes, sir; only be sure and keep one behind the other in safety. Q. Have you made much use of pemmican ? — A. No, sir ; I never used any. Q. Have you ever had scurvy in your ships' crews? — A. No, sir; I have never wintered north. Q. In regard to Arctic clothing, what kind do you recommend ? — A. Seal-skin for outside clothing is the best. Q. Is there any difficulty about its getting wet ? — A. It will get wet, but of course the sun will dry it again. Q. Please describe the garments? — A. A double jumper, with the hair inside and outside, with a hood to pull over the head and with a little cap inside of it. In regard to the feet, seal-skin boots are the best, with soles of seal-skin, coming up to about the knee. Q. Have you worn those in severe weather ? — A. Yes, sir ; we always use them in the seal fishery, but we have ours soled with leather, which is not as good 'for Arctic .travel as seal-skin. Q. Where do you get that clothing, in Saint John's?— A. No, sir; but then there is some brought over from Hudson Bay. 5G PROCEEDINGS. Q. Have you seen reindeer-skin- clothing used? — A. I have seen very little of it. Q. Tu your sealing expeditious, do you have to sleep on the ice at times ? — A. No, sir: very seldom. There may be a few men get away from the ship who will be gone all night, but it is only when they can- not possibly find the ship. Q. Tu the equipment of vessels you would propose to send up there, what kind and number of boats would you use? — A. A whale-boat is the best, perhaps twenty-eight feet long. Q. How many men would it require to pull out one of those boats in a hurry? — A. You could not do it with less than six men, depending, of course, how high the ice is out of the water. Q. How high out of water was the ice, that you saw in Smith Sound last summer ? — A. Some two and some three feet. Q. Could you get out a boat on that with six men ? — A. O, yes, sir. The stem of the boat must be very rounding. We had to haul our boats up some few times, on the route coming south. Q. Have you doue any sledging ? — A. No, sir. Q. So that you know nothing about dogs and sledges, of your own knowledge i — A. No, sir. Q. Have you ever used a steam-launch in any of your sealing expe- ditions ? — A. No, sir. Q. You are aware that sledging expeditions in the autumn are diffi- cult, but you have no doubt there was a good chance of their getting up there last fall by sleds? — A. I think so. Q. Did you expect to take a boat along with the sledges, if you had gone up this fall J ? — A. I would have had nothing to do with the sledg- ing part of it. I think the sledges Lieuteuant Garlington had are very suitable. Q. When you went up in the " Proteus" in 1881, was there an ice- foot all along the land in Smith Sound i — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was the laud covered with snow, or bare? — A. Not much snow at all after we got up north ; not as much snow after we passed Little- ton Island as south of it. There was very little snow on the tops of the mountains. Q. What boats did you leave with Lieutenant Greely at Lady Franklin Bay, or what boats did he have with him when you left him ? — A. He had a steam-launch, a whale-boat, a boat that was left by Sir George Nares, and a dingy; he had three boats beside a launch. Q. Do you think a launch would be of great utility in a retreat ? — A. I do not think it would be of much use. They had no means to get the steam-launch on laud iu winter, and that would be the great trouble. If she was left in the water there is no doubt the ice would tear her all to pieces. Of course he would try to erect temporary ways to get her out, but he had not when I left. Q. Was there much ice in Discovery Harbor when you left ? — A. Yes, sir; it was full ; the winter ice was in there and had hardly come out at all. The new ice was beginning to make pretty thick through there on the 26th of August. (). When you got into Discovery Harbor was there any ice in Kobe- son Channel then? — A. Yes, sir; but when we came out, we had to cross over, to take the water on the east side, and it was all blocked with ice on the west as far as I could see, from Cairn Hill, with the telescope. On the eastern side w r as water, and the western side was PROCEEDINGS. 57 full. The wind was northeast then. My experience is that the water keeps open on the east side more than on the west. Q. You didn't cross over to Thank God Harbor, Polaris Bay, to examine the provisions there? — A. We could have landed there easy enough, but we didn't try to. By Lieutenant-Commander McOalla: Q. Please draw a line of the general track of the " Proteus," up and down, in 1881. (The witness made a dotted line on the map, as requested.) Q. Did you have any conversation with Lieutenant Greely in 1881 with reference to his possible retreat? — A. No, sir. Q. You have stated that you thought a sledge might have gone from the vicinity of Cape Sabine last summer to the vicinity of Lady Franklin Sound; of coarse, you could not judge of the condition of the ice, except for a short distance f — A. No, sir ; but I could see, I dare say, twenty or thirty miles away with a powerful telescope that we had. Of course, you would not be able to see the condition of the ice there. By Captain Greer : Q. What was the daily consumption of coal on the "Proteus"? — A. About twelve or thirteen tons. Q. What would she make in ordinary weather with that consump- tion? — A. About eight or eight and one-half knots. Q. How much coal did she carry? — A. We have had eight hundred tons in her, as a cargo, including bunkers and all ; we had about four hundred tons on that summer. The bunkers would hold one hundred and ten tons. By Captain Davis : Q. Was the consumption of coal on the u Proteus" about the same as on the Dundee whalers? — A. Yes, sir; on some of them. Q. Have you ever seen any of the more recent vessels built in Dun- dee for the whaling trade ? — A. There is one that was built two years ago tor the whaling trade, the "Resolute." She is the newest one; there are two of them, the "Resolute" and the "Thetis." Q. Do they differ in construction from the "Proteus"? — A. No, sir; only their engines are aft, and those on the "Proteus" were amidships. Q. Do you regard that as a better construction for a vessel in the ice ? — A. Well, I approve of it. Q. Are they full-powered vessels or auxiliary power? — A. Auxiliary power, about the same as the ' ' Proteus." They steam about nine knots. By Captain Greer : Q. Bark-rigged or barkentine ? — A. All the Dundee boats are bark- rigged. Q. Are the Saint John's sealers barkentines ? — A. No, sir; only two. The "Proteus" and the "Bear" were barkentines; all the rest are barks. By Captain Davis : Q. What time do these Saint John's vessels engage their crews for the sealing trade ? — A. All the time during the winter, but generally about Christmas time. Q. This list of vessels which you have given General Hazen comprises all those with which you are familiar? — A. Yes, sir; I know those 58 PROCEEDINGS. very well. The " Vanguard" and the " Iceland" are nice vessels, and the "Greenland" is a nice vessel, but hard on her propellers. Q. Those vessels are eight to twelve years old, I see f — A. Yes, sir. Q. There are no sealers in the Saint John's trade that have been built within three or four years ? — A. No, sir. Q. About what is the length and beam of the "Vanguard" and "Iceland" t — A. The " Vanguard " has about thirty feet beam and is perhaps one hundred and seventy feet long. The "Iceland" would not have as much beam. One is a Dundee-built ship and the other was built in Aberdeen. Q. They are very much smaller vessels than the " Proteus "? — A. Yes, sir. Q. What is their consumption of coal ? — A. About ten tons, I think. The " Vanguard n would burn fully as much as the "Proteus," but she has more power; I think she has one hundred and twenty horse power. Q. Are these vessels all in Saint John's now? — A. Three are at Har- bor Grace, Newfoundland. Q. Are they owned there ? — A. Yes, sir. The " Bear " is a fine ship j she had a new steel boiler last year. She is exactly the same size as the "Proteus." Q. Has she a lifting screw? — A. Yes, sir; they all have lifting screws except the " Falcon." Q. What time do these vessels generally start out on their first seal- ing trip ?— A. On the 10th of March. By Captain Greer : Q. Can an abundance of ice tools be obtained at Saint John's? — A. Yes, sir. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla : Q. Do you know what the nominal horse power of the " Thetis " and "Besolute " is? — A. I think about one hundred and ten or one hun- dred and fifteen horse power. By Captain Davis : Q. Do you remember the size of the " Thetis " and " Besolute "1 — A. I think they are about four hundred tons, or perhaps a little more. Q. What was the registered tonnage of the "Proteus"? — A. Four hundred and sixty-seven tons. Q. The " Bear" is just like the " Proteus" except that she has new boilers I — A. Yes, sir; exactly the same, built side by side, the same year. She is one ton larger than the "Proteus " I believe. After a short recess, the taking of testimony was resumed. Mr J. W. Norman, of Saint John's, Newfoundland, having been invited to appear before the Board, was examined as follows : By Captain Davis: Question. Please state what Arctic experience you have had. — Answer. I was mate of the " Proteus " with Captain Pike when we carried Lieutenant Greely up there in 1881, and I was mate of the " Neptune " and ice-master of her when we went up with Mr. Beebe in 1882. Q. What other service in northern waters have you seen? — A. I have been all my lifetime, sealing, with the exception of four years, and have been down at North Labrador in the summer amongst the ice PROCEEDINGS. 59 chiefly, every year; I have never been up around by Davis Strait but twice. Q. Have you ever been in the whaling trade ? — A. Never. Q. Have you been in Smith Sound ? — A. I was through it once, and in it another time as high as 79° 20 / . Q. What are the chances of a vessel being able to get above Cape Sabine in any season 1 — A. I think she is safe to get above Cape Sabine in any season, from what I have seen. The. season of 1881 was a very open one, but the season of 1882 was a close one. Q. But not certain to make a port or harbor for wintering on that side ; not able to go to Cape Hawks ? — A. No, sir ; not to Cape Hawks; it was impossible in 1882, at any rate. Q. What time did you arrive at, and what time did you leave, Smith Sound in 1*882 ?— A. We arrived there on the 28th or 29th of July, and met the ice, and left on the 5th of September. . Q. Could you see open water beyond the ice during any part of the time you were waiting ? — A. Not north, not up towards Cape Hawks, but I think there is always water by the land as you pass Princess Marie Bay. I noticed there was water nearly all the time across that bay, and across in Buchauau Strait where the " Proteus " was crushed, and that water ebbs and flows with the tide. Q. When you were there in the " Neptune' 7 in 1882, do you think that boats could have made their way north? — A. No, sir; not keel boats, unless you could take them in pieces and pack them on sledges. Not whale-boats or ice boats, or anything like that. On the 10th of August — we had no sledges — it was suggested trying a boat, as we were within eleven miles of Cape Hawks, and it was quite practicable for us then to get to Lady Franklin Bay, if a party of men could have gone, not with a boat, but with sledges, and gone up on the ice-foot. From what I noticed of the ice-foot in Smith Sound, it is the easiest way of travelling, and with one of these portable boats, you could pack it on your sledges, and take it across these fissures that the land-slides make. Q. Have you ever seen such boats as you describe, capable of being taken on sledges and packed? — A. I have seen a boat that we have for carrying in the country for fishing purposes. Q. Have you had experience in sledging? — A. Not in the winter; I have in the summer when I have been down on North Labrador with the Esquimaux dogs. Q. In your trip on the " Proteus " to Lady Franklin Bay, did you hug the west shore and the head-lands ? — A. Not until we turned Cape Louis Napoleon. Q. Have you wintered in the Arctic regions ? — A. No, sir; never. Q. Then you have not been obliged to have an outfit such as Arctic explorers require, in the way of clothing? — A. No, sir; but! have been with the people of North Labrador and know their habits in the winter, for I was trading with them for twelve years. Q. What kind of boats do you find best adapted for working in the water among the ice? — A. Our common sealing boats are the ones we are used to. If you get them crushed they are easily repaired. Q. How are they, compared with the ordinary whale-boat ?— A. They are lighter than the whale-boat and rougher. The Dundee whalers that go whaling in the summer put ashore their whale-boats and take these sealing punts in preference, for sealing on the ice. They are more easily hauled up on the ice, and if they arc stove they arc more easily repaired. (>0 PROCEEDINGS. Q. How long are they? — A. About twenty-five feet. ( c ). What crew does it require to manage one i — A. Four men. That crew can pull those boats on the floe easily, and haul them over and put them in the water. Q. And they stand that jumping on the rough ice without material injury ? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Are they made in Saint John's ? — A. They are built in Newfound- land. By Captain Greer : Q. These sealing punts are not good sea boats, are they ? — A. I think they are. I have seen them in pretty rough water. They are not as large as the whale-boats. By Captain Davis : Q. In case of emergency, how many persons, with fifteen days' sup- plies, could those boats transport through Smith Sound for example, taking the chances of the weather? — A. We will say ten men; that would be the outside of it in smooth water. I have known an instance of a ship's crew coming in over two hundred miles on these sealing boats; and frequently when they are one hundred miles away from land they have brought them in safe ; and that in the month of March or April, the stormy season. Q. A boat of that size would probably weigh a thousand pounds ? — A. No, sir; I should say she would not be as heavy as that. Q. Upon what do you base your opinion that a party would have been able to get up to Discovery Harbor in 1882 with sledges ? — A. From the fact that the year previous I had been there and I had taken particular notice of the ice-foot. We landed several times on Cape Leiber, and I tried to find Doctor Hayes' record, supposed to be left there, and two or three times a day I would go ashore to look out and see if there was any opening in the ice, and from Cape Lieber I often used to look at this ice-foot all the way up. When we landed at Cape Hawks it was the same thing. Last year we could see the ice-foot along shore when this water used to come in across the bay. It was different, I noticed, to the floating ice I had seen in 1882; that was very hummocky; but still it was possible with light sledges to go along the shore. I think it would be the hardest job to get ashore, but if we once got ashore, getting to Lady Franklin Bay would be comparatively easy on the ice foot. Q. Do you think the ice-foot would have been continuous ? — A. I think it is continuous except where the laud-slides are, and that would break the way for a half mile, or a mile, sometimes, and we would have to take to the water. Q. You would require a boat ? — A. Yes, sir ; some light, portable boat to cross these fissures or cracks, whether made by the cracking of the ice, or land-slides, or whatever it was. Q. At how many points did you land on the west shore of Smith Sound and Kennedy Channel, going up in 1881 i — A. At Carl Ritter Bay, several times at Cape Lieber, and between that and Cape Baird, which is the south point of Lady Franklin Bay. ( c ). Did you visit the depot of provisions that Sir George Nares left near ( Jape Hawks \ — A. Yes, sir ; and took a boat from it, a keg of rum, and a few other things. Q. Did you examine the remainder of the supplies? — A. Yes, sir; there were some frozen down in the ice, and we cut the ice and hauled PROCEEDINGS. 61 them further up ou a place clear of ice, on a rock, and secured them better. Lieutenant Greely was there; we did it under his orders. Q. Were they apparently in good condition? — A. Yes, sir; the bread was a little old, but everything else was in excellent condition. Q. At what would you estimate the quantity % — A. There were, I think, about nine puncheons, I cannot say positively, but I have a memorandum of what was there and how they were marked ; they were about one hundred and twenty or one hundred and thirty gallon casks. Q. Was the cooperage in fair condition? — A. Yes, sir; the rum was about one-third out, and we left another keg about half full. Q. Is that shelter behind Washington Irving Island a good one in winter ? — A. No, sir ; but in Dobbin Bay I think you could get in there. Q. There is a bold coast all the way up? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Was the whole boclv of Smith Sound open when you went up in 1881? — A. Yes, sir; all open, just loose floes. We got within eight miles of our destination and there it was blocked solid across. Q. Was there any water in sight above Lady Franklin Sound ? — A. No, sir ; we could not get to Water-Course Bay. We got in shore, and we were from the 19th to the 26th of August before we could get out again. There was water all the time over in Hall Basin. The ice would drift down to Cape Morton and back again. You could see up past the month of Newman Bay, and I don't know but what you could see up past the mouth of Saint Patrick Bay. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla : Q. How was that bread packed at Cape Hawks ? — A. In oak casks. It tasted old, but was quite eatable. Any man who was hungry could eat it. By Captain Davis : Q. Did you see any game on the west shore of Smith Sound? — A. Very little. We saw some musk oxen and one flock of ducks, and shot some seals there. When you enter Kennedy Channel you go be3*ond all life, but below that there are plenty of seals and game on the east side. Q. You saw no reindeer around Cape Hawks or Cape Louis Napo- leon ? — A. No, sir; none. At Cape Hawks we saw the print of the teeth of bears on the casks, but they had not opened any of them. Q. How large is that steam-launch that Lieutenant Greely has ? — A. It is about thirty-five feet long, I expect. Q. What sledges did he have? — A. He had four, if not more. We carried up forty-two dogs from Greenland and they had increased some, but when we left he had but eleven. The dogs had epileptic fits and we threw over as many as five in one day before we got there. Q. You have never seen any scurvy in your service ? — A. No sir; only what I have seen at sea. We had one case of scurvy in a year that we went down there, but it was not new on that voyage; the man had had it for years. I have seen scurv3 T in North Labrador amoug the people there. Q. Have you made use of lime-juice in trying to prevent scurvy ?— A. Yes, always at sea. Q. You have confidence in its effectiveness ? — A. I believe it is a preventive against scurvy. Q. Did you see any walrus in Smith Sound ? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Any in Kennedy Channel ? — A. No, sir. The Board then adjourned to meet to-morrow at 11 a. m. 62 proceedings. Boom 88, Navy Department Building, Washington, D. (7., January 4, 1884. The Board met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. Captain (liver stated that lie was informed Surgeon-General Wales, of the Navy, had ma do a special study of questions affecting the health and sanitation of men employed in Arctic service. The President of the Board was directed to request Surgeon -General Wales to embody in a paper, and submit for the information of the Board, the result of his observations on the subject mentioned. A letter from Cyrus Smith, dated December 28, 1883, was submitted by General Hazen and read. (Abs., Mis. Cor., No. 27.) Dr. Emile Bessels, of Washington, D. C, appeared, in response to the invitation of the Board, and was questioned as follows: By Captain Davis: Question. Will you please give the Board a brief sketch of your experience in the Arctic regions! — Answer. My experience in Smith Sound extends over about two years while I was Chief of the Scientific Department on board the U. S. Steamer " Polaris." Q. Previous to that, had you seeu any Arctic service ? — A. Pre- vious to that I spent a whole season between Spitsbergen and Nova Zembla, along the west coast of Spitsbergen, and the ice pack that extends from the coast of east Greenland to the eastward. Q. Did you see something of Arctic navigation in Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait ? — A. Yes, sir; after the " Polaris " was lost I was taken onboard the "Ravenscrag" and transferred to the "Arctic," and we steamed up Lancaster Sound, entered Prince Regent Inlet and weut to the westward of that, entering the various bays, and after sur- veying a part of the coast to the south of Fury Beach and Cresweil Bay, we returned. But at that time there was very little ice in the sound, and we found we might easily have gone a greater distance to the north- ward. The ice to be met with in Lancaster Sound is entirely different from that of the Smith Sound ice, and that again is different from that to the eastward of Greenland, and that between Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla. Q. Prom your experience in the Arctic regions and your study of meteorological conditions, what do you regard as the probable chance of reaching Lady Franklin Bay in a steam vessel ? — A. It is always a risky thing to send a vessel up Smith Sound, because it is narrower than any other sound we know of in the Arctic region of a similar extent. The ice being heavy, the probability is that a vessel will not be able to get through ; but she may. If she does, it is a mere chance. Q. It is understood that you have lately prepared a paper on the subject of the navigation of Smith Sound, and that it has been read before the Naval Institute. Does that paper embody your general ideas upon the subject of the navigation of that water f — A. It does. I have meanwhile read of a plan proposed hy Mr. Tyson to send a vessel up there, and I have proposed something similar and written to an English naval officer who has seen a great deal of Arctic service, Major Fielden, and I have a letter here from him on the subject. He was one of the officers of the Nares expedition. He says in this letter to me : " The escape of a steamer from Payer Harbor, in 1885, is almost a certainty." Payer Harbor is easily accessible, but a vessel might meet with a great deal of difficulty^ in steaming north. In the first place, she would have to watch her chance and follow the lead, and PROCEEDINGS. 