ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XL, Issue 3016, 24 May 1884, Page 3

ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

{Times.) In a few days Her Majesty's nhip Alert will Bail once more for those inhospitable regions where ten years nero she did memorable service. It is a matter for satisfaction that our Government has placed this well-tried vessel at the disposal of tho United States for the relief of the Artie party under Lieutenant Greely, which took up its quarters at Lady Franklin Bay, m Robeson Channel, m August 1881. The offer has been accepted and the authorities of Sheernesa Dockyard are making all haste to have the vessel equipped with masts, sails, and yards. Mr Leigh Smith is taking an active interest m the preparations. A United States naval officer, Lieutenant Goodrich, who is at present m this country, will take possession of the Alert as soon as she is ready, and navigate her across the Atlantic. Besides the Alert, three other vessels — the Thetis, Bear and Hope — will form part of the search expedition. Of these tho Thetis is a Dundee whaler and the Bear a Newfoundland ship, which have been purchased by the United States Government. All will be specially prepared for the severe work they will have to perform. The leader of the expedition will be Commander Winfield S. Schley, under whom will be Lioutonant C'alwell, and it i« expected that all four [ vessels will be ready to sail m tho beginning of April. This action on the part of the British Government is to be commended on varkms grounds besides that of common humanity. On several occasions our own expeditions to the Smith Sound region have been indebted to the nited States for important services. Moreover the Greely expedition forms one of the parties which were sent out under the auspices of the International Arctic Committee, and is now the only one about whose fate we are m doubt. As we have said, the expedition went out m 1881, and, m pursuance of previous arrangements, a relief ship was Bent up the Sound m the summer of 1882. But the Neptune, under Lieutenant Beeby, after incurring considerable risks, being beset m the ice near Cape York, was compelled to return without getting much further Lieutenant Beeby, however, landed stores and boats on Cape Sabine and Littleton Island, and a whale boat was left at Capo Isabella. A second attempt was made last Bummer to rescue the party, m the Proteus and Yantic, bnt with an equally unsuccessful result. Tho Proteuß was crushed m the ice, the crew escaping with difficulty to Cape York, where they were rescued m the Yantic Baron Nordonskjold has since reported that the Esquimaux between Waigattel and Cape York informed Dr Nathorst that the members of the Greely expedition, except two who had died, had succeeded m escaping to Littleton Island. It is to be hoped that this has been tho case, for then they would doubtless have discovered the provisions and boats loft by Lieutenant Beeby m 1882. Tho oxpodition consists of twenty-five men. In his last annual address to the Royal Geographical Socioty Lord Aberdare said there was much reason to fear that some disaster had bofallen these gallant men, and that Bomo of them had perished during their prolonged detention m that most rigorous portion of the Polar regions — 81 deg. N. lat. " Such a fate," he said, " happening to any people would be certain to evoke our warm regrets ; but the foeling is heightened when we remember with how keen a sympathy the American peoplo have ever followed the disasters of British adventurors m the Arctic seas, and how gonorous and untiring have been their efforts to carry relief to the sufferers, as long as the slightest ohance remained of their being still m the land of tho living." Everyone, we are sure, will sympathise with Lord Aderdaro's statement, and with the expression of anxiety on behalf of the Geographical Socioty which he transmitted to the United States Government m December last;. It is ovident that the United States authorities are themselves alive to the seriousness of the situation. We have before us the report of a Board of Officers appointed to consider the question of a relief expedition. The report is dated January 22nd, and is signed by General Hazen, the Chief of the Signal Sorvice, two naval officers, and ono army officer. Nothing could bo more thorough than this report, which gives a history of the Greely expedition from the beginning and of tho two attompts made to succour it, and discusses, besides, the most effective mothods of reaching il this year. It is evident from thii report that there was little or nr danger of tho expedition being shori of provisions, unions some disusto happoned. Subsistence stores on tin basis of tho army ration wero furnishec

for three years, whilst additional stores ( were supplied, some of which would last for four years and a half. Everything, including 140 tons of coal, was safely landed at Discovery Harbor, Lady Franklin Bay, by August 15th; 1881, and by the 18th of that month Lieutenant Greely had succeeded m collecting "three full months' rations of musk cattle." For purposes of exploration and retreat, the expedition was furnished with a navy steam-launch