63 besides, the sound would have to be navigated during a period of time when westerly winds — which actually open the water — would not blow ; that is, you would not reasonably expect winds to blow. The prevail- ing direction of the wind is northeast, and in some instances, but very seldom, southwest, and during the time the vessel might find a chance to go north, it would either be calm or you might have slight head- winds. The probability of two or three whale-boats creeping along the coast, is far greater than that a vessel might pass; the chances are much better than would be the case with a large ship. While the " Polaris" was drifting down the sound, we saw a great extent of open water following the coast of Grinnell Land. You always find some open water between the ice-foot and the moving pack. Q. Then, if I understand you correctly, you regard the general plan proposed by Captain Tyson a feasible one? — A. Yes, sir; I have the same idea he has, and I wrote it out for the first time a fortnight ago, but was ignorant at the time of his having proposed the same method. Q. He, I think, would object to taking the ship into the sound? — A. He proposed to take the ship to Payer Harbor and send out two whale- boats; unless there is a lot of open water, you might fail. Q. Your idea is not to go up with the ship unless the navigation is easy? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Have you no doubt of the ability of a boat's crew to navigate Smith Sound under the conditions you state, pulling the boats out of the water on the ice, and so making their way north to Discovery Bay and return? — A. I have no doubt about it. It might not be a bad plan to take one of those boats in tow, the oomiaks. They could easily be procured in Greenland, and the Greenlanders carry them overland sometimes to go to the interior of the fiords ; if a letter be written in time to the Governor at Disco, one or two oomiaks might be prepared to be taken on board the vessel that makes her way north. Q. Will you please give us a general description of these boats ? — A. It has a wooden frame, and is about twenty-five or thirty feet long, five feet beam, flat bottom; capacity, three tons; covered with walrus hide, or with the hide of the bearded seal. The only difficulty you might have to encounter in using the oomiaJc is, that after they have been in the water three or four days in succession, the water will penetrate, and they have to be greased, especially the seams ; but as far as portability is concerned, they cannot be surpassed. When Graah made his exploration on the east coast of Greenland it was entirely in oomiaks rowed, by Esquimaux women, with paddles. Q. What is their capacity of flotation ; how many persons could they carry with fifteen days' supplies ? — A. Fifteen persons easily, where a whale-boat can carry but eight. Q. Do they go out in rough weather ? — A. They would not meet any rough weather, because they would keep amongst the ice and there is scarcely any swell, and in case of heavy winds they can easily be pulled out. The vessel about to be dispatched should not be over five hundred tons in size. Q. A vessel after the type of the Saint John's sealers or the whaling ships ? — A. I would get a good sailing vessel with an auxiliary engine ; she should be provisioned for at least two winters. Q. What experience did you have in sledging ? — A. Sledging in Smith Sound under ordinary circumstances is extremely discouraging, inasmuch as the sound scarcely ever freezes over entirely, for the ice is on the move and the current being swift, at least the tidal current, with high winds in winter, the ice is very hummocky, so that you 64 PROCEEDINGS. cannot expect to sledge under favorable circumstances more than fifteen miles a day; I would call fifteen miles a very good average. You might, however, make seventy or eighty miles a day if you got to places that were frozen over smooth, but it never lasts long. Q. Is there practically any ice-foot along Grinnell Land l — A. It is extremely uncertain and unsafe, and you do not find it everywhere, while in some places you find the ice piled up to a height of thirty or thirty- five feet, in others it is entirely missing. You cannot rely on it. Q. In moving north, then, from the position the vessel might gain, would you, or would you not, expect to use sledges in connection with your boats for a movement towards Discovery Harbor ? — A. It would certainly be wise to have sledges on board, that is, have the sledge runners lashed on to the outside of the boat, and have the cross pieces extra. The sledges could be put together in case they are needed, and a marl in spike and spun yarn is sufficient to secure them. Q. Did you do any si edging from the "Polaris" with dogs? — A. Yes, sir. We made several sledge journeys on the ice ; one following the coast to Petermann Fiord, which was explored, and where the only smooth ice which was found on that trip was situated; between Thank God Harbor and Cape Tyson, and on Hall Basin, and along the shore. The ice was broken up along the mouth of Petermann Fiord, and was extremely hummocky to the south of Cape Lucie Marie and Cape Morton ; at the latter place it could scarcely be travelled over. We tried to get to Cape Constitution, but after having rounded Cape Bryan we had to abandon our sledge and go on foot, partly climbing over the cliffs, the same way Morton had done in reaching Cape Constitution from the south . Q. What season of the year was that? — A. April. We finally struck the water. It would not have been possible to have carried a boat, as the pack in the channel was moving up and down with the tide. The ice to the north along Polaris Promontory was so hummocky that it was never possible to double what we call the Third Cape. Q. You presume that the ice conditions on the Grinnell Land side would be the same, ordinarily, and that sledging would be extremely difficult? — A. Yes, sir. There is a strong "set" sometimes into Lady Franklin Bay. We were never able to approach Hall Basin when we went out of Polaris Bay, but from the top of the mountains in the vicinity we could see large ice-fields moving into Lady Franklin Bay without ever coming out, and we supposed from that that it was an open strait, until Archer explored it and found it was a long fiord which can readily harbor extensive ice-fields. In a letter written by Captain Nares to the London Times, he states that in sledging out, passing Cape Baird, Lieutenant Greely would experience great diffi- culty. Q. Do you remember what the pro visions left at Polaris Bay or Thank God Harbor consisted off — A. Of bread, canned meats, lime- juice, molasses, pemmican, and canned or dessicated potatoes. Q. Expressed in rations, about how many should you suppose there were there ? — A. We should have to find out first how much was used by the English. There was a list of provisions left at the observatory at Polaris Bay sent to the British Admiralty, and a letter to the Secretary of State states what the English have taken. It is not given in Nares' report or Beaumont's journal, I think. Q. But you have not the data in regard to the quantity remaining there 'I — A. No, sir; I have not. Q. You think the Admiralty communicated with our State Depart- PROCEEDINGS. 65 merit, and that the information is. in the Department of State? — A. Yes, sir; you will find it there. But I would not rely too much upon those provisions which were left, for they might not be able to take them up in winter. Q. What kind of Arctic clothing were the people ou the " Polaris *' supplied with! — A. They actually did not have anything except what we picked up on our way up the coast of Greenland. They succeeded in obtaining sixty or eighty dog-skins, and picked up a few ready-made garments and two sleeping-bags; that was all we had. Captain Hall had relied on getting plenty of deer-skins, but deer had been very scarce for a number of years and there were none to be obtained. Q. Did you have enough of such clothing to enable you to form an opinion as to the comparative utility and serviceability of seal-skin cloth- ing and reindeer clothing ! — A. I would give the preference to reindeer clothing, by all means, and to reindeer calf, if that can be obtained, because it is lighter and warmer than any other skin you can obtain, and besides it does not get stilt' after it has been wet. Q. About what is the weight of a complete suit of deer skin cloth- ing ! — A. It would not weigh over ten pounds complete, boots and everything. Q. Ordinarily, is deer-skin clothing obtainable in Greenland, with a little previous notice I — A. I would write to the Hudson's Bay Com-'' pany in London, and get all the skins from there, because they have a large ware-house, and you will be certain to obtain them. Or you might write to Montreal, to the Hudson's Bay Compauy\s agent there. That would be the only certain way to get it, because you cannotrely on getting the skins in Greenland. I think they can be obtained and made up here, if necessary. • By General Hazex : Q. What garments do you recommend f — A. A juniper with a hood and short pantaloons, and deer-skin sleeping bag. covered with sail- cloth on the outside, so that the skin part can be removed and pulled out, because if deer-skin gets wet from day to day the hair is apt to come out. and it begins to rot. Then I would advise you to have sleep- ing-bags made in a different manner from those which have been made up to the present time, because they are always difficult to creep into. You should have a slit made coming down to the lower third, with a flap over it that can be buttoned, and then the difficulty of cleaning it from ice will not be great, and besides it is much easier to get into and out of the bag. By Captain Davis : Q. Have you ever seen them made in that manner, or used them ? — A. I made one myself, and found it superior to anything I have seen before or since. Q. It is not difficult to keep the slit closed and to exclude the cold ! — A. Xo. sir. By General Hazen : • Q. How much did you use the one you made?— A great deal; for a whole season. By Captain Davis : Q. Did you have scurvy on the ''Polaris" I — A. We had one slight attack of scurvy, and, strange to say, the steward was the one to be taken down first, That was early in the spring, but it didn't 66 PROCEEDINGS. amount to anything. He was taken to the observatory, where it was dry, and in about ten days he got entirely over it. He did not show any swelling of the lower limbs. After the return of our party from Newman Bay we had three eases, Chester, Myer, and I had an attack of it. Q. To what did yon attribute this outbreak of scurvy? — A. Merely to the dampness of our camp. We were unable to keep it dry, and we stayed there over four weeks. Q. You do not think it was caused in any way by your diet? — A. No, sir. On board the vessel the steward had everything, and still he was the first one to be attacked. Q. How do you explain the breaking out of scurvy in Nares' and other expeditions ? — A. I certainly would not attribute it to the want of lime-juice, because it occurs just as often where lime-juice is used, as where it is not. But if any one should wish to carry lime- juice or any anti-scorbutic on a sledge journey, it would be decidedly best to take citric acid which is crystallized, portable, and which can be used to make lemonade as well, and a pound of citric acid will go a long way. Q. How frequent were your issues of fresh meat on the "Polaris " I — A. They were quite irregular. We only killed one musk ox when •we reached Polaris Bay, which was towards the middle of October, and we had only a few seals, not over five, during the whole winter. But early in the Spring we secured twenty-one additional musk oxen and then we had fresh meat almost every other day until the bird season began and then we had it more frequently. By General Hazen : Q. When does the bird season begin? — A. Not before the middle of June. You will find probably some eider ducks, and some brent geese and a few other aquatic birds. By Captain Davis : Q. Did the scurvy make its appearance during the interval when you were without fresh meat, or when you had a supply? — A. It was when we had a good supply of fresh meat. We attributed it to the dampness of our camp. Q. I notice that Sir George Nares makes frequent mention of the use of gunpowder to make way for his vessel. Do you think an explo- sive of some kind would be of utility in shattering ice barriers? — A. It would not be of great utility for navigation particularly, because if the Sound is blocked all the gunpowder in existence would not clear it. By General Hazen : Q. Would it be of use in easing the ship? — A. It might be very use- ful in making a dock for the vessel or in blasting ice fields of smaller extent. I would give preference to gun-cotton or dynamite. By Captain Davis : Q. Smith Sound between Port Foulke and Cape Sabine may be said to be open and closed, alternately, during all the winter? — A. Yes, sir ; when Hayes wintered at Port Foulke he had open water during the greater part of the time, and the temperature was so high that it rained, T think, about Christmas eve. There is a very swift tidal current run- ning along the coast there. When Inglefield followed the coast he talked about a permanent current, and set it down at a velocity of five knots an hour, PROCEEDINGS. 67 Q. Supposing Lieutenant Greely to come south next spring, say in July, or even in April, with sledges; what do you regard as his chance of getting across Smith Sound, without boats? — A. His chance would be slim. He might make it across, but if he carries boats on his sledges it will impede his progress to a great extent, and if he does not carry any and finds the Sound open he will not be able to cross. Q. Would he find it easier crossing Smith Sound, or what is com monly called Kane Basin higher up, and making Eensselaer or one of those harbors ? — A. No: it would be much more difficult, because it is wider. When Hayes was first sent out by Kane to cross and make the coast of Grinnell Land his orders were to hold to the westward. He made the attempt and failed and returned, and then, contrary to his orders, he made a northwardly line and reached the coast. Lieutenant Greely might do likewise. He would have to be guided entirely by circumstances. Q. Do you know if there is game around Hayes Sound ? — A. The Esquimaux informed us that Hayes Sound opened to the westward, and that musk oxen were there, that is, around Princess Alexandra Harbor, but I have never visited the spot. By Lieutenant- Commander McOalla : Q. At what points did you land on the east side of Grinnell Land between Cape Sabine and Cape Baird ? — A. Only at one point near Cape Frazer, between five and six in the morning. I was not on shore myself. Q. Then you do not know, from your personal observation, the con- dition of the laud at the water's edge, or the ice-foot on the east side of Grinnell Land between those points? — A. I have seen the ice- foot in crossing the Sound and it was extremely rough. Q. At what distance did you see it ? — A. At a distance of about six miles, from an elevation of about sixty feet, so that I got a; good view of it. Q. In reference to a projected boat expedition up the east coast of Grinnell Land, which I understood you to say 3011 favored, would you expect the party to advance over the ice-foot, or on shore? — A. I would not propose taking to the ice-foot in boats unless I was compelled to, or if I could not find a piece of ice of sufficient size to secure the boats. Q. Then, in your calculations, you would not expect to laud or go on the ice-foot in your boats? — A. I would not land unless I was com- pelled to go to one of the depots of provisions. Q. But you would expect to advance entirely by water or over float- ing ice? — Yes, sir; entirely. Q. How did you obtain water for drinking on the " Polaris"? — A. The water was obtained by melting berg ice. Q. You did not use a distiller at all? — A. No, sir; there is no neces- sity for it. The best way is to have a barrel in your galley, fill it with ice, and pour boiling water on it whenever you can get it. By Captain Davis : Q. Did you find any trace of saline matter in water thus obtained? — A. No, sir; not in berg ice. At the time the boat party would probably go north they would find plenty of water running from the bergs and old hummocks; you would not meet with many bergs. The "Polaris" did not meet a single iceberg north of Polaris Bay. Q. At what date ought a vessel to reach Payer Harbor?— A. She 68 PROCEEDINGS. should not attempt to cross the bay before the mean date of opening, which is the middle of June ; she would run unnecessary risks and would not find Smith Sound open at an earlier date. I think Melville Bay (►pens about the middle of June. However, it would depend entirely on her transit how long it would take her to get to the bay. Q. She should be there by the 1st of July, then? — A. O, yes, sir. Captain Nares, in a private letter, says he thinks it would be better not to attempt to go north before the latter part of August or the beginning of September, and I think Major Feilden states something similar. His letter is at your service if you desire it. (Exhibit E.) Q. There ought to be no considerable difficulty in Lieutenant Greely getting across to Polaris Bay and availing himself of filestores and any game he might fiud there I — A. We made several attempts to cross from Polaris to Lady Franklin Bay. In the first place we wanted to find the cairn which Hayes claims to have left, and we wanted to follow that coast and sledge along it. But the ice was always moving, and the lanes of water between the hummocks were so small and nar- row that they were not navigable, and they were too wide to be crossed by sledges. It was entirely impracticable to cross; and something similar may have happened to Lieutenant Greely. On our return jour- ney south we made an attempt to cross it somewhere near Hans Island and we failed. We made several attempts besides that. Q. Beaumont, early in the season, seems to have gotten across with- out much difficulty ? — A. Yes, he got across ; but returning in August, with a boat, he found it very difficult. Q. Would Lieutenant Greely be likely to make effective use of the steam-launch ? — A. Yes, if he would take a boat in tow with coal. I do not see how else he could make use of her. He could not carry coal enough otherwise. It would offer advantages and drawbacks too. By General Hazen : Q. If he should have open water why could he not tow the other boats ? — A. But if the ice closes suddenly you might find yourself in difficulty before you are fairly aware of it. Sir George Nares men- tioned in his first report to the Admiralty that he found a number of skin-boats on Littleton Island and that he carried one of them to Cape Sabine. Probably those skin-boats are really oomiaJcs, and if Lieuten- ant Greely knows about their having been deposited there it might be of great use to him. Lieut. J. C. Colwell, U. S. Navy, appeared, in response to the invitation of the Board, and was examined as follows : B} Captain Davis : Question. Lieutenant Garlington submitted to the Board a paper which gives an outline of a plan, which he mentions as having been made in conjunction with yourself, for an Arctic expedition. I pre- sume that embodies your views in regard to the general plan for a relief expedition ? — Answer. Yes, sir. Q. And in case your relief vessel should be unable to make her way to Discovery Harbor, you propose to make use of boats and sledges in the attempt to reach that point? — A. Yes, sir; to use boats at once when we get to the edge of the ice on the 1st of July; to start one light boat at once, and a week or two later, if the ice shows no signs of making out, to take the vessel into the Sound and start two boats. PROCEEDINGS. G9 Q. You mean boats of a construction which would be easy to launch and pull out of water? — A. Boats that their crews could haul upon the ice in the case of its closing in. Q. Taking the ordinary New Bedford whale-boat, what is the least number of men, from your experience, that could pull her out of water and get her on an ice-floe floating eight inches high ? — A. The New Bedford whale-boat is too heavy. Boats ought to be built lighter, but, after the style of the New Bedford whale-boats, palling five oars, and they should be built to be hauled out with their load by a crew of six men. Q. 1 think yon left some provisions at Cape Sabine. At what alti- tude above high water were those provisions placed, as you remem- ber ? — A. About ten or fifteen feet, and behind a corner of rocks which would protect them from the ice banking up. Q. You feel that they are perfectly secure from any danger from ice I — A. Yes, the only trouble would be from water running down the side of the cliff aud getting under them, or a snow-slide might cover them up. When we left there was no snow nor any water coming into this hollow where 1 placed them. Q. Were ihey in a position where they might be destroyed by a slide of snow from above, or pushed out on the ice ? — A. The cliff was almost perpendicular where I placed them, in a little crevice, and the chances are that a slide of snow would not come down in that crevice, but would go over it or pass around to one side. They are about thirty feet distant from the edge of the water. Q. What is the rise and fall of the tide there ? — A. About eight feet. When I refer to high-water mark I, of course, refer to high tide. Q. Did you land on the west side or on any other point on G-rinnell Land ? — A. Only at Cape Sabine and Payer Harbor. Q. Did Payer Harbor appear to be well protected, in which a vessel could lie with safet}' ? — A. She could lie there, but there would be a great deal of ice fouling her. It is a clear channel and ice is contin- ually driven in there, but nothing to hurt her. Q. How strong a current is there through this channel ? — A. About two knots on the ebb tide and probably about half a knot on the flood. Q. Did you find Arctic clothing necessary on your retreat? — A. No, sir. Q. You made several landings on the Greenland coast coming down to Cape York, I believe! — A. Yes, sir. Q. And saw evidences of game in considerable abundance at various points, especially up by Port Foulke? — A. About Pandora Harbor con- siderable game was seen, many birds, and some reindeer and hare ; and about Cape Athol were seen some musk oxen. Some of the men fol- lowed a herd back of Cape Athol. But we saw reindeer horns at sev- eral points where we landed. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla : Q. You covered those provisions west of Cape Sabine with rocks and stones? — A. With two tent flies, and weighted the whole thing down with stones. By Captain Davis : Q. Have you anything in addition to say in connection with the project for the relief of Lieutenant Greely except what is contained in this paper; anything bearing on the question which you think impor- tant? — A. 1 do not remember exactly what is in the paper, so that 1 70 PROCEEDINGS. may repeat what is stated there; bat I think it necessary that the expedition should go up as soon as possible. If Lieutenant ( J 1 eel y is going to need relief, he is going- to need it next spring. If he conies down in the spring from his place up the Sound to Littleton Island he will find no supplies there, and he will need them as soon as a vessel can get there. I think a vessel should go up as soon as possible and communicate with Littleton Island from Oape York ; if a vessel is not up at Cape York soon you will find a Scotch whaler getting to Littleton Island first and bringing the men down. They know now that these people are there, and it is only a day's run out of their track when they are bound for the whaling regions: it would pay them to make that day's run to see if those people are there, and if so to bring them back, as a business speculation. Q. You say the relief ships should communicate with them from Cape York as early as possible; do you mean by land l — A. By land or ice. At that season of the year, I think by sledges. Q. If you can get with a vessel to Cape York are you not reasonably sure to get higher? — A- The whalers-are sometimes blocked in off Cape York three or four days in the ice, and during those times the natives communicate with them off shore. Q. How many days' travel by sledges is Cape York from Littleton Island l — A. Five days. Q. AYhat date should you say that your vessel ought to be struggling to get to Cape York l — A. She should be at Upernavik before the 30th of May. The whalers usually pass Upernavik before that time. They are usually at Disco in May. They leave Dundee the last of April. Q. What is the earliest date that you have heard of a whaler, or any vessel, getting to Cape York ? — A. I cannot remember the earliest. The best account of a whaling voyage I have read was written by Captain Markham; he got off and above Cape York on the 9th of June, and does not speak of it as an unusual passage. Before the use of steam as a motive power sailing vessels averaged it by the first week in July. If those whalers do not make it by the first of July they give it up and try the "middle water". I have heard since I have been here this morning, some discussion about Arctic clothing, and I may offer a few suggestions on that point. The principal work of this expedition will be during the summer. During the past summer we saw no weather colder than the ordinary winter weather we have in the Middle States. The best clothing to be worn would be a good quality of woolen throughout, and a suit of Cape Ann oil-skins over the whole, for rainy or snowy weather. For the feet, I would recommend the best quality of water-proof leather boots, those known as loggers' or lumbermen's boots, are the best of that sort. They are water-proof, not particularly heavy, and are easy on the feet. Q. Your programme takes into account the possibility of being detained there during the winter? — A. For that reason there should be a supply of the very heaviest winter clothing. But in conversation with the captain of the " Sofia," which carried Professor Nordenskj old's expedition, (a man who had spent nearly all his life in the Arctic regions) he showed me his clothing, which was only woolen clothing, and over it he wore a suit of white duck, the jumper having a hood attached to it, and over that, in the coldest weather, he wore a woolen cap, such as is worn by the Russian troops in northern Siberia, with long strings of the same material as the raps, which, PROCEEDINGS. 71 wrapped around the neck, made a muffler; lie told me that in the coldest weather he wore a silk handkerchief tied around his face over the nostrils and mouth. Q. Was he with Nordenskjold in his trip north of Siberia in the "Vega"? — A. He was not on that trip. He commanded the vessel that went around the coast of Asia to relieve Nordenskjold, and was wrecked. He spent two winters on the north coast of Asia, was wrecked once, and made a journey of 1,500 miles during mid-winter in Siberia. Q. Do you remember his name? — A. I have forgotten, but he told me he never used the skin clothing, and found this rig answered the purpose in every way. Q. What did he wear on his feet? — A. I do not remember. He did not wear moccasins, and he said those would never do for that sort of work. Q. You, or some of your party, wore seal-skin on your retreat? — A. Some of the men did, but it was only because they had not a sufficient supply of good clothing; suits of Cape Ann oil-skin would have been better for them. Seal-skin wets easily, and when dry and stiff breaks, and lasts but a very short time. Q. And when saturated it is very spongy? — A. Yes, sir; and very uncomfortable. Q. Did your vessel coal at Kudlisit Mines? — A. No, sir; but the "Yantic" did. Mr. George Kennan, of Washington, D. C, appeared, in response to the invitation of the Board, and was examined as follows : By Captain Davis : Question. Will you please give a brief statement of your experience in northern regions ? — Answer. My entire experience in the north is comprised in a three years' stay in northeastern Siberia. Q. You have made many sledge journeys and other trips of that characters — A. I travelled in the aggregate, I think, about 4,000 miles on sledges in northeastern Siberia, counting only the journeys that were made as explorations. I afterwards came home across Sibe- ria to Saint Petersburg, but that journey was mostly made with horses, and on roads. The 4,000 miles of which I speak were made through an untravelled and comparatively unknown country. Q. Were any of your journeys across hummocky ice, or ice-floes? — A. Very rarely, only at intervals along the coast where we crossed arms of the sea or where we were compelled, in order to avoid moun- tains, to go out on the sea. Q. Do the natives of that region have occasion to make long jour- neys along the coast on the ice-foot or on ice-floes? — A. No, sir. They cross arms of the sea as I did, and are compelled sometimes to go out on the ice, but they never make any long journeys over open sea-ice. Q. Describe briefly the outfit of a dog team as you used it there, the most efficient kind. — A. A dog team in Siberia consists of from seven to thirteen dogs harnessed two abreast, with a leader. The lead dog is especially trained to obey the voice. They are driven without a whip, and are harnessed in couples to a long trace running down between the two lines of dogs, with the leader ahead. The advantage of this system of harnessing is that it enables the driver to keep the team under control better than where every dog has a separate trace — particularly in going 72 PROCEEDINGS. over hummocky ice or through timber. It' dogs are harnessed iii the Esquimaux fashion half of them are apt to run on one side of a tree, ice-cake, or other obstacle, and half on tin 4 other, thus bringing the sledge to a stop. If, however, they are harnessed in the Siberian man- ner they are unable to separate or jump over one anothers traces, and as they all follow the lead dog the driver can guide them through a dense forest as well as if he controlled them by means of reins. Q. How about sleds .' — A. I do not know that I could describe Sibe- rian sledges to you without a model. Perhaps the most noticeable thing about them is the width of the runner. The Siberian sledge runner is much wider than that generally used by Arctic expeditions; I should say from four to six inches. Q. Rigid, solid timber, or bending :' — A. It is bending. It is not a solid pi auk set up on edge; it is a skeleton runner, consisting of a broad shoe made of a strip of birch bent up at the end and con- nected with the body or platform of the sledge by uprights. The sledge is lashed together, has no metallic fastenings, there is not a joint in it that will not give, and it is almost indestructible. I have seen sledges loaded with three hundred or four hundred pounds fall a considerable distance down a very steep slope and overturn on the ice without breaking. In the spring the natives shoe their sledge runners with whalebone, and in the winter, when the weather is very cold, every native carries about his neck a bottle filled with water, with which he ices the sledge runners at intervals of an hour or two. That adds very greatly to the smoothness of the runner and makes it slip more easily over the snow. Another feature of the Siberian sledge, which seems to me valuable, and which has never been adopted by Arctic expedi- tions, is the bow or arch which spans the sledge transversely amid- ships. It is made of a bent piece of wood, perhaps two and a half inches in diameter, with its ends lashed to the sides of the sledge a little forward of the middle. This arch, which stands upright, is used as a handle by which the sledge is managed. The Esquimaux sledge has what they call an "upstander " at the back end, but I do not think it is as convenient as this Siberian bow which enables the man to pull his sledge one side or the other, or lift it in any direction. Q. The width and the length of the sledge is about what l — A. It is about twelve feet in length and in width two to two and a half feet. Q. Capable of carrying a load of how many pounds : ; — A. The larger of these sledges would carry a load of eight hundred pounds. I think it would even be possible to put a thousand pounds on the largest sledges made there. But that would not be practicable or prudent if the journey was over a rough, broken country. Q. What kind of clothing did you use during your winter experience? — A. The Siberian fur dress, which I think is the best in the world, is made entirely of reindeer-skin. The feet and legs are covered with reindeer-skin stockings, coming to the knee or thigh, as the case may be (depending upon whether they are worn with panta- loons or not), and boots made of the skin from the fore-leg of the rein- deer. The stockings are worn, as a rule, with the hairy side in, and the bottom of the boot is tilled with dried straw or grass to absorb, to some extent, the moisture of the foot. If the boots are short, pantaloons are generally worn; if long, they are not — that is, not heavy ones. The most important part of the costume is a sort of jumper which is put on over the head, and is made long enough to fall to about the calf of the leg. It is very large and loose and is girded about the waist with a PROCEEDINGS. 73 sash. The object of making it so loose is, so that when it is tied about the waist with a sash, it will lie in folds over the body so as to increase the thickness. In addition to that, it seems to be the intention to con- fine within this jumper a quantity of air, which becomes warmed by the body and remains there, acting as an additional protection. Of course, without the sash that object could not be attained. A jumper worn loose, it seems to me, is not nearly so warm as one belted about the waist, for the reason that the warm air from the body rises under the loose garment and escapes at the throat, and the cold air and wind blowup under it. If you tie it tightly about the waist with a sash that circulation of air is broken, and two or three gallons of warm air are retained all the time about the body. The natives carry bottles of water tied around their necks for the purpose of icing their sledge run- ners, as I have stated, and these water bottles rarely freeze, even in very cold weather. The head is covered with a hood of fox or wolf- skin, made to come well forward over the face. I think the hoods used in Arctic expeditions have been defective, in that they leave the face too much exposed. With the Siberian hood yon can turn sidewise to the wind and have your face at least partially protected. One hood is fringed about the face with a heavy border made of the skin of the wolverine, bear, or some shaggy fur of that sort, so that in a gale with drifting snow the sides can be brought together over the face, and the wearer can breathe through the interstices of the fur which affords protection and keeps out at the same time the flying snow. Another valuable feature of the Siberian dress is the boa worn about the neck for the protection of the nose and cheeks. I have tried everything that has been used for the protection of the cheek and nose, including silk handkerchiefs and squirrel-skin masks, but, with the exception of this boa, I never found anything that afforded protection to the face for more than half or three-quarters of an hour. Whatever I used would then become a solid mass of ice from the moisture of the breath. The Siberian natives use a boa made of squirrels' tails, which they wind about the neck (they are perhaps ten feet in length) until the coils come up over the nose, then they breathe through the loose hair, and as fast as one portion becomes frosty they turn it around. In that way a boa will last a man all day and furnish him constantly with a warm and dry safeguard against frost bites. Q. What is the weight of a suit of that clothing ? — A. It varies according to the purpose for which the clothing is desired. I carried two suits, one to travel in and one for sleeping. The ordinary travel- ling suit weighs, I should say, fifteen pounds. The suit for sleeping would be double that. Q. Is that clothing obtainable anywhere out of Siberia f — A. I think not. It could be made anywhere, but it is not obtainable ready- made anywhere out of Siberia, so far as I know. In such a dress as I have described I have slept out of doors, on the snow, without shelter, in temperatures as low as thirty-five degrees below zero, in perfect comfort; and when I say perfect comfort, I mean to be taken literally. I had a sleeping-bag in addition, of course. Our sleeping-bags were about seven feet long and three feet wide, and were made of wolf-skin. Q. What kind of a rig would that be for men to w T ork in who had to pull boats or sledges ? — A. Very bad. This dress is intended for men who ride on sledges. It seems to me that a great mistake has been made by many Arctic expeditions in dressing their men too warmly when they were compelled to drag sledges, or do heavy work. One 74 PROCEEDINGS. of the greatest dangers to be guarded against by a sledging party is becoming over-heated, ;m PROCEEDINGS. gales that swept over those Siberian steppes. The tent which I sug- gest should be made conical in shape, with a frame-work of poles lashed together at the top, very much as the ribs of an umbrella are fastened, each pole to be shod with a spike, and a loose thong of seal- skin to run a foot or so from the ground, fastened permanently to the pole, would govern the distance to which the frame-work could be spread when open. The frame-work could be shut up like an umbrella in a single round package the length of the poles. I would set up this framework and then secure it by means of anchors made of a piece of wood, perhaps two and a half or three feet in length, and twelve inches wide, with spikes running through and projecting two and a half inches on the under side, with a ring on the side to fasten a line to. 1 would fasten this anchor on the snow, run a loaded sledge on, then carry a 1 ine to the frame ; there would be two such anchors. Having secured the frame-work, the whole operation could be performed in two minutes. I would hang the tent up inside of the frame-work, instead of attempt- ing to pull it over. I would have the tent made like a conical oil- can, with the bottom sewed continuously to the sides all around, with a small ventilating hole in the top, and would have this rigging fixed on the tent, so that a man could take it oft' the sledge in his arms in any gale of wind, hang it to the top of this frame-work of poles, and then hang or secure it with loop and toggle fastenings to the poles all around. I cannot imagine any wind which would prevent that being done, unless it was a wind so severe as to tear the canvas to pieces. Q. Have you ever seen such a tent? — A. Never; it has never been used. I would warm and light the tent with a " Florence " kerosene stove. A kerosene stove can only be used there under shelter. It has a chimney and requires a draft, and the wind would put it out. But in a tent that had a bottom, so that no wind could get into it, a " Flor- ence " oil-stove could be used, and I believe it would do all the cook- ing and dry the fur stockings of the men, which is of the first import- ance. The food I have always used on sledge journeys is dried fish, hard bread and tea. I have known men to do extremely hard work for more than a month at a time on a sledge journey with nothing else. The Siberians live without vegetable food practically; they live largely on dried fish, and I never heard of a case of scurvy in eastern Siberia. I never saw a man broken out with any disorder resulting from food. 1 have lived on dried fish and hard bread for weeks at a time, and I should take that food on a sledging journey if it was obtainable. Q. How much would such a ration weigh ? — A. I should say two and one-half pounds. I would not use pemmican if I could get anything else, for it does not seem to agree with men who are hard worked. The men oftheXares expedition had a great prejudice against it, founded on something, and I presume in the Nares report there are twenty refer- ences to disorders of the stomach and bowels attributed to pemmican. Q. Do the Siberians who live on that food perform much manual labor ? — A. If they are going over a rough, broken country they do a great deal of labor, for their sledges are heavy and require hauling and pulling, this way and that, although they do not do any labor as severe as drawing heavy sledges over hununocky ice and loading and unload- ing twenty times a day. By General Hazen : Q. What distance could you make daily in Siberian travel? — A. Prom five to eighty miles, depending on the condition of the snow. In PROCEEDINGS. 77 the spring I went across on the snow almost constantly, making eighty miles daily. When the snow is soft and deep, yon may not be able to make a mile in live days. By Captain Davis : Q. Do you think the average American seaman would be inclined to accept the food you have described when employed on sledging jour- neys of from thirty to sixty days? — A. Judging from my own tastes, I should say yes. There is nothing about the dried fish in any way distasteful. It is a food that I ate with perfect relish and all the men of our party, native and American, ate it with relish. Q. You made no attempt to cook it ? — A. We would sometimes throw a split dried fish on the fire and leave it until the fat broiled out, and I eat it in that way. It is generally salmon, and seems to contain everything that the human system needs under severe labor and when exposed to severe cold. We did not confine ourselves at all times to this; we took fresh meat whenever we could get it. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla : i Q. Did you use stimulants? — A. Not at all, and I should advise against their use, except as medicine in certain cases. After some time spent in discussion upon the subject of clothing, the Kecorder was directed to prepare and send letters to the President of the Hudson's Bay Company at London, England, and its General Agent at Montreal, Canada, requesting information of that Company as to its ability to furnish reindeer-skins suitable for making such clothing as is worn by their employes and the Esquimaux in the north- ern portions of British America. The Board then adjourned to meet tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock. Room 88, Navy Department Building, Washington, D. C, January 5, 1884. The Board met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. Captain Greer presented and read a memorandum of a plan to relieve Lieutenant Greelv, prepared bv Commander Frank Wildes, U. S. Navy. (Exhibit F.) Mr. J. W. Norman, of Saint John's, Newfoundland, being present at the session of the Board, stated that, in addition to his previous sug- gestions, he would recommend that notice should be given to the owners and masters of vessels engaged in the sealing trade to preserve and make note of any articles that might be found on their voyages which would indicate the location of any exploring parties in the Arctic regions. Also, that if the goverment desires to secure the services of any of the men employed in sealing expeditions, it should be done before the 5th of March, as most of the men secure their berths for the summer by that time. Capt. Richard Pike, of Saint John's, Newfoundland, being present, was further interrogated as follows : By Captain Davis : Question. Supposing Lieutenant Greely started from Lady Franklin Bay about September 1st of last year, either with boats or sledges, or 78 PROCEEDINGS. both, what do you think arc his chances of getting to Littleton Island* — Answt'i'. 1 think he would get down. (,). About what time should you suppose he would reach there? — A. I think by the loth or 20th of September. Q. What was the condition of the ice above Lady Franklin Bay when you landed him there? — A. Very heavy. Q. Do you think you could have gone any higher with your vessel? — A. We could not when we landed, but when we came out we could have gone further up on the east side. Lieut. J. C. Colwell, U. S. Navy, recalled : By Captain Davis : Question. Do you wish to make any additional statement ? — Answer. In the plan submitted by Lieutenant Garlingtou, a naval vessel was rec- ommended as a convoy, a ship properly strengthened. That was only indicated as a make-shift and to lessen expense; but to do it properly, there should be two regularly fitted whaling steamers sent. Q. Suppose those vessels fail to get above Gape Sabine, or to a harbor above Cape Sabine, would you winter them there ? — A. One I would push into the ice and take the chances of having her lost: the other I should not try to get above Cape Sabine. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla: Q. In the plan submitted by you and Lieutenant Garlingtou, you recommend, in substance, that the expedition shall be commanded by an officer from the Arm 3 -, and the vessel by an officer from the Navy? — A. I was going to refer to that yesterday. I said that, generally, I approved of the plan submitted by Lieutenant Garlingtou ; but as to the officer in command of the expedition, I think there should be one officer in command, and that he should be a naval officer. For sledging work on shore, I think soldiers would be better fitted than sailors. The class of men we had with Lieutenant Garlingtou this last year. enlisted men of the Army, were better fitted for the work we did than seamen would be, although it was confined almost entirely to boating. Q. Then the recommendation that the expedition should be com- manded by an Army officer and the vessel by a Naval officer, does not represent your views I — A. No, sir. Q. Did you do any sledging last summer? — A. Not much. When the ship was lost we rigged up the sledges and I caught six dogs and we hauled several loads across the floes to the boats, of stores saved out of the ship. Q. How long did that take you 'I — A. Five or six hours probably. Q. And that is what you refer to when you say you think soldiers would be better adapted to sledging on land than seamen l — A. From what I saw of these men, they stood the hardships we suffered better than would the same number of seamen taken from a man-of-war. Q. You had no man-of-war's-men with you to enable you to make the comparison l — A. There was one of them along but he was also a soldier, and had served only one enlistment in the Navy. Q. Do you think the enlisted men of the Army that you saw would be better in boats than seamen? — A. Yes, sir; better for the work we did. Q. In boats I — A. Yes, sir. They stood the work better and did bet- ter in every way than any seamen I have seen. I could not of course say how men of-wars-men would do. PROCEEDINGS. 7!> By General Hazen : Q. Then von think in the general work, including the probability of sledging, and the general rough work which such an expedition is almost certain to have on land, that enlisted men of the Army are better for that work than men of the Navy! — A. I think a combined force on board of a ship, of sailors and soldiers, would be best. I think the corps feeling generated between these men would be the means of getting better work out of them than if they were all of one branch of the service. Q. How did those sledges answer the purpose ! — A. They seemed to do very well. I had to work in a hurry, and had to overload them ; but what little work I did they answered the purpose well. By Lieutenant-Commander McCalla : Q. Do you know of any Arctic expedition in which officers or men of the Army were taken for sledging ? — A. In the Austrian expedition, which did about the best work of any of the northern expeditions ; it was a joint one of Army and Navy men under Lieutenants Payer and Weyprecht; the expedition was commanded by them jointly. Q. Were the men who did the sledging on the Payer sledging trip enlisted men of the Austrian Army, or mountaineers?— A. I don't know whether they were enlisted men of the Army at that time, but they had been in the Austrian Army previously. They had served under the command of one of those officers. By Captain Davis : Q. Do you know to what branch of the service Lieutenant Schwatka belongs ? — A. To the Army. Dr. E:\iile Bessels, of Washington, D. C, recalled. By General Hazen : Question. At what date should a vessel leave Littleton Island in order to secure a safe transit south ? — Answer. About the middle of October. General Hazen was instructed to inform the Secretaries of War and the Navy, respectively, that the Board would be gratified to receive an expression of opinion concerning the proposed relief expedition from Captains Sir Geo. S. Nares, H. F. Stephenson, and A. B. Markham, all of the British Navy. (The responses of these officers will be found in Exhibit V. — Becordek.) A discussion then ensued as to the necessity of the immediate detail of a commander for the proposed expedition. After an interchange of opinions, it was unanimously agreed that he should be chosen from the Navy, and that the assignment should be made as soon as pos- sible. In accordance therewith, the President of the Board was instructed to forward to the Secretaries of War and the Navy, respectively, letters of which the following is a cop}^ : Room, Board of Officers Considering Relief Expedition to Lieutenant Greely and Party At Lady Franklin Bat, Washington, D. C, January 5, 1884. Sir: As preliminary to its general report the Board desires to state, that' in its opin- ion the selection of an officer to command the proposed relief expedition to Lady Franklin Bay'should be made without delay, in order that he may be enabled to make 80 PROCEEDINGS. timely preparations for the work before him. The Board is unanimously of the opinion thai the commander of the expedition should be a Naval officer. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. B. HAZEN, Brig< & Br I. Maj. Gen I. Chief Signal Officer, C S. Anin/, /'resident of the Board. The Board Mien adjourned to meet on Monday, January 7, 1884, at 11 a. m. Boom SS, Navy Department Building, Washington, I). C. January 7, 1884. The Board met pursuant to adjournment ; all the members present. A communication from F. B. J. Bust, dated New York, January 5, 1884, was received and read. (Abst. Mis. Cor., No. 28.) The Recorder was directed in acknowledging the same, to invite Mr. Rust to submit a memorandum embodying such suggestions as he might be pleased to make, touching the organization of the proposed expedition. Lieut. J. 0. Colwell, XJ. S. Navy, appeared before the Board and made the following additional statement: I think I can make my statement already given to the Board some- what clearer, by adding a brief explanation. I did not mean to recom- mend the use of soldiers for boating in preference to seamen, but what I do recommend, is a detail of enlisted men from the Army to accom- pany the expedition, every party sent away from the ships to be com- posed of men of both branches of the service. The reason I recommend soldiers is, that on general principles, I consider them better adapted for land work than seamen. There are many things a soldier can do that a seaman knows nothing of, and many things a seaman can do that a soldier can not do. This opinion I have formed from what I saw of Lieutenant Garlington's party, whom I considered particularly well -fitted for the work which had to be done in that region. The work we did was nearly all boating, the sledging amounting to nothing; but even at boating, though foreign to their usual occupation, they proved themselves better men, more enduring, and adapted themselves more readily to the various circumstances as they arose than would the average man-of-war's-man. They were under better discipline, aud were more trustworthy than the average man-of-war's man .The boat's crew I had T would not have exchanged for the best boat's crew on board the " Yantic." I had so much confidence in these men I had with me, that I intended to take the same boat's crew back north for the rest of the party — in case I failed to meet the " Yantic, "or the "Yantic "refused to return north — without the addition of one man; and the men all expressed their willingness and desire to go with me. It should be remembered, however, that Lieutenant Garlington's men were picked men, and in the remarks I have made I have compared the average man-of-war's man to the men of Lieutenant Garlington's party. They were picked men, and Americans. There would be no difficulty in obtaining plenty of volunteers from the Navy, as 1 saw from the tem- per of the u Yantic's" crew; but the right kind of men might not offer themselves. In Saint John's, when we returned there last fall, it was rumored that the United States Government was to purchase a ship at once and send her north, and that I was to go in command of her. A boatswaiu's-mate of the u Yantic " came to me with a list of seventeen • ! PROCEEDINGS. 81 men whom he said wished to go with me, and he said there were many more on board that ship who would like to go back north if they were assured about their pay after their terms of enlistment expired; but those men were not the class of men I would select; they were mostly foreigners. If I had the command of a vessel fitting for Arctic service, I would wish to have the selection of my own crew, and, as a rule, I would not select men-of-war 7 s-men. I think a crew specially selected, and a detail of enlisted men from the Army to steady them, would, with their combined knowledge and the discipline of the soldiers, form a force that could not be improved upon for Arctic work. In answer to a question the other day as to whether any soldier had ever been used on Arctic work, I did not state that it had been done ; but some years ago Captain Black, in his expedition in British North America, had with him four artillerymen, of whose services he speaks in the highest way. They were Royal Artillerymen, taken from the fortifications about Montreal. He speaks of their steadiness, and of the confidence which the presence of those men gave as serving to steady the rest of the men, among whom an insubordinate temper had com- menced to show itself. Their endurance and knowledge of the work in hand he also speaks highly of. By Lieuteuant-Oommander MoCalla: Q. Did your men suffer any from sea-sickness in the boat? — A. Yes, during heavy weather. Crossing Melville Bay I was for twenty hours in a gale of wind in a whale-boat, with a very heavy sea running, and three of my men were very sea-sick. That was the only time. By Captain Davis : Q. Would you expect to find rough seas and conditions that would make sea-sickness probable in Smith Sound and Kennedy Channel in the narrow water-leads ? — A. I would not expect to find any heavy sea there. The Recorder then read a memorandum, prepared at the request of the Board, from Lieut. N. R. Usher, U. S. Navy, forwarded through the Navy Department, containing a project for the relief of Lieutenant Greely and party. (Exhibit G.) The President of the Board w r as directed to request the Secretary of War to have the daily record of the Board printed. The room was then cleared, and an informal discussion took place in regard to the detail of two officers from the Signal Service and a small corps of enlisted men from the United States Army, and in regard to a preliminary report as to the advisability of offering a national reward for the discovery and rescue of Lieutenant Greely and his party. The Board then adjourned to meet to-morrow, the 8th instant, at 11 a. in. Room 88, Navy Department Building, Washington, D. C, January 8, 1884. The Board met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. A letter from Dr. Irving C. Rosse, acknowledging receipt of a com- munication from the Board, dated the 5th instant, was read. (Abs, Mis. Cor., No. 29,) 6 82 PROCEEDINGS. A communication from Sergeant Christian Madsen, Troop A, 5th U. S. Cavalry, was received and read. (Abs. Mis. Oct., No. 30.) A price-list from William Macnaughtan's Sons, of New York, N. Y., dealers in furs and skins, was then submitted, and the Recorder was directed to make inquiry of said firm as to their ability to furnish tanned reindeer skins sufficient for making one hundred suits of ordinary Arctic clothing. Lieut. ROBERT M. Berry, U. S. Navy, in response to an invitation, appeared before the Board, and was interrogated as follows: By Captain Davis: Question. Please state with what expeditions north of the Arctic Circle yon have served. — Answer. I was on the "Tigress'' when sent for the relief of the "Polaris" party in 1873. and I commanded the " Rodgers" when sent for the relief of the " Jeannette." Q. Yon have, no doubt, formed some opinion about the best method of proceeding with the organization and conduct of an expedition to relieve Lieutenant Greely. If yon have, will you please give us the benefit of your judgment in regard to this matter ? — A. I believe the best method of relieving him would be to get the most suitable ship possible, and she would require quite a number of alterations to fit her for this special service, such as the alteration of quarters, special arrangements for heating and for obviating dampness, in order to preserve the health of the crew. I also think that any vessel which could be found would require additional and very material strength- ening. I think a ship of about four hundred tons would be the best size. In regard to the rudder and propeller, there would also have to be some alteration to put them in proper shape, so that they could be readily unshipped or the propeller well protected, one or the other, and the pipes connected with the machinery should be protected in such a way as to prevent their freezing. In addition to this, the vessel ought to be thoroughly fitted with boats, the best of which I think would be of the New Bedford whale-boat pattern, that being the most serviceable open boat that I know of, and there should also be a full outfit of sleds. With regard to provisions and clothing, I do not think any better can be provided than those furnished the u Jeannette " Relief Expe- dition, with the exception that, if possible, I should supply more reindeer clothing in the place of sheepskin ; the number of trading articles for that expedition would be in excess of requirements, because there would be but limited opportunity for trading with the natives of Greenland: but some articles would be supplied. I think the ship ought to be under some thorough military organiza- tion, and I would advise no division of authority in any way. It seems to me also, that the commander should be some one who has had expe- rience in the north, and I think the best men who could be found for the service would be those who could be selected from the Navy, men of good character, active, and between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five. I do not know that I should make that an absolute require- ment, but men of about that age should have the preference. I believe a second ship for the expedition woidd be of great service. It would not necessarily need the same amount of strengthening and fitting that the first or principal ship would, because it would not be required to remain in that region during the winter. But she could take an additional supply of clothing, fuel, and such other articles as might be needed ; and she could also be used in establishing depots of PROCEEDINGS. 8,3 supplies, so that in case the first vessel — which is intended to push on as far as her commander might think practicable — should be crushed or disabled in any way, her crew would have means of retreat. These depots thus established, should consist of supplies for expeditions pro- ceeding northward for Lieutenant Greely's relief, iu case the main part of the expedition — as I should call the first ship — failed to reach him. In regard to the time of starting, I would vary it somewhat with the season. Some seasons there are more open than others. But the ship should reach Cape York as early as possible after the ice opens, because in case Lieutenant Greely retreats in the spring and should reach as far south as that he would probably need pro- visions, and it might also prevent his taking the hazardous trip in open boats across Melville Bay. The best time, however, for reaching the highest point possible would be very much later, and I presume that the latter part of August or the first of September would be the best time to make the attempt to get north with the ship. After the ship had gone into winter quarters,. as she would have to do some time in September, (of which her commanding officer would be the best judge) then fit out the boat expeditions and in the autumn proceed as far north as you can, placing depots of stores along in the intervals, leaving them well protected from the bears, wolves or other animals that might prey upon them, and also marking them as prominently as possible with flags and cairns. These stores, of course, might be of great assistance to Lieutenant Greely in case he should reach them. Directly after going into winter quarters it might be of advantage to attempt an expedition with boats. They might, if they did nothing else, much more readily carry a large quantity of provisions and stores for depots than could be done with sleds. Of course, the spring is the best time for sledging north, and if there was nothing heard from Lieutenant Greely or his party in the fall, that would be the most favorable time for making an effort with sleds. With regard to sleds, I should have them provided both for hauling by men and by dogs. If you can get a road which is at all smooth you can travel much more rapidly with dogs than you cau with men. On the other hand, if the ice should be particularly rough, then you would get along better with men. But both should be there for use. The best style of dog-sleds I believe to be such as the Ohukches use,* they make them from drift-wood, from birch principally, and they are held together entirely by lashings. They might also serve for hauling by men, but it would be well to have other sledges similar to the McClintock pattern. I should recommend in addition to the boats that go with the ship, some species of balsa, to be determined upon after experiment. They would be very useful at any time in carrying large quantities of pro- visions, and would not be so liable to swamp or capsize as the boats, because they could be made water-tight and covered over. I believe also in having some natives along, as they are far more expert dog drivers and hunters in those regions than white people, and have always been very efficient in taking game. They know the habits of game and will catch it when white men cannot. Q. Where do you think the best vessel for this purpose could be obtained i — A. I have not considered that matter. The " Rodgers " was a vessel well adapted to Arctic work. She was built in Maine, and was of the modern style of whaling vessel. Her steam power was hardly sufficient, however. Her speed, under the most favorable cir- cumstances, was about six and one-half knots, and in a head wind 84 PROCEEDINGS. reduced very rapidly, because of her heavy spars, I do not know of any vessel in the east adapted to the purpose. In regard to the balsa, the most I have seen appear to me to be too heavy. I think a lighter balsa could be made by using- in its construc- tion some other materia! than wood; light steel, or even tin might be used inside. I would have an open space in them which might be closed water-tight — a place to store provisions. I think the shell of the balsa less likely to be cut by thin ice than a boat. Q. For the transportation of fifteen persons with fifteen day's sup- plies, what would be the weight of such a balsa ? — A. I could not say. Q. How does the clothing used in Greenland by the natives compare with that used in Siberia, as to warmth and suitability for a cold cli- mate? — A. That which I saw in Siberia made by the Ohukches was far superior, although the clothing we obtained at Saint Michaels was nearly on a par with that which you obtain in Greenland. They seem to select better skins in Siberia, fall skins, and they are tanned and made very pliable and durable. Skins taken later may be heavier, but are not as durable ; the hair breaks. They use the fall skins for the parte, as they call it, and the trousers ; and for boots and gloves they use the leg-skins of the reindeer. The soles of the boots are made of large seal-skin, ookjook, or else young walrus skin; they use other boots, especially in sleeping, the legs made iu the same way, and the soles of bear-skin, with the hair left underneath. They give great warmth made in that way. The socks are made of fawn -skin. Q. Of what garments did the Siberian suit consist ? — A. Of a cap, sometimes, and generally a hood, which comes over the head, project- ing somewhat, with straps passing around the shoulders, also a round- about, or jacket, fitting closely around the neck and coming down to the middle of the thigh, with a belt around the waist. They are very large and loose so that the wearer can draw his arm inside and warm his hands. The trousers come to the middle of the waist and are drawn tight by cords there and at the ankles. They generally wear the shoes inside the trousers with the trousers tied around outside over the top of them, which excludes the snow com- pletely. In some cases they let the trousers come down and the boots come up below the knee and are tied around the calf of the leg. But in either case the outer covering must be made snug and close; other- wise the fine snow works its way in. I think the trousers coming out- side and tied around the top the better plan. Q. Then the suit consisted of a pair of socks, boots, trousers, coat, and cap or hood ? — A. Yes, sir; and then the undercoat, with the hair worn next the skin, drawers the same, and an outer coat with the hair outside. The outer coat is something like a jumper. Q. If meu are obliged to pull sledges, would they find that cloth- ing adapted to the work? — A. More so than any other I know of, because nothing gives the same amount of warmth for its weight. The reindeer-skin has the advantage of having straight hair, and the natives carry with them a light bone stick made of a piece of horn flattened out, which they call a "beater," and, whenever the fur gets full of snow, they take the stick and hammer the snow off each other, or frequently pull off the outer coat and hammer it with the stick themselves, and the snow falls out. That is not the case with sheep- skin, as we found the weight of our sleeping-bags increased rapidly because we could not beat the snow out. They also wear under the chin a deer-skin tin]* which projects and falls over, and around the head there PROCEEDINGS. 85 is a light fur fringe of either dog or fox-skin, which adds materially to the warmth of the face and protects it to a certain extent by retaining for a time the warm breath as it passes from the month. I know of no way in which yon can protect the nose and cheeks except by having something of that kind projecting in that way. If yon place anything over your nose and cheeks and breathe through it, the ice and frost form upon it and eventually the covering becomes a mass of ice through- out. Their gloves are also made of reindeer-skin, which I prefer to the buffalo gloves furnished the u Jeannette " expedition : they are more pliable and soft and collect less ice on the inside. Q. Are they gloves or mitts? — A. They are mitts; finger-gloves would be impracticable. These mitts are made with a slit at the wrist inside, enabling the wearer to withdraw his hand, leaving the mitt still attached to the wrist, the hand bare and free. Q. In the organization of such a corps, would you give preference to Americans? — A. To Americans, or any of the north country people living in our country, would be well suited for the purpose. Q. I believe you had no experience with sleds on the Greenland coast ! — A. No, sir. Q. Did the " Kodgers " develop any defects of a character that could be guarded against iu the fitting of vessels for similar service? — A. I think not, except with regard to her heating apparatus which might be improved, and her quarters. But her outfit of food, provis- ions, &c, seemed to me well adapted to the wants of the party. Q. For a vessel of four hundred tons, what number of persons do you think should compose the crew — officers and men I — A. Not to exceed thirty -five. Q. Had you any scurvy aboard the "Rodgers"? — A. Not while I was with her. After I left, in the crew while quartered at Saint Lawrence Bay, I believe there were some slight touches of scurvy, while they were living in villages. Q. During your experience, have you had to travel over any very rough and hummocky ice? — Yes, in some places where we were forced from the beach by abrupt cliffs, for short distances. Q. In rough , hummock}' ice, dogs are not effective ? — A. I think not. But I think from what I have read in Kane's account, and in other books of Arctic travel, the ice-foot could be travelled upon in Smith Sound, and in that region. Q. But I understand that you would not expect to make any very effective use of sleds in the autumn, moving up from Smith Sound? — A. I should say, in a case of that kind, do all you can, but I should not expect them to gain a very great distance. The autumn is the season of gales and snow, the days are growing shorter, and other circumstances are against travelling; the drift is also very much greater. Sometimes in the autumn we would find the drifting snow so great for several days that we were unable to move at all; we could not see our way. In the spring there is much better weather, and the winds are not as severe. Q. Do you think a steam-launch would be of very much use in addi- tion to the equipment of your vessel ? — A. I do not. By Captain Greer : Q. Would you advise the employment of an ice-master? — A. I would if the commanding officer is unacquainted with the ice; other- wise I would not, and I think, as a rule, he would not be of material ser- vice any way. S 20th, or possibly earlier. Make a careful examination of the east coast, islands and bays, to Refuge Harbor, of the west coast from Cape Isabella northward to Sabine, it" possible. Should the pack prevent an early entrance to Smith Sound up to Sabine r say by August 15th, land the sledging party from No. 2 at Life-Boat Cove or Port Foulkev. immediately put up the shelters and prepare for winter, and at once, with lightly- equipped dog-teams, send out expeditions searching for traces of Lieutenant Greely to* Rensselaer Bay. No. 2 to lie at Littleton Island or Port Foulke, and No. 1 to watch for any available opportunity to get north, not desisting from the attempt until the season has so far- advanced as to make further efforts injudicious. If by September loth No. 1 succeeds in getting to Dobbin Bay, and is unable to pro- ceed further, put her into winter quarters, say, behind Washington Irving Island or ins Franklin Pierce Bay. If detained by ice near Cape Prescott, land boat and sledging party and push forward, making use, if possible, of steam-launch. Should Smith Sound be found more open in the east than the west, let the vessel go> up into Kennedy Channel, and so communicate with Lieutenant Greely. Reaching Lady Franklin Bay by either route, the detachment, with their records,, instruments, &c, to be taken on board and the retreat begun. Arriving at Littleton Island, pick up the detachment left there and return to the? United States. Should No. 1 be compelled to winter, let every effort be made during the autumn by boats and during the spring by sledges to communicate with Greely and afford all relief possible. As soon as the sledging detachment is comfortably quartered at Life-Boat Cove, let systematic boatiug and sledging operations begin, depots advanced towards the* the north and west, and the best efforts made to succor the men at Discovery Harbor., who, when reached — which should not be later than September 5th — will retreat to- wards the south, and if No. 1 be still above Sabine, Greely's detachment should be placed! on board. If No. 1 has not been able to reach Greely nor to get to Cape Prescott, let her, at the latest date consistent with safety, land at Alexandra Haven her Army detach- ment, materials for shelter, 50 tons of coal, provisions for 35 men for 18 months, boats,, sleds, and dogs, and with her consort return to the United States. If No. 1 should have been crushed and sunk, then her crew should return to the- tender if possible, and if not lost, go into winter quarters at the most available port, communicating with the detachment at Life-Boat Cove. The tender to return home in any event, leaving Littleton Island by about Sep- tember 15th, or as the condition of the ice may determine. Each vessel should be supplied with all necessary boats of the most approved pat- tern, adapted for transportation over the ice, and, if obtainable, each should have a steam-launch, with enginery adapted to the burning of petroleum, the screw pro- tected as best may be. If launches depending upoa the fuel named cannot be provided, then take those- adapted to the burning of coal. If the ships should return to the United States in the autumn without affording relief, leave the launches with the detachments. So long as the vessels remain north, the conduct of the expedition to devolve upon the commander. If sledging detachments are left as contemplated, the command to devolve on the senior Army officer present, who should be junior to Lieutenant Greely. These are my general ideas upon the relief of Lieutenant Greely, subject to such, modifications as may hereafter be found necessary. If Lieutenant Greely be not rescued next summer, it will, of course, be necessarjr to send up a vessel in 1885. EXHIBIT C. Fort Brad v, Mich., December 16, 1883":. General William B. Hazen, Washington, I). C. Dear General: In view of the contemplated expedition for the relief of Lieuten- ant Greely and party next spring, I write to ask yon if you do not think it would be a good idea and a wise precaution for the Government to engage three or four Indians. and about live dog-teams and toboggans, at this or some other northern point, to take along with the expedition, so as not to have to rely altogether on the Esquimaux. 114 APPENDIX. for such transportation, for it may happen with this expedition as it has happened with others, that they will not be able to obtain either dogs or drivers from the Es- quimaux. Dog-teams are used considerably in this country in the winter, for carry- ing mails, etc., through the woods. They usually drive three dogs, tandem, to a toboggan, which is capable of carrying all the way from two hundred and fifty (250) to four or five hundred 1(500) pounds, owing to the roughness of the country over which they have to travel. With two hundred and fifty (250) pounds they can go almost anywhere, and I think they would be better adapted for Arctic travel in the spring and summer than the runner sleds which they use in the Arctic regions, for they can go over soft snow very easily, and without cutting through, and I believe they can go over and around places that a runner sled could not. I also believe that snow- shoes, as are worn here, would be a good thing for a sled party to have along, as they could then walk over ravines, etc., which are filled with soft snow, without the pness. If possible, a house within a house, with the thick roof referred to, he is sure would attain the object desired. Sir John Ross caused apertures to be made in the upper deck above the galley, oven, and after passages, and over these iron tanks were inverted, into which the vapor passed, became con- densed, and was removed in the shape of frozen masses amounting to as much as a bushel a day. To effect the same purpose, dry chloride of lime may be used; five pounds of this exposed on the deck will produce a very sensible effect on the humid- ity of a closed apartment in three hours. It has been suggested placing metallic plates in the hatchways to act as condensers. Another important mean in prevent- ing the deposition freezing, as well as to maintain the heat, is to line the sides of the living-deck with a non-conducting imperishable cloth; in the Nares expedition the fabric known as "fearnaught" was employed. In order to increase the air space of the living-deck, it has been proposed to build about the hatchways, including a space around them, snow walls with a roofing. The area thus inclosed being cut off from the outer air, free communication could be kept up with the lower deck by removing the hatch covering. On the " Jeannette" the men's quarters consisted of the forecastle and the deck-house. The forecastle was not roomy, but it contained twenty berths, arranged on each side and amidships. On either side of the old galley-room, which was situated immediately abaft the forecastle, there were two small rooms, each of which berthed two petty officers. The two Chi- nese lived in a portion of the cook-house, which was fitted with two berths. The deck-house was put up early in the fall, and it afforded a good place in which the men could work and smoke. A hatchway was located just abaft the forecastle, and adjacent to the petty offi- cers' rooms, and made them so cold that they acted as condensing apartments for the moist, warm air of the forecastle, thus rendering them very uncomfortable for their occupants, who had frequently to dry off the wet beams and bulkheads. These quar- ters were heated by one large cylindrical stove, the furnace of which was filled in with tiles so that the body of the fire was very small. Twenty-five pounds of coal per day were allowed. There was another such stove in the deck-house that was used for drying out when the forecastle became very damp. The ventilation of the forecastle was effected by two doors in the after bulkhead and by a small circular skylight at the forward end. The skylight was fitted with a double tube about 3| inches in diameter, perforated and arranged so that it could be opened or shut. Each day at 11 a. m. the forecastle doors were thrown open, the skylight removed, and the cover in the deck-house roof immediately above the skylight was taken off to give free egress to the heated air. The place remained open and empty until 1 p. m., when the crew returned from ex- ercise. When the thermometer was below minus 30° F., this mode of ventilation was only partially carried out. During the rest of the day the constant opening and shutting of the doors, the draught of the stove, aud the small tube aiforded sufficient ventilation. At 10 p. m. each day the surgeon visited the forecastle to record thermometers (wet and dry bulbs), and he always looked out for ventilation. In very cold or in windy weather the small anger holes in the doors would be found plugged by the men. The surgeon frequently tested the air of the forecastle. The amount of carbon dioxide was about the same as that found in the quarters of men-of-war. The forecastle was lighted by a box lamp at the forward end and by candles and small hand-lamps on the tables. Olive oil was used. APPENDIX. 127 The officers' quarters consisted of a cabin and ward-room. The former was a poop- deck cabin, which contained on the starboard side, counting from forward, first, the captain's room; second, the chart and work room, in which the chronometers, books, instruments, &c, were kept; and third, a water-closet and bath-room (the latter not useful after the ship entered the ice). On the port side was situated, first, the ex- ecutive officer's room; second, the dispensary ; third, the work-place of the naturalist and taxidermist; also a place for the meteorologist; fourth, the dark room for pho- tographic work. Abaft of all was the tiller-room, which formed a very important condensing chamber. The midship portion of the cabin, which was about nine feet wide and thirty feet long, extending from the forward bulkhead to the propeller well, was used as a mess and living apartment by all the officers. The cabin was heated by one large cylindrical stove, like the one in the forecastle, had furnace bricked up .similarly, and the same allowance of coal (twenty-five pounds) was used. There were five small ports (six inches in diameter) on each side, three of which could be opened and shut, and two were covered with fixed glass plates. A small skylight abaft the mizzen-mast was fitted with a tube similar to the one already described. The cabin was lighted by an ordinary Walton lamp and by caudles. The ward-room was situated directly below the cabin. It was small, and contained four ''small rooms and two berths, arranged as follows, counting from forward : Starboard side — navigator's room, with small store-room attached; naturalist's berth, surgeon's room. Port side — meteorologist's room, ice pilot's berth, chief engineer's room. For- ward of the ward-room a large store-room was situated. The hatchway, a venti- lating scuttle abaft the mizzen-mast, and a series of auger holes bored through the deck above each room and berth, afforded the means of ventilation. There was a large stove in the ward-room country, which was used every Saturday evening for melting snow and warming up the place so that the officers could bathe with more comfort. It made everything so damp by thawing the frost and snow that had col- lected during the previous week that its use was discontinued. The following means were employed for ventilation: From 11 a. m. to 1 p. m. each day the cabin was open for ventilation, except when the temperature was below minus 30° F., when the rule was slightly modified. On one occasion a pocket anemometer was used, and it was found that the out-going warm current had a velocity of 122 feet per minute, and that the cross-section was about one-third of the doorway space. The incoming heavy cold current had a velocity of 78 feet, and a cross section equal to about two-thirds of the doorway space. An interchange of warm and cold currents also took place in the skylight tube. On several occasions experiments were made with thermometers, and it was found that while the upper spaces of the cabin were at 50° F., the thermometer near the deck was at the freezing point. When the temperature showed 60° on the bulkhead, about five feet above the deck, the lower portion of the cabin atmosphere was very cold, and every one suffered with cold feet. There was very little vertical circulation be- low an imaginary plane passing through the bed of the fire, and it is suggested that in heating Arctic ships that the apparatus be placed as low as possible so that the rising columns of warm air will heat the spaces just above the floor. It would seem that steam pipes arranged near the floor as in the Pullman cars would be the best mode of heating. The tiller-room was an important adjunct to the cabin, for it was a very efficient condenser. The cook-house should be apart from the quarters, as the amount of steam would make the latter very uncomfortable by liquifying on cold surfaces. The light- ing should be with the best quality of oil in the market, such as Pratt's astral oil or mineral sperm oil. As these oils are derived from petroleum, and are explosive, some people might prefer a vegetable oil, such as rape seed, which gives a very brilliant light with a French moderator. Stearine candles were found very useful. The elec- tric light cannot at present be employed unless there should happen to be a coal mine near by. Cleanliness both of the ship and crew must be maintained as an important auxil- iary to health. The deck should be cleansed with hot w r ater and quickly dried by rubbing ; and great advantage will accrue from shellacking or painting the decks thor- oughly, which will prevent the absorption of moisture by the wood and at the same time render the cleansing more speedy and effectual. An apartment should be specially set apart for the ablutions of the crew, and this is best located on the lower deck, where hot water may be attainable. Bathing should be in; de compulsory at least once in two weeks. Professor Newcomb stated to me that " the officers of the 'Jean- necte' bathed more frequently than he did. They also seemed to suffer, or at least to complain more of the cold. He bathed his feet, often took a dry rub, and kept clean underclothes. With the exception of being poisoned by eating canned tomatoes he was not sick a day, ate and slept well, and not only weighed more than ever before, but averaged it up to the loss of the ship." The clothing of the crew should be washed at stated intervals, once in ten days or two weeks, in the room appropriated for the purpose, and under no circumstances should this work be allowed on the living deck, 128 APPENDIX. to supply additional moisture. The bedding may be aired once a month. The men should bo provided with a comfortable water-closet, which can be reached from the main deck when this is housed over, as is always done in winter quarters. It may be constructed of light materials, projecting from the side of the ship; and to exclude draughts and cold the snow may be built quite up to the platform, forming a sort of well. When cleansing becomes necessary the frozen mass of fecal deposits may be removed with the snow, and a new snow wall raised as hefore. In this connection it may he mentioned that during .sledging operations the warm snow hut or tent occu- pied the night previous for sleeping quarters will serve in the morning for latrine purposes before resuming the march. This convenience will be fully appreciated with a temperature, perhaps, of 50° or 70° below zero. Regulated exercise is indispensable for the maintenance of health under all cir- cumstances. Professor Newcomb says " it is a most important measure, and that hot tea to remove the cold lump often felt in the stomach after exercising is an excelleut remedy." The intense cold and other incidents of Arctic residence, especially during the long, dark winter, dispose to inaction, and hence the necessity of inciting the crew to take a sufficient amount of body exercise to ward off disease. The ordinary routine of ship life will usually supply ample range for this purpose in the manifold labors demanded of nariuers. In winter quarters, when ship-hoard work slackens,' the men should be encouraged to employ their time in hunting or amusing them- selves in pastimes that demand muscular energy. The cooks and servants particularly, who are not usually called upon for active labor, should be looked after and compelled to take open-air exercise. It may be stated, in general terms, that at least live or six hours daily should be occupied in this way, to maintain robust health under the con- ditions of Arctic life. This sort of training, so necessary to health, may be turned to practical advantage by making short journeys and establishing outlying depots of provisions and stores before the sledging season sets in, when the greatest drafts will be made upon the physical energies. While moderate and regular exercise in labor or amusement, as indicated, conduces to health, and powerfully aids the system in warding off scurvy, it must be borne in mind that excess iu this particular is equally capable of prostrating the vital powers and inviting scurvy, hence the need of great prudence and judgment not to overtax the men in long journeys, but, to give them spells of rest to recruit their strength and energy; nor is it advisable in starting from a ship to press those unaccustomed to hard work in the early days of traveling, as continuous moderate labor is less wear- ing than sudden and severe strains. For a healthy man a journey of nine or ten hours is not too much ; equivalent to about 350 foot-tons. By the adoption of this plan long distances have been accomplished by persons worn out by depressing in- fluences of cold and disease. Whenever the exigencies of service demand extraordi- nary and long-sustained exertions, as frequently occur in Arctic experiences, as in breaking through the hummocks and in making roads, extra rations of tea or cocoa should be issued. Great judgment should be exercised iu graduating the weights of the sledge loads to the strength of the men and the nature of the ice to be traveled over. Under favorable circumstances 200 pounds on the short, and 240 pounds on the long sledges are proper, but no very great distance can be accomplished when the weight exceeds 220 pounds. Upon smooth roads the dogs can be depended on for material help in dragging, each animal being weighted to 100 pounds, or about one-half of a good average pull for a man. For rapid progress, as in exploration, or in the event of the necessity for quick communication between distant points, snow shoes of the Canadian pattern will fur- nish the least fatiguing means ; for sledge dragging they are useless. As regular clothing, stout woolen underwear is recommended as possessing more advantages than garments made of other fabrics, although persons of experience in Arctic service have used with satisfaction materials of chamois and silk. For coat and trowsers, a fine textured, thick and elastic material should be employed, and, when occasion demands, these should be supplemented by the warm and durable garments of fur, such as used by the Esquimaux. Ross says that in the way of clothing every expedient should be adopted for resist- ing the impressions of the extreme temperature; nothing will, however, compensate for the want of the heat-generating energy, and external heat is but too often an imperfect expedient. " It is of little use to clothe him who will not in himself pro- duce heat; it is like the attempt to warm a piece of ice by means of a blanket. The mistake is too common that the expedient which cau only preserve heat is capable of producing it." In sledging parties, the head can best be protected by a close-fitting woolen cap, shielding the ears, and over this the usual seal-skiu covering. The feet should be enveloped by w r oolen stockings reaching above the knee, covered with flannel or blanket wrappers, and over these boots, or preferably skin moccasins of the Esqui- maux, fitted with leggings. For the hands, woolen mittens with seal-skin outer covering will serve all the purposes of convenience and comfort. Much satisfaction will be derived from the use of a wide flaunel roller encircling the belly. The Esqui- APPENDIX. 129 mau wears next his body a shirt made of bird-skins, neatly sewed together with the soft down inwards; over this a loose jumper of fox skin, which is tight around the neck when the hood is attached to it. The juniper is lined with bird-skins and trimmed with fox fur. The breeches are made of bear-skin, reaching down to the knees and upwards so far as just to be in contact with the juniper when the person stands erect. In stooping the body is exposed between the two garments. Bird-skin socks are worn with a padding of grass, and over the whole bear-skin boots. Professor Newcomb, in regard to clothing, remarks in a private letter, "Your suggestions about clothing are good. I did not try chamois or silk, but found woolen underclothes to answer well ; in fact, where working facilities are so poor I think undergarments made partly from cotton will answer better, shrink less, and are more durable. Cotton and woolen stockings are much more serviceable than all wool, and are warm. I have arrived at this conclusion after trying all kinds. Exterior fur clothing I consider indispensable. Reindeer is warmest. Ss-ej/l" '»' a,/,/. Bat. ns/Japer, blue hot. Measures, tin, pint no. Measures, tin, J-pint no. Measures, glass, 8-ounce no. Measures, glass, 4-ounce no. Measures, glass, 2-ounce no. 1 1 1 1 1 12 1 I 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 6 2 1 12 3 1 12 1 12 2 2 2 8 15 i 2 4 1 2 1 12 i 4 15 2 4 1 1 2 2 2 6 2 1 Disi'ensary Furniture— Continued. Measures, glass, 1-ounce no. Measures, glass, 1-drachm no. Mortar and pestle, glass no. Mortar and pestle, wedgewood no. Percolator no . Pill-boxes, paper doz Pill-boxes, wood doz . Pill-tile no. Psyehrometer no . Scales, apothecary's no. Scale-case no. Scissors pairs . Sheepskins no. Spatulas, 6-inch no . Spatulas. 5-inch no. Spatulas, 4-inch no. Spatulas. 3-inch no. Spirit lamp no. Test-case no . Test-tubes no Tubing, glass lb. Twine" " lb. Yials. assorted doz . Weights, apothecary's set. Hospital Furniture. Basin and pitcher, metal no Basin, tin, dressing no. Bed-pan no. Brush, dust no. Bucket, tin no. Bucket, wood no. Candlesticks no. Close-stool, small no. Feeding-cups . no. Knives and forks no. Ladle no. Lamp, hanging bulkhead no. Lantern, hand no . Mugs no. Pans no . Sauce-pans no . Shovels, dust no . Spit-cups no. Spoons, table no. Spoons, tea no . Tea-pot no. Tumblers no Frinals, glass no . Wine-glasses no. Bedding. Pillow cases, gum no . Sheets, gum no. Towels no . Books. Dispensatory no. Park's Hygiene no. Formulary no Stationery. Blank book, foolscap, 4-quire no. Blank book, foolscap, 2-quire no. Blank book, small quarto no . Envelopes, official no. Envelopes, small no. Erasure, knife no India rubber pieces. Ink, black hot. Ink, red hot. Inkstands no. Lead-pencils no. APPENDIX. Medical outfit of TJ. S. S. "Rodgers" $c. — Continued. 171 Articles. Stationery— C ontinued. Medical journals no. Mucilage bot. Paper, blotting qrs Paper, envelope qrs . Paper, filtering qrs . Paper, foolscap qrs. Paper, official qrs. Paper, letter qrs. Paper, ruled, note qrs . Quantity. 2 2 1 2 1 10 5 10 5 Articles. Quantity. Stationery— Continued. Paper, -wrapping, blue qrs . Paper, wrapping, white qrs Penholders no. Penknives no . Fens, steel box Portfolios no. Quills no Rulers no. 2 12 1 1 1 24 1 War Department, Surgeon-General's Office, Washington, D. C, February!, 1884. Captain Geo. W. Davis, lAth TJ. S. Infantry, Washington, D. C. Sir: I am instructed by the Surgeon-General to transmit to you, as requested in your letter of the 2d instant, a copy of the invoice of hospital supplies issued to Acting Assistant Surgeon Geo. S. Oldmixon, in July, 1881, for the use of the detachment com- manded by Lieutenant P. H. Ray, 8th U. S. Infantry, stationed in 1881-'2 and '3 at Point Barrow, Alaska ; also a copy of the invoice of hospital supplies issued to Lieu- tenant A. W. Greely, 5th U. S. Cavalry, in May, 1881, for the use of the detachment commanded by him, and known as the "Lady Franklin Bay Expedition." I have to inform you also that the medical officer (Dr. Oldmixon) who accompanied the expedition to Point Barrow has not made to this office any report on the health and sanitary condition of the men composing the detachment. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. L. HUNTINGTON, Surgeon, TJ. S. Army, Two inclosure8. [Enclosure 1 . | Invoice of medicines, hospital stores, bedding, fyc, contained in 17 packages, issued to AcVg Asst. Surg. Geo. S. Oldmixon, TJ. S. Army, for Point Barrow, Alaska, expedition, by Capt.H. Johnson, Medical Storekeeper, TJ. S. A., at San Francisco, Cal., July 9, 1881. Articles. I.— Regular List. Medicines. Acid, carbolic, for disinfection, in 1-lb. bottles, 95 per cent lb. Acid, carbolic, pure, crystallized, in 4- oz. g. s. bottles oz. Acid, citric, in 6-oz. bottles oz. Acid, muriatic, in 8-oz. g. s. bottles.. oz. Acid, nitric, in 4-oz. g. s. bottles oz. Acid, sulphuric, in 4-oz. g. s. bottles. oz. Acid, tannic, in 1-oz. bottles oz. Alcohol, in 32-oz. bottles bott. Ammonia, carbonate of, in 8o-z. bot- tles . oz . Ammonia, solution of, in 8-oz. g. s. bot- tles oz. Arsenite of potassa, solution of (Fow- ler's solution), in 4-oz. bot oz. Bismuth, subnitrate of, in 2-oz bot- tles oz. Borax, powdered, in 8-oz. bottles ...oz. Camphor, in 8-oz. bottles oz . Castor oil, in 32-oz. bottles bott . Quantity. 8 96 8 8 8 3 24 16 16 4 8 24 4 Articles. Medicines — Continued. Cerate, blistering, in 8-oz. tins oz Cerate, resin, in l-lb. tins lb Chloral, hydrate of, in 1-oz. g. s. bot- tles . . oz Chloroform, purified, in 8-oz. g. s. bot- tles oz Colchicum seed, fluid extract of, in 4- oz. bottles Colocynth, compound extract of, pow- dered, in 8-oz. bottles oz Copper, sulphate of, in 2-oz. bottles. oz Croton oil, in 1-oz. g. s. bottles oz Ergot, fluid extract of, in 4-oz. g. s. bot- tles oz Ether, compound spirits of (Hoffman's anodyne) , in 8-oz. g. s. bot oz . Ether, stronger, for anaesthesia, in 1-lb. tins oz , Ether, spirit of nitrous (sweet spirits of nitre), in 8-oz. g. s. bot oz Flaxseed meal, in tins lb Ginger, fluid extract of, in 8-oz. bot- tles oz Quantity. 8 1 6 32 4 8 4 1 4 8 8 16 24 172 APPENDIX. Invoice of medicines, hospital store*, balding, fa. — Continued. Art i Medicines — Continued. Glycerine, pure, in 8-oz. bottles oz. Iodine, in 1-oz, p. s. bottles oz. Iron, solution of the subsulphate of, in 1-oz. bottles oz Iron, tincture of the chloride of, in 8- oz. g. s. bottles oz . Jalap, powdered, in 4-oz. bottles oz. Lead, acetate of, in 8-oz. bottles oz Liquorice root, powdered, in 8-oz. bot- tles oz. Magnesia, sulphate of, in 8-lb. tins. .lb. Mercurial ointment, in 1-lb. pots . . lb. Mereur\ , corrosive chloride of (corro- sive sublimate) , in 1-oz. bot oz . Mercury, mild chloride of (calomel), in 2-oz. bottles oz . Mercury, ointment of nitrate of (cit- rine ointment), in 4-oz. pots. . oz. Mercury, pill of (blue mass), in 8-oz. pots oz Morphia, sulphate of, in £-oz. bottles . oz . Mustard seed, black, ground, in 6-lb. tins lb. Olive oil. in 1-pint bottles bott Opium, camphorated tincture of, in 8- oz bottles oz. Opium, compound powder of (Dover's powder), in 8-oz. bottles oz. Opium, powdered, in 8-oz. bottles . ..oz Opium, tincture of (laudanum), in 8-oz. bottles oz. Pepper, cayenne, ground, in 8-oz. bot- tles oz. Peppermint.spiritof, in 4-oz. bottles oz. Pills, camphor (grains two), and opi- um (grain one), in bottles . no. Pills, compound cathartic, in bottles no. Podophyllum. resin of. inl-oz. bottles, oz Potassa, acetate of, in 8-oz. bottles.. oz Potassa, bicarbonate of, in 8-oz. bot- tles. . oz Potassa, bitartrate of, powdered (cream of tartar), in 8-oz. bot oz. Potassa. chlorate of, powdered, in 8-oz. bottles oz. Potassa, nitrate of, powdered, in 8-oz. bottles oz. Potassa, permanganate of, in 1-oz. bot- tles oz. Potassium, bromide of, in 4-oz. bot- tles oz. Potassium, iodide of, in 8-oz. bottles. oz Quinia. sulphate of, in 1-oz. bottles, or compressed in tins oz. Rhubarb, powdered, in 4 oz. bottles. oz. Rochelle salt, powdered, in 8-oz. bot- tles oz . Santonin, in 1-oz. bottles oz. Seneka, fluid extract of, in 8-oz. bot- tles oz. Silver, nitrate of, in crystals, in 1-oz. g. s. bottles oz . Silver, nitrate of, fused, in 1-oz. g. s. bottles oz. Soap, castile, in paper lb. Soda, bicarbonate of, in 8-oz. bottles oz. Soda, chlorinated solution of, in 1-lb. g. 8. bottles . ... lb. Squill, sirup of. in 1-lb. bottles lb. Strychnia, in £ oz. bottles oz. Sulphur, washed, in 8-oz -bottles .. oz. Turpentine, oil of, in 32-oz. bottles. bott. "Wax. white, in paper oz. Zinc, sulphate of, in 1-oz. bottles. ..oz. Myrrh, in 4-oz. bottles oz Hospital Stores. Arrow-root, in tins lb . Barley, in tins lb. Quantity. 1G 3 4 16 4 8 16 8 1 8 1 6 12 16 8 8 16 8 16 100 100 1 8 16 80 24 82 2 16 16 10 4 16 1 8 2 2 16 16 2 5 i 16 4 6 4 8 Articles. Hospital Stokes — Continued. Beef, extract of, Lit-big's, in porcelain jars lb Brandy, in 32-oz. bottles bott. Candles, paraftine lb Farina, in tins lb Milk, concentrated, in 1-lb. tins lb. Nutmegs. in 2-oz. bottles oz Pepper, black, ground, in 4-oz. bottles, oz Sugar, white, crushed, in boxes or tins lb Tea, black, in tins or original chests. lb Whisky, in 32-oz. bottles bott II.— Articles Expendable. Instruments. Probangs no . Syringes, penis, glass no. Syringes, penis, rubber no. Trusses, single no. Dressings. Bandages doz. Bandages, suspensory no . Binder's boards, 2^ by 12 inches. pieces . Binder's boards, 4 by 17 inches ..pieces. Cotton bats no. Cotton wadding sheets. Flannel, red, all wool yds. Cutta-percha cloth yds. Lint, patent .' lb. Lint, pickod lb Muslin, unbleached, unsized, 1 yard wide *-3"ds. Needles, cotton, thimble, in case ... no Oiled muslin, in 2-yard pieces yds. Oiled silk, in 2-yard pieces . yds . Plaster of paris, in 5-lb. tins ..lb. Pencils, hair (assorted sizes)in vials.no. Pins papers. Plaster, adhesive, 5 yards in a can. yds. Plaster, isinglass, 1 yard in a case. .yds. Silk, gray, for shades yds. Silk, ligature . . oz . Splints sets. Splints, Smith's anterior no. Splints, material for making, felt, pieces. Sponge, fine, small pieces oz. Tape, cotton, or twilled stay bind- ing pieces- Thread, linen, unbleached oz. Tow lb. Towels doz . Twine, £ coarse oz. Stationery. Blank books, cap, half bound, 4 quires, no Elastic bands, assorted, gross no. Envelopes, printed, official 50, letter 50 no. India rubber pieces Ink, 2-oz. bottles no. Ink, carmine, in 1 oz. bottles no. Paper, blotting qrs. Paper, writing: cap, 1 quire; letter, 2 • quires; note, 1 quire qrs. Pencils, lead no. Penholders no. Miscellaneous. Corks, velvet, best, assorted doz . Lamp- wicks, pieces doz . Pill boxes, $ paper, $ turned wood .doz. Sheepskins, dressed, for plasters no Quantity. APPENDIX. Invoice of medicines, hospital stores, $-c. — Continued. 173 Articles. Miscellaneous — Continued. Vials: six, 6-oz.; six, 4-oz.; six, 2-oz.; six, 1-oz doz HT.— Articles not expendable. Instruments. Field case no Pocket case no Scissors, large and small no Speculum for the rectum no Spongeholders, for the throat no Stethoscope no Stomach pump and tube, in case no Syringes, hard rubber, 8-ounce no Syringes, hypodermic no Syringes, rubber, self- injecting no Tongue depressors, hinged no Tourniquets, field no Urinometers no Books. Anatomy, Gray's copy . Bumstead on Venereal copy . Chemistry, Fowne's copy. Diagnosis, Da Costa's copy. Dispensatory copy. Eye, Stelhvag on copy. Meteorology, Loomis' copy . Midwifery, Cazeaux's copy. Physics, Ganot's copy. Skin, Diseases of, Tilbury Fox... copy. Surgery, Gross' '. copy. Therapeutics, Stille's copy. Morning report book no . Order and letter book no. Record of deaths no. Register of patients, small, flexible covers no . Bedding. Bed sacks no. Blanket s, gray, for the field no. Blanket cases, canvas no. Gutta-percha bed covers no. Pillows, hair no. Pillow-cases, white no Sheets no. Furniture. Chairs, rocking no. Clocks, wooden, small no. Tubs, bath, large no. Quantity. 10 20 2 4 12 2 12 Articles. Miscellaneous. Basins, tin, small, for dressers no Basins, wash, hand no Bed pans, delf, shovel shaped (metal for field) no Buckets, leather no Feeding cups no Funnels, tin, pint no Lanterns, glass no Measures, graduated, glass, 4-oz no Measures, graduated, glass, minim. .no Measures, tin, gallon to pint, sets . . no Medicine measuring glasses, large, .no. Medicine panniers, furnished by the list, sets no . Mortars and pestles, wedgewood, 3^ to 8 inches no Pill tiles, 5 to 10 inches no Scales and weights, prescription, one set of apothecaries' weights no Spatulas, 3-inch and 6-inch no. Spirit lamps (brass for field) no. Test tubes no Urinals, glass no Additional Articles. Acid, salicylic oz. Cosmoline, cerate lbs. Iodoform oz . Iron, persulphate of, powder oz . Pepsin oz. Pills, morphia, sulph., J-gr no. " quinia, bisulph.,2 " no. " " snlph., 2 " no Plaster, mustard yds. Vaseline, plain lbs. Lint, marine lbs. Sponge, chloroform no. Tubes, drainage yds. Tooth extracting case, O. P no. Tourniquet, Esmarch's no. Color Blindness, Jeffries on cop . History, med., of post cop. Hygiene, Hammond cop. Jurisprudence, Still6 & "Wharton, 1 vol cop Jurisprudence, Stille & "Wharton, 2d vol. (2pts.) cop. Practice of Med., Watson cop. Lamps, side no. " stand no Mattresses, elastic felt no . Quantity. 1 1 1 2 4 12 4 40 4 1 4 2 300 500 500 3 3 10 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 I certify that the preceding invoice is correct. Station: Medical Purveying Depot, San Francisco, Cal. Date: July 9, 1881. H. JOHNSON, Capt. and Medical Storekeeper, U. S. A. A true copy. S. G. O., P. D., Feb. 5, 1884. J. H. BAXTER. Chief Med. Purveyor, U. S. A. 174 APPENDIX. [Enclosure 2.] Invoice of medicines, hospital stores, bedding, j-c, contained in 13 packages, issued to 1st Lt. A. TV. G reel y, U. S. Army, commanding Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, by Capt. F. (yDonnoghue, Medicine Storekeeper, U. S. A., at New York, May 23, 1881. Articles. I. — Regular list. Medicines. Acid, carbolic, pure, crystallized, in 4 oz. g. 8. bottles oz . Acid, citric, in 8 oz. bottles oz . Acid, sulphuric, aromatic, in 8 oz. g. s. bottles oz . Acid, tannic, in 1 oz. bottles oz Alcobol. in 32 oz. bottles bott. Ammonia, aromatic spirits of, in 4 oz. g. s. bottles oz. Ammonia, carbonate of, in 8 oz. bot- tles oz . Ammonia, solution of, in 8 oz. g. s. bottles oz. Antimony and potassa. tartrate of (tartar emetic), in 1 oz. bot oz. Arsenite of potassa, solution of (Fow- ler's solution) , in 4 oz. bot oz . Belladonna, alcoholic extract of, in 1 oz. w. m. bottles oz. Bismuth, subnitrate of, in 2 oz. bot- tles oz . Camphor, in 8 oz. bottles oz . Castor oil, in'32 oz. bottles bott. Cerate, blistering, in 8 oz. tins oz. Cerate, iesin, in i lb. tins lb. Chloral, hydrate of, in 1 oz. g. s. bot- tles oz. Chloroform, purified, in 8 oz. g. s. bot- tles oz. Colchicum seed, fluid extract of, in 4 oz. bottles oz . Colocynth, compound extract of, powdered, in 8 oz. bottles oz . Copper, sulphate of, in 2 oz. bottles oz. Croton oil, in 1 oz. g. s. bottles oz. Ergot, fluid extract of, in 4 oz. bot- tles ..oz. Ether, compound spirits of (Hoffman's Anodyne) . in 8 oz. g. s. bot oz . Ether, stronger, for anaesthesia, in 1 lb. tins oz. Ether, spirit of nitrous (sweet spirits of nitre), 4n 8 oz. g. s. bot oz. Flaxseed meal, in tins lb . Ginger, fluid extract of, in 8 oz. bot- tles - oz. Glycerine, pure, in 8 oz. bottles oz. Gum arabic, powdered, in 8 oz. bot- tles oz. Iodine, in 1 oz. g. s. bottles oz. Iron, solution of the sulphate of, in 1 oz. bottles oz. Iron, tincture of the chloride of, in 8 oz. g. s. bottles oz Lead, acetate of. in 8 oz. bottles oz. Liquorice, exti'act of, in paper . .oz. Liquorice root, powdered, in 8 oz. bot- tles . . oz.! Magnesia, sulphate of. in 8 lb. tins. lb. Mercurial ointment, in 1 lb. pots lb. Mercury, corrosive chloride of (cor- rosive sublimate), in 1 oz. hot . oz ; Mercury, mild chloride of (calomel), in 2 oz. bottles oz . Mercury, pill of (blue mass), in 8 oz. pots oz. Mercury, red oxide of, in 1 oz. bottles oz . Morphia, sulphate of, in £ oz. bottles . oz . Opium, camphorated tincture of, in 8 oz. bottles oz. Opium, compound powder of (dover's powder), in 8 oz. bottles oz. Quantity. Articles. 12 200 16 4 24 12 32 16 2 4 2 16 24 4 8 1 .32 64 8 8 4 1 4 8 32 24 16 8 32 16 4 16 8 32 8 8 2 1 2 8 1 6 24 8 Medicines — Continued. Opium, powdered, in 8 oz. bottles... oz Opium, tincture of (laudanum), in 8 oz. bottles oz. Pepper, cayenne, ground, in 8 oz. bot- tles oz . Peppermint, spirit of, in 4 oz. bottles. oz. Pills, camphor (grains two) and opium (grain one), in bottles no. Pills, compound cathartic, inbottles.no. Pills, opium, in bottles no . Podophyllum, resin of, in 1 oz. bot- tles oz Potassa, bicarbonate 'of, in 8 oz. bot- tles oz Potassa, bitartrate of, powdered (cream of tartar), in 8 oz. bot oz. Potassa, chlorate of, powdered, in 8 oz. bottles oz Potassa, nitrate of, powdered, in 8 oz. bottles oz Potassa, permanganate of, in 1 oz. bot- tles oz Potassium, bromide of, in 4 oz. bot- tles oz. Potassium, iodide of, in 8 oz. bottles oz Quinia, sulphate of, in 1 oz. bottles, or compressed in tins oz . Bochelle salt, powdered, in 8 oz. bot- tles oz. Seneka, fluid extract of, in 8 oz. bot- tles oz Silver, nitrate of, in crystals, in 1 oz. g. s. bottles oz. Silver, nitrate of, fused, in 1 oz. g. 8. bottles oz Soap, castile, in paper lb . Soda, bicarbonate, in 8 oz. bottles .oz. Soda, chlorinated solution of, in 1 lb. g. s. bottles lb . Squill, syrup of . in 1 lb . bottles lb . Sulphur, washed, in 8 oz. bottles. ..oz. Turpentine, oil of. in 32 oz. bottles. bott. Wax. white, in paper oz . Zinc, sulphate of, in 1 oz. bottles oz. LT — Supplementary list. Medicines. Aconite root, fluid extract of, in 8 oz. bottles oz. Calabar bean, extract of, in & oz. bot- tles oz. Ipecacuanha, fluid extract of, in 8 oz bottles oz. Soda, sulphite of. exsiccated, in 4-oz. bottles oz. Hospital Stores. Brandy, in 32-oz. bottles bott. Candles, sperm or composition, half- length, in boxes lb. Farina, in tins lb Milk, concentrated, in 1-lb. tins lb . Nutmegs, in 2-oz. bottles oz . Pepper, black, ground, in 4-oz. bottles, oz Sugar, white, crushed, in boxes or tins, lb Quantity. Tea, black, in tins or original chests. lb. Whisky, in 32-oz. bottles bott . 12 20 24 APPENDIX. Invoice of medicines, hospital stores, bedding, Sf-c. — Continued. 175 Articles. Quantity. m.— Articles expendable. Instruments. Probangs no. Syringes, penis, glass no. Syringes, penis, rubber no. Trusses, single no. Dressings. Bandages doz Bandages, suspensory no. Binders' boards, 1\ by 12 inches. pieces. Binders' boards, 4 by 17 inches. . pieces . Cotton bats no.| Cotton -wadding sheets. Flannel, red, all wool yds. Gutta-percha cloth yds. Lint, patent lb . Lint, picked lb. Muslin, unbleached, unsized, 1 yard •wide yds . Needles, cotton, thimble, in case... no. Oakum, fine, picked lb - Oiled muslin, in 2-yard pieces yds. Oiled silk, in 2-yard pieces yds. Pencils, hair (assorted sizes) in vials, . . no Pins papers. Plaster, adhesive, 5 yards in a can. yds. Plaster, isinglass, 1 yard in a case. .yds. Silk, gray, for shades yds. Silk, ligature oz. Splints sets. Splints, Smith's anterior no. Splints, material for making, felt . pieces . Sponge, fine, small pieces oz. Tape, cotton, or twilled stay binding, pieces Thread, linen, unbleached oz. Tow ]b. Towels doz . Twine, \ coarse oz. Miscellaneous. Corks, velvet, best, assorted doz . Pillboxes, f paper, \ turned wood .doz . Sheepskins, dressed, for plasters ...no. Vials— sis, 6-oz. ; six, 4-oz. ; six, 2-oz. ; six, 1-oz doz. IV.— Articles not expendable. Instruments. Cupping-tins, assorted sizes no. Field-case no. Lancet, thumb no. Pockf t-case no. Scarificators no. Scissors, large and small no. 6 24 12 4 32 4 12 12 2 4 6 3 4 2 10 1 5 4 5 12 3 10 10 1 1 2 2 2 10 3 1 10 9 16 8 1 4 12 1 4 1 2 2 Articles. Instruments — Continued. Speculum for the rectum no Spongeholders for the throat no Spray apparatus no Stethoscope no Stomach pump and tube, in case no Syringes, hard-rubber, 8-ounce no Syringes, hypodermic no Syringes, rubber, self-injecting no Tooth-extracting case, Army pattern, no Thermometer, clinical no Tongue depressors, hinged no Tourniquets, field no Tourniqu ets, screw, with pad no . Books. Anatomy, Gray's copy. Dispensatory copy. Hygiene, Parke's r . A copy . Practice of Medicine, Flint's copy. Surgery, Erichsen's copy. Surgery, Guthrie's Commentaries . copy . Therapeutics, Waring's copy . Therapeutics, Mechanical, Wales' .copy. Register of Patients, small, flexible covers no. Bedding. Bed sacks no. Blankets, gray no. Blanket cases, canvas no. Gutta-percha bed covers no. Pillows, hair no. Pillow-cases, white, "linen" no. Pillow ticks no. Miscellaneous. Basins, tin, small, for dressers no . Basins, wash hand no Feeding cups no. Funnels, tin, pint no. Graters, nutmeg and large no. Measures, graduated, glass, 4 oz .. no. Measures, graduated, glass, minim .no. Medicine measuring glasses, large .no. Pill tiles, 5 to 10 inches no . Spatulas, 3-inch and 6-inch no . Spirit lamps (brass, for field) no. Additional Articles. Beef extract, Starr's lbs. Balance, in case no . Vaseline, plain lbs. Mustard plaster yds. Acid, salicylic oz Esmarch's tourniquet no. Cosmoline cerate lb . Quantity. 20 40 4 8 5 40 29 16 1 6 6 160 1 2 I certify that the preceding invoice is correct. F. O'DONXOGHUE, Captain and M. S. K., U. S. A. A true copy. Medical Purveying Depot, U. S. A., New York City, May 23d, 1881. J. H. BAXTER, Chief Medical Purveyor, U. S. A. 170 APPENDIX. EXHIBIT S. Washington, January 28, 1884. My Pear Sir: Concerning the stores left at Cape Hawks, I am very positive that there vras some meat There. I brought off one can myself, and others of the party brought off one or two more. We found the meat in good condition. There was about eight casks in all, 120 gal. casks, hooped with iron. When Lt. Greely was going off in the boat, I heard him say that there would be enough of everything for him and his party for two months, in case he had to retreat that way. When we arrived at Discovery Harbor we found 23 barrels of pork and beef in good condition, which I have not seen mentioned in any report. Respectfully yours, Capt. Geo. W. Davis. J. W. NORMAN. EXHIBIT T. [Wm. Macnaughtan's Sous, Commission Merchants, 3 Howard St., east of Broadway.] New York, 29th Jan., 1884. Gent'n : We learn that reindeer can be secured, raw, in Canada East, at §2.00 per skin, subject to change. We inclose our correspondence with the Hudson's Bay Co., as it will prove of value to you. Please return theirs to us. Anything this correspondence suggests to you we will be pleased to answer. Why would not buffalo robe overcoats prove indispensable in your equipment ? They are made cheaply with great skill, and are easily obtainable. Resp., WM. MACNAUGHTAN'S SONS. Capt. Geo. H. Davis, Board of Officers, Relief Expedition, Washington, D. C. [Enclosure 1.] [Wm. Macnaughtan's Sons, Commission Merchants, 3 Howard st., east of Broadway.] New York, 11th Jan., 1884. Dear Sir : Will you have the kindness to give us full information on the following : Do the men at your posts wear reindeer clothing, aod is there a difference between reindeer and caribou ? How are they dressed, the usual way, or in oil, and do they injure by water? How do the skins average in cutting, and do you use the light or heavy haired ! Please favor us with an early answer. This with anything further will be much appreciated. Yours, very resp'v, WM. MACNAUGHTAN'S SONS. S. K. Parson, Esq., Hudson's Bay House, Montreal, Canada. [Enclosure 2. J Hudson's Bay House, Montreal, 14 Jan., 1884. Dear Sirs: In reply to yours of the 11th inst. : The men at some of our posts wear reindeer clothing, ami. as far as I ever knew, there is no difference between reindeer and caribou. The felt side is dressed like moccasin leather, not smoked, and the hair is left on the other. They are not dressed in oil, and they get hard if they be- come wet. I don't know what yon mean by " how do the skins average in cutting." The APPENDIX. 177 light and heavy haired are both used, according to the part of the clothing required for. In conclusion, I might add that all the deerskin clothing ever used at our posts is made by the Esquimaux themselves, and traded from them, and that our men rarely, if ever, wear it, except when traveling along the coast ; and further, that any such clothing made by white men without proper patterns would, I consider, be utterly useless. Faithfullv yours, S. K. PARSON. Messrs. Wai. Macnaughtan's Sons, 3 Howard Street, New York. [Enclosure 3.1 |TVm. Macnanghtan's Sons, Commission Merchants. 3 Howard st., east of Broadway. | New York, 21s* Jan., 1884. Dear Sir: Your favor of the 14th is at hand. Please accept our thanks. In asking "how the skins average in cutting,' 7 we meant how many skins are gen- erally required to make an entire suit, and what does the suit consist of. Every dozen suits would consume about how many skins? You speak of their being tanned same as moccasins; is that the same as the dressed skin that we express to you to-day, or do you re-dress and re-tan such leather, and how f Yours, very resp'y, WM. MACNAUGHTAN'S SONS. S. K. Parson, Esq., Hudson's Bay House, Montreal, Canada. [Enclosure 4.1 Hudson's Bay House, Montreal, 25 Jan., 1884. Dear Sirs: Your parcel containing a dressed skin has just been delivered to me. I cannot tell you much about number of skins required to make suits, for, as I before mentioned, our people buy them ready-made from the Esquimaux. I should say from memory that there are about nine skins in each suit ; the inner shirt or coat being made of 4 small skins out of the backs only ; the outside coat and trousers would take about 5 large skins. As a rule it is only thu young skins killed in August which are of use for clothing. If I had a skin of the kind, I would be glad to send it to you. The one you send is, in my opinion, quite useless for clothing, and is far too soft and spongy for almost every purpose. I feel sure that any attempt to make clothing with the skins you are able to pro- cure would prove a failure. Faithfully yours, S. K. PAESON. Messrs. Wm. Macnaughtan's Sons, 3 Howard St., New York. EXHIBIT U. Extracts from official reports and other publications, dencripiive of the depots of provisions, boats, $c, existing in Baffin Bay, Smith Sound, Kennedy and Bobeson Channels. Compiled by order of the Board by Captain Geo. W. Davis, Becorder. CAPE YORK. "The dingy was a very light shallow cedar l*oat for nse in perfectly smooth water and a very light cargo. * * * When I left the shelter of the land at Cape York, she was left above high-water mark above that point." (Garliugton to Chief Signal Officer, Oct. 20th, 1883. Sig. Service Notes No. X., Washington, D. C, 1883.) 178 , APPENDIX. CARY ISLAND DEPOT. •A depot of 3,600 rations were landed [July 27th, 1875] on the S. E. spit of the S. E. island, and a record deposited in a conspicuous cairn on the summit." (Nares' Report, page 4.) July 31*/, 1881. " Sighting the Cary Islands at 3.10 p. m. that day, two parties were landed on the S. E. island. * * * With Lieut. Lockwood, I found and examined the whale-boat and depot of provisions left by Sir Geo. Nares in 1875, which were in good and serviceable condition." (Greely to Chief Signal Officer, Aug. 15, 1881, Exhibit M, p. 142.) * * * "Copy of record found in cairn on top of S. E., Cary Island, by U. S. S. 'Yantic,' Aug. 5,' 1883." Aug. 1st, 1876. — "I have this day inspected the 'A' depot left on this island by H. M. ships 'Alert' and 'Discovery,' and found everything apparently undisturbed and in good condition. * * * There were, in all, 31 casks and 12 cases, besides the tins of preserved meats, which were not counted." [Signed by Lt. Arbuthnot, R. N., Arctic yacht ' Pandora.'] (Capt. Wildes' report to Sec't'y of the Navy, Sept. 17, 1883.) * # * "I found everything there fS. E., Cary Island, July 21st, 1883] undisturbed. From a careful examination of two bbls. of bread and three cans of meat, I estimated that sixty per cent, of the provisions are in good condition, while perhaps seventy- live per cent, could be eaten in an emergency. The boat was also in good condition. * * * The * * * depot is on the S. E., Cary Island, consisting of at least eighteen hundred rations and a whale-boat." (Garlington to Chief Signal Officer, Oct. 2, 1883. Sig. Service Notes No. X, Washington, D. C, 1883.) CAPE ISABELLA. July 20th. — "As the weather was so thick that no one on the ships, except those em- ployed in establishing the cairn and small depot of provisions, could see its position [Cape Isabella], and there being, therefore, no reason for delaying the 'Discovery,' Capt. Stephenson proceeded. The cairn was built on the summit of the outer east- ernmost spur of the cape, at an elevation of about 700 feet above the water." (Nares' Report, p. 4.) * * * "A cairn was erected on the outer spur of Cape Isabella, 700 feet above the water-line ; a cask for letters and a few cases of preserved meat being hidden away on a lower point, about 300 feet high, magnetic west of the cairn." (Nares 1 Narrative, vol. 1, p. 57.) "At a less high elevation, in a secure niche amongst the rocks, were deposited an empty cask and about one hundred and fifty pounds of preserved meat." (Mark- ham's Frozen Sea, p. 54.) "Lieutenant Becker, however, on looking * * * behind some rocks about 20 yards off [Aug. 6, 1876] * * * discovered four wooden cases which lay in a crevice. * * * These I at once examined and found under them a cask which he suggested might contain the letters from the expedition [Nares']. But as the cases were marked 'New Zealand preserved meat,' and as I did not think it likely that the letters would be deposited in such an obscure place without some record being left at the cairn to say they were there, I concluded it to be a depot of provisions." (Report Lt. Arbuth- not, Sept. 25, 1>76, to Capt. Allen Young, commd'g " Pandora," Nares' Report, p. 476.) "A cask of letters, &c, has been placed with the depot of provisions." (Extract from record dated Aug. 6, 1876, left by Lieut. Arbuthnot of the "Pandora" on Cape Isabella, Nares' Rep., p. 478.) "On landing [Sept. 9th, 1876] a small mail of letters and newspapers which had been left by the 'Pandora' was found at the depot." (Nares' Report, p. 37.) Sept. Ath. — " As a last resort the remaining whale boat was placed on Cape Isabella and its location marked by a tripod showing well to the northward." (Beebe's Re- port to Chief Signal Officer, Sept. 28th, 1882. Sig. Service Notes No. V, Washington, D.C., 1883.) LITTLETON ISLAND. Aug. 2nd. — " Lieutenant Lockwood with party landed about 6-J- tons of coal as a depot of fuel for possible future use. It is in and around a large cask on low* ground on the southwest side ot the island facing Cape Alexander." (Greely to Chief Signal Offi- cer, dated Aug. 15, 1881, p. 142. Exhibit M.) Aug. 3d, 1882. — * * * " The stores were landed in a cove in the north end of the island, so well concealed as to be invisible from any point a few ydrds distant and covered with a 'paulin securely anchored down with rocks, aud copies of a record with minute directions for finding the stores placed as directed in Lieut. Greely's letter of last year — two in the the coal on the southern end of the island and one in Nares' APPENDIX. 179 cairn on the summit of the S. W. part of the island." (Beebe to Chief Signal Officer, Sept. 28, 1882. Sig. Service Notes No. V, Washington, D. C, 1883.) [The articles composing this cache were those indicated in Lt. Greely's letter to Chief Signal Officer, Aug. 17th, 1881. See Exhibit M, p. 141.— Recorder.] CAPE SABINE. July 29th. — "A depot of 240 rations was established on the southernmost of the islets [at Payer Harbor] in a convenient position for traveling parties — a cairn being built on the summit of the highest and outer one, and a notice of our movements deposited here." (Nares' Report, p. 5.) Aug. Iftth, 1882. — * * * "On a long, low island near to and due west (true) from Brevoort Island was found a small depot of provision left by the ' Discovery ' * * *. The depot consisted of one barrel of canned beef; two tins — forty pounds each — bacon ; one barrel — one hundred pounds — dog biscuit ; two barrels — one hun- dred and twenty rations each — biscuit, all in good condition ; two hundred and forty rations — consisting of chocolate and sugar, tea and sugar, potatoes, wicks, tobacco, salt, stearine, onion-powder, and matches, all in fairly good condition. Three small casks that had contained rum and high wines were separated from the other packages, broken, and their contents evaporated or leaked out * * *. The cache was re- built, and made as secure as possible, marked by two oars found with the depot- placed upright in the rocks, and a record of the ' Neptune' placed in the cache. A description of this depot and its position was afterwards left with the depot estab- lished on Cape Sabine." (Beebe to Chief Signal Officer, Sept. 28, 1882. Sig. Service Notes No. V, Washington, D. C, 1883.) * * * "On the morning of the 31st [August.] succeeded in effecting a landing and establishing a cache upon Cape Sabine, the northernmost land that had been at- tainable by us. The stores and whale-boat were placed in a sheltered spot, well secured and covered by a tarpaulin. A tripod made of scantling with an oar attached, to which pieces of canvas were well nailed, were placed upon a prominent point, show- ing well from the northward and securely anchored with rocks, and in a cairn beneath was placed a record giving the bearing of the cache." (Beebe to Chief Signal Officer, Sept. 28, 1882. Sig. Service Notes No. V, Washington, D. C, 1883.) [The articles composing this cache were those indicated in Lieut. Greely's letter to to Chief Signal Officer under date of August 17, 18»1. See Exhibit M, p. 141. — Recorder.] July 24th, 1883. — "Lt. Colwell succeeded iu making land, and in caching the pro- visions about three miles west o&Cape Sabine. They were secured as well as circum- stances permitted, and covered with a tent- fly. This cache consisted of hard bread, tea, bacon, canned goods, tobacco, and sleeping-bags, estimated at five hundred rations. This cache was not disturbed again. * * * * * a large quantity of clothing, consisting of buffalo overcoats, fur caps and gloves, Arctic overshoes, un iform clothing, and underclothing, &c, was cached on Cape Sabine. Two sidereal chro- nometers were placed in the cache." (Garlington to Chief Signal Officer, Oct. 2, 1883. Sig. Service Notes No. X, Washington, D. C, 1883.) * * * < now considering a plan of relief of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, are de- sirous of securing from persons having personal knowledge of the navigation of the waters leading to Lady Franklin Bay an expression of opinion regarding the organi- zation and conduct of the relieving force. Very extensive knowledge of the region in question and the adjacent waters was acquired by the officers serving with the English expedition of 1875-6, commanded by Captain Sir Geo. S. Nares ; and the Board to which, by order of the President, has been intrusted the preparation of a plan of rescue, would be glad to have the benefit of suggestions relative to the subject under consideration from Captain Sir Geo. S. Nares, Captain H. F. Stephenson, Captain Albert H. Markham, all of the Royal Navy ; and to this end, on behalf of the Board, I have the honor to request that the proper steps be taken to acquaint the gentlemen referred to of the desire which has been expressed of profiting by the suggestions of these officers. As the Board desires to complete its labors at an early day, it would be highly de- sirable that the request for the information referred to be communicated by cable. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. B. HAZEN, Brig, and Bvt. Maj. Gen'l, Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., President of the Board. The Hon. Secretary of the Navy. Same to the H«n. Secretary of War. Navy Department, Bureau of Navigation and Office of Detail, Washington, 16 February, 1884. Sir: By direction of the Secretary of the Navy, I have the honor to transmit here- with a copy of a letter from Captain Sir George Nares, R. N., to our minister at Lon- don, too-ether with a copy of a letter transmitting to the latter suggestions from that officer, Captain Markham, R. N., and Major Feilden, H. B. M. A., addressed to the President of the Greely Relief Board. Very respectfullv, your obed't serv't, •^ ^ J. G. WALKER, Chief of Bureau. Bvt. Major-General Wm. B. Hazen, U. S. A., Pres'd't of Board of Officers considering the relief of Lieut. Greely and party. APPENDIX. 183 [Enclosure 1.1 London, 10th January, 1884. Your Excellency : I hasten to reply to your note of yesterday, inviting me on behalf of the Government of the United States to make such suggestions as may occur to me for the conduct of the party to be sent out for the relief of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition under Lieutenant Greely, U. S. A. Any suggestions regarding the conduct of an Arctic relief party must necessarily depend on the nature of the expedition itself. I, therefore, as a preliminary note, send you the folloAving remarks. An Arctic relief expedition should be self-supporting — it should consist of two ves- sels — one to act as a depot for the retreat of the search party in case of accident to their vessel, to be stationed at the most advanced position that can be reached from the South with certainty each summer — the other vessel should be pushed forward to the station to be relieved. If the depot ship is not to be communicated with the following summer she should be prepared to pass two winters at her station. If she is to be communicated with (which entails sending out a third vessel early in the following season), stores and provisions for one year will be sufficient. The advance vessel should in any case be prepared to pass two winters — otherwise (supposing her to be provisioned only for one) the commander's orders must allow for his abandoning his vessel for the safety of his own crew the first spring, at the very period when, if the relief had not been effected previously, he should be engaged in searching for those he was sent out to succour. The present season is, I am afraid, already too far advanced for the purchase of ordinary ice vessels at a reasonable price, for the owners of those vessels have by this time made their arrangements for the coming fishing season — there is, therefore, no option except to purchase whaling vessels at an enhanced price to allow for a prospective voyage — to build new vessels — or to obtain the services of the two ves- sels named below. It happens that H. M. S. "Alert," which is doubled and strengthened for ice naviga- tion, has recently returned from foreign service, and I have little doubt but that the Admiralty would willingly dispose of her. Although perhaps not well adapted for ordinary naval service, she would form an admirable Arctic depdt vessel, and would not require much expenditure to fit her for Arctic service. As an advance vessel it would be worth while to inspect the yacht "Pandora," late H. M. S. ' ' Newport " — I understand that she is for sale ; but whether she has sufficient accommodation and stowage room to carry two years' provisions for her own crew and one year's for the men composing Lieutenant Greely's party is uncertain ; the fact, however, can be readily obtained. On hearing from you further particulars regarding the nature of the relief expedi- tion, whether it is to be composed of two wintering vessels, as I advise, or only one — I will send you suggestions for the conduct of the party. I am, &c, G. S. NARES. His Excellency J. R. Lowell. [Enclosure 2. J London, 1st February, 1884. Sir : In preparing the accompanying report, as requested by you, embodying sugges- tions for the conduct of the expedition to be sent out for the relief of the Lady Frank- lin Bay Expedition by the United States Government, I have deemed it advisable to obtain the views of Major H. W. Feilden, H. M. Army, who served under my command in the British Expedition of 1875-76, to Smith Sound and Grinnell Laud, as naturalist on board H. M. S. "Alert," and whose acquaintance with the natural resources of the district is perhaps more extended than that of any other person. I have also conferred with Captain Albert H. Markham, R.N., whom you invited to report on the same subject, and, thinking that it will be more valuable than send- ing in separate reports, I have, with the concurrence of that officer, embodied our joint views in the accompanying statement. I have the honor to be, &c, G. S. NARES, Captain, E.N. His Excellency James Russell Lowell. 184 APPENDIX. [Enclosure 3.] London, 1st February, 1884. To the President of the Board for the relief of the Lady Franklin Bay Greely Expedition, Washington : Sir : In response to the invitation transmitted to ns by His Excellency the Minister of the United States in Loudon, we have the honor to submit for consideration the following suggestions which may prove useful in drawing up the instructions for the guidance of those entrusted with the conduct of the expedition about to be despatched for the relief of Lieutenant Greely and his party. To ensure success, the expedition must, in our opinion, be thoroughly and efficiently equipped, competently commanded, and, above all, be under the direct auspices and supervision of the Government. We would strongly deprecate the despatch of an expedition that was to combine any other object, such as whaling, with that of the primary undertaking. In the hrst place, we are very strongly of opinion that the main relief party should consist of two ships ; one of these should be engaged in advance, in the actual search, proceeding, if necessary, as far north as Discovery Bay; whilst the other should be used as a dep6t ship, placed in such a convenient position that, in case of accident to the advance ship, there would be no necessity for her crew to retreat to the Danish settlements in Greenland. In such an eventuality the officers and men of the ship destroyed would merely have to fall back upon their consort, from which sledging expeditions would be despatched in quest of Lieutenant Greely and his party. Both these ships should be fully equipped, for ice-navigation ; should, of course, be steamers, but possess sail power as an auxiliary. They should be provisioned for at least two years, and should be provided with complete sledging equipments, which should certainly include pemmican and other provisions generally used by sledging parties. Too much care cannot be taken in the selection of provisions of a suitable nature, but the experiences derived, in connection with this matter, from recent American Arctic expeditions can leave little to be desired. It appears to us that the possibility of adding frozen meat to the general stock of provisions should not be overlooked. We think there is a great probability that Lieutenant Greely's party has already left Discovery Bay. Adopting this view, one of the ships should, we think, be des- patched as early as the 1st of May, 1884, certainly not later, with orders to proceed to Godhaven, in Greenland, and to push on as early as possible to Upernavik, so as to meet Lieutenant Greely should he have succeeded in finding his way south to any of the Danish settlements. If he has not done so, it is quite possible that he may have passed the winter some- where between Cape York and Life-Boat Cove. It is therefore very desirable that this region should be searched early in the season. There are two ways of carrying out this duty : either by sending a special Govern- ment vessel independent of the main relief expedition, or by inviting the co-operation of the whaling vessels. The latter should in any case be requested to keep a good lookout for the party journeying south in boats. However, should one of the whal- ing vessels meet th m the captain would, by returning with them to the south, neces- sarily have to give up his chance of making a successful fishing voyage. It is, there- fore, worthy of consideration whether the vessel that communicates with the Greenland settlements early in the season should not be ordered to proceed to the northward through Melville Bay, with the whaling vessels, at the first breaking up of the ice. If Lieutenant Greely's party is not fallen in with near Cape York, it would then be the duty of the commander of the vessel to diligently search the Cary Islands and the coast line to the northward, prior to the arrival of the main relief party ; every endeavor being made to communicate with the Eskimos of those regions, who will be sure to have tidings of the absent party, should they have been in the vicinity. The two main relief vessels should time their arrival at Upernavik about the first week of July, and iu the event of no tidings of Lieutenant Greely's safety being forth- coming at the Danish settlements they should proceed to the northward in company. Failing, intelligence of the party having been obtained on the Greenland coast north of Cape York, including Littleton Island, Cape Isabella should be visited, and the cairn on the summit of that headland examined. Supposing that no tidings or traces of the missing party are forthcoming at the entrance to Smith Sound, it will then devolve on the commanding officer of the relief expedition to organize further plans for prosecuting his search through Kennedy Channel, even, if necessary, to Discovery Bay. In such an event it appears to us esseutial to consider the course of action that would probably have been pursued by Lieutenant Greely up to the present date. What Lieutenant Greely's views were in August, 1881, may be gathered in some APPENDIX. 185 measure from his letter to the Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., dated Fort Conger, August 17, 1881,* which was brought hack to the United States by the S. S. "Neptune"" ["Proteus"], after her successful voyage with the members of the international ex- pedition to Discovery Bay in the autumn of 1881. Lieutenant Greely, in that communication, appears to have fully recognized the con- tingency that the relief ship of 1832 might not be able to reach Discovery Bay; but it does not quite appear that he realized the possibility of the ship not making good her passage to some point on the east coast of Grinnell Land (west side of Kenned y Chan- nel), where at some prominent point he recommended a depot t should be landed. He further requested that a similar depot to No. A might be placed on Littleton- Island, and a boat at Cape Prescott, to enable his party to retreat across the water- way between that point and Bache Island, and thence to Cape Sabine. He evidently contemplated that under every circumstance "Depot No. A" would be placed in the autumn of 1882 at least as far north on the shores of Grinnell Land as Cape Hawks. His views as to the relief to be afforded in 1883 are thus expressed in the above- quoted communication : " If the party does not reach here (Discovery Bay) in 1882, there should be sent, ia 1883, a capable, energetic officer, with ten (10) men, eight of whom should have had practical sea experience, provided with three whale-boats, and ample provisions for forty (40) persons for fifteen months. In case the vessel was obliged to turn south- ward (she should not leave Smith Sound, near Cape Sabine, before September loth), it should leave duplicates of depots A and B, of 1882, at two different points, one of" which should be between Cape Sabine and Bache Island, the other to be an interme- diate depot, between two depots already established. Similar rules as to indicatino- locality should be insisted on. Thus, the Grinnell Land coast would be covered with seven depots of ten days' provisions, in less than three hundred miles, not including the two months' supplies at Cape Hawks. "The party should then proceed to establish a winter station at Polaris Winter Quarters, Life-Boat Cove, where their main duty would be to keep their telescopes or& Cape Sabine and the land to the northward. "Being furnished with dogs, sledges, and a native driver, a party of at least six men should proceed, when practicable, to Cape Sabine, whence a sledge party north- ward, of the two best fitted men, should reach Cape Hawks, if not Cape Collinson." It is clear, therefore, that whenever Lieutenant Greely decided to retreat from Dis- covery Bay his plans would be based on the supposition that Depot No. A of 1882: had been placed at or to the northward of Cape Hawks ; that a large supply of stores; would have been cached at or near Cape Sabine, and that a relief party would winter at Life-Boat Cove in the winter of 1883-'84 even if the relief ship had turned south in the autumn of 1883. The results of the relief expeditions of 1882 and 1883 may be briefly summarized as follows : On the 10th August, 1882, the steamer "Neptune," with a relief party and stores on board, reached her most northern j)oint in Smith Sound, latitude 79° 20', being- twelve miles from Cape Hawks and seventeen from Cape Prescott, but was there stopped by the ice. The record i of the voyage shows that from the above date to- the 28th of August, 1882, repeated but unsuccessful attempts were made to reach Cape Hawks. On the morning of the 31st August a landing was effected on Cape- Sabiue, western side of Smith Souud, and there stores and a whale-boat were placed (presumably Depot A), but no distinct mention is made as to the amount of provisions- left. On the 3d September, 1882, Mr. W. M. Beebe succeeded in landing stores on Littleton Island (presumably Depot B), and the "Neptune" then turned homeward. In 1883 the steamer "Proteus," carrying Lieutenant Garlington, U. S. A., relief party and stores, rounded Cape Alexander at the eastern entrance of Smith Sound on the 22nd July, and entered Pandora Harbour ; that same afternoon Smith Sound was crossed to the western side and a landing made at Payer Harbour, in the vicinity of Cape Sabine. Lieutenant Garlington satisfied himself that the stores left there from the "Proteus" ["Neptune"] in 1882 were in good order, though the whale-boat had been slightly damaged by bears. At 8 p.m., on the evening of the 22ud July, the " Proteus" was again underway and attempted to force a passage to Cape Hawks p she was, however, caught in the ice-pack, crushed, and sunk early on the morning: of the 23rd July, 1883, between Cape Sabine and Cape Albert. Lieutenant Garlington, assisted by Lieutenant Colwell, U. S. N., succeeded in sav- ing some stores from the "Proteus," out of which some 500 rations were cached by those officers about three miles west of Cape Sabine. ■ The relief party and crew of the "Proteus" then crossed the sound to Littleton Island, which they reached on the 25th July. From there they started southward in * Sig. Ser. Notes, Xo. X, pp. 22, 23, Washington, 1883. t For contents of this depot (A) vide Sig. Ser. Notes, No. X, p. 22, Washington, 1883. ; Sig. Ser. Notes, No. V, Washington. 1883. 13 186 APPENDIX. their boats for the Danish settlements in Greenland, reaching Upernavik on the 24th .August, 1883, after a most fortunate boat-voyage, entailing, however, great exposure and suffering on the party. There has been, therefore, no dep6t of provisions, stores, or boat established any- -where north of Cape Sabine since Lieutenant Greely's party arrived at Discovery Bay in 1881 ; so, whilst retreating along the east coast of Grinnell Land to Smith Sound, their only means of subsistence, until reaching Cape Sabine, would be the supplies ^brought away with them from Fort Conger, the animals procurable on the journey, and the dep6ts left behind by the British Expedition of 1875-76. When, in the autumn of 1882, the party at Discovery Bay realized that relief had bailed to reach them that year, Lieutenant Greely would at once husband his remain- ing stock of provisions. Discovery Bay being a peculiarly favorable position for pro- curing musk oxen, he in all probability, eked out his subsistence with a considerable •supply of meat. Consequently, if he decided to start southward from that station in .July, 1883, as we think he would, and run the risk of passing the relief ship on her way north, it may reasonably be hoped that the party had with them a large supply retreat by land, depdts and a boat should be placed at or near Cape Prescott, and some other points further north, as proposed by Lieutenant Greely. It may be suggested, if not already provided for, that great advantage would accrue from heliography ; a pair of instruments, therefore, on both ships, and a trained oper- ator in each vessel, might be of the greatest service. We now arrive at our final consideration : Supposing the advance ship is unable* during the navigable season of 1884 to reach Discovery Bay, or to find Lieutenant; Greely's party along the coast of Grinnell Land, its fate must be ascertained. The dep6t ship should find winter quarters, not later than the 1st September, in the safest and most convenient station near Payer Harbour, on the west side of Smith* Sound ; this would enable her sledge parties to start early in the spring of 1885, along: the east shore of Grinnell Land, and, with those from the advance ship, complete the search of the whole coast line. Payer Harbour itself has the disadvantage of being, somewhat too exposed a station for winter quarters, but the leader of the expedition! may be safely intrusted to decide that point. Port Foulke, or Pandora Harbour, offer- more eligible wintering stations than Payer Harbour or any other known place in its* vicinity on the west side of Smith Sound, but wintering on the Greenland side of the sound would involve uncertainty in the despatch of the sledge parties along the shores- of Grinnell Land in the spring of 1885, for it must be borne in mind that the ice in. Kennedy Channel is not to be relied on remaining unbroken during the winter months,, and is certain to break up early in the spring. No dependence should be placed on detached boat relief expeditions, except in the extreme case of the advance vessel becoming disabled early in navigable season of" 1884, for no boat party can, in addition to the provisions necessary for their own sup- port, convey sufficient supplies to relieve a large distressed party of men, and return with them to their station. Too much reliance should not be placed by such parties on the natural resources of the shores of Grinnell Land. But although the British Expedition of lSTo-^ did not actually meet with any musk oxen, reindeer, or bears, between Port Foulke and Dis- covery Bay, traces of them were seen, and with good fortune a retreating boat party* might come across some of these animals, walrus, or a few seals. After leaving the warmer waters of Baffin Bay, the great breeding haunts of sea-fowl are left behind.. ^Port Foulke is the most northern summer haunt of the little auk, where it breeds in countless numbers, and contributes largely to the summer food of the Eskimos of" Etah. Neither does Briinnich's guillemot, the well-known Arctic loom, extend iter, breeding range beyond the entrance of Smith Sound. Along the shores of Grinnell Land a few black guillemots nest, but not gregariously. At certain localities, sucb» as the more protected bays, a few eider ducks will be found, whilst on the fresh-water lakes a considerable number of brent geese rear their young. None of these birds are to be obtained without an expenditure of time beyond the capacity of travelling par- ties, with whom delay means consumption of the stores they are carrying with them.. The bird life of that region will not afford to sledge or boat parties more than an oc- casional addition to their rations, and cannot be reckoned on as a certain means of subsistence, such as the loomeries and aukeries of Baffin Bay afford during the breed- ing season of those birds. In conclusion, we think it would be advisable to obtain the good-will and assistance of the Cape York district Eskimos by the timely and judicious distribution of presents*, and the leader of the relief expedition should receive directions to this effect. Finally,, we are desirous of expressing our heartfelt sympathy with the United States regard- ing the object of the contemplated expedition, and our readiness to afford, at any- time, any information or assistance, that it may be in our power to render. We have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servants, G. S. NARES, Captain, E. J& A. H. MARKHAM, Captain, H. M. S. "Vernon."* H. W. FEILDEN, Major, H. B. M. Army^ 188 APPENDIX. EXHIBIT W. U. S. Consulate, Saint John's, N. F., Feb'y 2nd, 1884. Gon'l W. B. Hazen, Chief Signal Officer U. S. A., Washington, D. C. Sir: I herewith beg to enclose original agreement received from Mr. Syme for hire «3. S. u Proteus." I have concluded the purchase of the " Bear " and hope to get her off for New York next Saturday. She will have to coal and take in about 200 tons stone ballast in the after hold. I should recommend the hiring of some of her present crew, as they are all sealers and sailors. The chief engineer, Mr. Stynes, holds a first- class certificate, and has been used to the seal fishery as engineer for a number of years. He was employed by me as engineer of the "Gulnare," Lieut. Doane, on an Arctic trip. If you can use your influence to get him employment I shall consider it a per- sonal favor. Any stores required, such as boots, clothing, dogs, meat, &c, had better be engaged here as soon as possible. I am, sir, your ob't servant, THOS. N. MOLLOY. Gen'l W. B. Hazen, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. [Extract.] U. S. Consulate, Saint John's, N. F., Feb'y 2, '84. Dear Sir : Auything required by the expedition, such as boots, had better be en- gaged this month, other articles later in the season. If you can induce the commander of the expedition to take his choice of men from the present crew, I think it would be to the advantage of the expedition, as they are all experienced sailors and sealers. The engineer, Styne, is a first-class officer, and has a great desire to proceed. He was chief engineer of the "Gulnare," under Lieut. Doane, II. S. A., on an Arctic trip. Yours, very respectfully, THOS. N. MOLLOY. Abstract miscellaneous correspondence. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Dec. 21,1883 Dec. 19,1883 Dec. 19,1883 Dec. 27,1883 Secretary of tlie Navy . 5 Sept. 11, 1883 Sept, 14, 1883 Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Oct. 15, 1883 16, 1883 16, 1883 17, 1883 17, 1883 18, 1883 18, 1883 18, 1883 24, 1883 9, 1883 Commander H. C. Taylor, U. S. Navy. Lieut. George T. T. Patterson, 14th Infantry, U. S. Army. General W. B. Hazen, Chief Signal Officer. Secretary of State George E. Tyson. J. E. Marcussen. J. H. Stevens . . . Lieut, J. E. Macklin, 11th TJ. S. Infantry. Lieut. W. P. Evans, 19th TJ. S. Infantry. George W. Melville, Chief Engineer, TJ. S. N. Gustav F. Seivern C. O. Duthok.. Joseph Keefer , J. B. Brainard.. James Craig . . . Transmits communication from Commander H. C. Taylor, U. S. Navy, requesting that Lieut. N. R. Usher, TJ. S. Navy, he heard hefore Board. Recommends Lieut. N. R. Usher, U. S. Navy, as a suitable person to proceed upon a relief expedi- tion. Requests his name he submitted for duty with proposed expedition. Incloses communications from the files of his office of persons suggesting plans of, and volun- teering to accompany an expedition for relief of Lieutenant Greely and party. fTransmits, through War Department, a commu- nication dated Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada, Aug. 28, 1883,witb inclosures, from R.Comniander John P. Cheyne, British Royal Navy, relative to relief of Lieutenant Greely Tby means of balloons. Through War Department, offering his services for relief of Greely party. Yolunteers to accompany expedition. Presents a plan for the rescue of Lieutenant Greely by means of sleds. Desires to be one of a Greely relief party. Offers his services in connection with proposed ex- pedition for relief of Greely. Submits through Navy Department a method for relief of Greely party. Calls attention to a boat invented by him for use in Arctic regions. Recommends use of balloons in searching for Greely. Requests employment on relief expedition. Requests employment on relief expedition. Requests, through Navy Department, an appoint- ment for his son as geologist on proposed expe- dition. APPENDIX. Abstract miscellaneous correspondence — Continued. 189 17 Nov. 6,1883 18 Dec. 7, 1883 19 Dec. 12,1883 20 Dec. 13, 1883 21 ; Dec. 15, 1883 22 23 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 48 49 50 Dec. 21,1883 Dec. 21, 1874 24 Dec. 20,1883 25 Dec. 21, 1883 26 Dec. 23, 1883 27 ! Dec. 28, 1883 28 Jan. 5, 1884 29 Jan. 7, 1884 30 Dec. 31,1883 31 Dec. 31,1883 32 Jan. 8, 1884 33 i Jan. 10, 1884 34 Jan. 10, 1884 35 Jan. 11, 1884 36 Jan. 7, 1884 37 Jan. 14,1884 38 i Dec. 31, 1883 39 Jan. 15, 1884 Jan. 15,1884 Jan. 9, 1884 Jan. 18,1884 Lieut. P. H. Ray, 8th U. S. Infantry. Lieut. W. C. De Hart, U. S. R. M. L. E. Ralston Major H. W. Feilden, H. B. M. Army. Lieut. W. C. Brown, 1st TJ. S. Cavalry. H. H. McGrew Dr. A. P. Mason Adjutant-General, TJ. S. A .do General N. A. Miles, TJ. S. A . . Cyrus Smith F.B. J.Rust .* Dr.LC.Rosse Sergt. C. Madsen, 5th Cav'y . . . Dr. F. E. Coulter S. K. Parson, agent for Hud- son's Bay Co., Montreal, Canada. Win. Macnaughtan's Sons . . . Chief Clerk "War Department ¥m. Macnaughtan's Sons R. Laidlaw, E. Heimhacher, and E. S. Eveleigh. P.B. J.Rust L. T. Coggins, for Otis Young. Secretary of War J. W. Norman . . . E. M. Philibaum . Secretary of War Jan. 21, 1884 Navy Department Jan. 10, 1884 I H. M. Sutherland , Jan. 11, 1884 W. Gibson, vice-consul, Glas- gow, Scotland. Jan. 22,1884 47 Jan. 23,1884 Jan. 25,1884 Jan. 26,1884 Jan. 29,1884 51 ! Jan. 29, 1884 Secretary of War Wm. Macnaughtan's Sons H.Clay Dr. Thomas H. Carroll Navy Department Hudson's Bay Company . . Subject. Tenders his services to command expedition, pro- vided same is sent out under auspices of Chief Signal Officer. Offers bis services as commander of expedition. Volunteers to accompany expedition. Submits his views relative to relieving Greely party. Requests to be detailed on relief expedition. Offers services to accompany Greely relief. Offers to accompany expedition as surgeon. Furnishes copy of telegram to Lieutenant Schwat- ka, TJ. S. A., requesting him to prepare a paper as to organization and conduct of party for relief of Lady Franklin Bay people, together with copy of Lieutenant Schwatka's reply. Transmits copy of telegram from Lieutenant Schwatka stating that his recommendation for Greely's relief would be sent by mail. Recommends Lieutenant Schwatka to command Greely relief expedition. Desires the adoption of his fuel-saving device for steam-boilers or heating-stoves by the proposed expedition. Expresses willingness to appear before Board and give experience acquired as member of scientific corps of Dutch Arctic Expedition, 1882-3. Declines to appear before Board. Tenders his services to accompany expedition. Requests, through War Department, appointment as pbysician to expedition. States inability of his company to furnish within 60 days sufficient reindeer-skins to make 100 suits of clothing. Submit estimate for buckskin clothing. States War Department is unable to print proceed- ings of Board on account of reduced state of ap- propriation. Will report in a short time whether they can supply reindeer-skins. Desire appointment as photographers to relief ex- pedition. Submits brief outline of his Arctic experience. Submits plan for constructing ships for Arctic service. Transmits copies of letters from the State Depart- ment, dated the 11th and 12th instant, inclosing copies of dispatches from United States Minister to England respecting steps to be taken for Greely's relief. Requests employment with relief party. Volunteers services for expedition. Transmits copies of letters, dated the 16th and 17th instant, from Department of State, inclosing cop- ies of telegrams, dated the 10th, 16th, and 17th in- stant, from TJ. S. consul at Saint John's, Newfound- land, respecting the purchase of a vessel to be used for relief of Lady Franklin Bay expedition. Calls attention to letters from L. Y. Coggins for Otis Young, Frank Reynolds, and Robert Laid- law & Co., previously forwarded without letters of transmittal. Volunteers to accompany expedition. Transmits through Lieut. J. A. Tobin, TJ. S. N., a memorandum from Lewis T. Merrow & Son, ship brokers, Glasgow, Scotland, respecting the sale of a steamer to the TJ. S. Government for the re- lief expedition. Transmits copy of letter, dated 19th instant, from State Department, inclosing copy of telegram from TJ. S. Minister at London, England, relative to purchase of vessel for Arctic navigation. State they shortly expect to have information from Hudson's Bay Co. relative to reindeer-skins. Transmits, through Hon. A. S. Willis, a plan for re- lief of Greely. Requests appointment as surgeon. Submits copy of letter from Messrs. Delamater & Co., of New York, relative to building a steamer for Greely expedition. State they are unable to furnish in 60 days suffi- cient reindeer-skins for 100 suits of clothing. INDEX. Page. Berry, Lieut. Robert M., U. S. N., testimony of 82,98 Bessels, Dr. Emile, testimony of 62,79 Board, full report of , 3 proceedings of 19 Executive order creating 19 preliminary report of procurement of vessels 20 preliminary report of, detail of naval officer to command expedition 79 letter of, to Secretary of the Navy, transmitting acknowledgment of receipt of paper prepared by Captain Nares and others 106 letter of, to Captain Nares and others, acknowledging receipt of pa- per on relief expedition 106 letter of, to Secretary of War, regarding paper received from Cap- tain Nares and others 106 final report of 107 Caches of 'provisions and boats, extracts from official and other publica- tions descriptive of (Exhibit U) 177 Clapp, Capt. W. H., U. S. A., in relation to boats, sledges, tents, &c. (Ex- hibit N) 148-150 Clay, Lieut. Thomas J., U. S. A., suggestions concerning relief expedition (Exhibit C) 113 Colwell, Lieut. J. C, U. S. N., testimony of 68,78,80 Danenhower, Lieut. John W., U. S. N., testimony of 86 Davis, Capt. George W., U. S. A., suggesting plan for relief expedition (Ex- hibit B) 112 Feilden, Maj. H. H., H. B. M. Army, suggestions concerning relief expedi- tion (Exhibit E) 116 expresses wish to accompany relief expedition 117 jointly with Captains Nares and Markham, suggesting plan for re- lief expedition (Exhibit V) 184 Garlington, Lieut. Ernest A. , U. S. A. , testimony of 34 Goss, G. C, ship-builder, testimony of 99 proposition to construct vessels (Exhibit L) 135 Greely, Lieut. A. W., U. S. A., orders and instructions to and reports from (Exhibit M) 136 Hooper, Capt. C. L., U. S. Revenue Marine, suggestions for employment of revenue steamer on relief expedition (Exhibit O) 151,152, 153 Hunt, Lieut. H. J. , U. S. Navy, testimony of 31 Kennan, George, testimony of 71 letter to Lieutenant Greely, giving suggestions in regard to Arctic life and traveling (Exhibit P) 153 McCalla, Lieut. Commander B. H., U. S. N., suggesting plan for relief ex- pedition, Exhibit A Ill Macnaughtan's Sons, William, in regard to reindeer clothing, Exhibit T.... 176 Map of Smith Sound and adjacent waters, face 178 Markham, Capt. A. H., R. N., jointly with Captain Nares and Major Fielden, suggesting plan for relief expedition, Exhibit V 184 Medical stores, list of, furnished United States steamer " Rodgers," Exhibit R 169 list of, furnished Point Barrow expedition, Exhibit R 171 list of, furnished Lady Franklin Bay expedition, Exhibit R.. 174 Melv lie, Chief Engineer, Geo. W., U. S. N., testimony of 91 Miscellaneous correspondence, abstract of 188 Molloy, Thos. N., in regard to purchase of steamer " Bear," &c, Exhibit W. 188 Nares, Capt. Sir George S., R. N., jointly with Captain Markham and Major Feilden suggesting plan for relief expedition, Exhibit V 183, 184 Norman, J. W., testimony of 58, 77 concerning depots of provisions, Exhibit S 176 Parson, S. K., concerning reindeer clothing, Exhibit T 177 192 INDEX. Page. Pike, Captain Richard, testimony of 54, 77 Kay, Lieut. P. H.„ testimony of 46, 100 Reynolds, Frank, suggestions concerning vessels, &c, Exhibit 1 121, 122 Schwatka, Lieut. Frederick, suggesting plan for relief expedition, Exhibit D. 114 Sledge, design for, prepared by order of Board, face 150 Subsistence stores, list of, furnished United States steamer " Rodgers," Ex- hibit Q 164 list of, furnished Point Barrow expedition, Exhibit Q . . 165 list of, furnished Ladv Franklin Bay expedition, Ex- hibit Q 166-168 Thornton, Sir Edward, concerning depot of provisions at Polaris Bay, Ex- hibit H • 121 Tyson, Capt. George E., testimony of 21 Usher, Lieut. N. R., United States Navy, suggesting plan for relief expedi- tion, Exhibit G 119 Wales, Surgeon-General Philip S., United States Navy, sanitary suggestions for guidance of Arctic expeditions, Exhibit K 122 Wildes, Commander Frank, United States Navy, suggesting plan for relief expedition, Exhibit F 118 REPORT OF BOARD OF OFFICERS TO CONSIDER AN EXPEDITION FOR THE RELIEF OF LIEUT. GREE1J AND PARTY. BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. WASH WASH I XCJTOX: ( ! O V K R N M E JS X PR] N T L\(f OFFICE 1884. s 792 m \ v * g -Ki J <^ A* A ^ .^' .A se .ft C, /- <^ -A "oo \ v ^ ^ v* ,0o 4 -y » «0 .- ^ - \tf r 5? 5» * ^ v T " " * A *» \ *> „ / •** ■ ^ f „. . \ N ->r. / r s^ ^ A^' ' /J > ^ ,"6* S s % 0" m' . ,tf oo N s* (A .A \ ' \ o LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 029 708 228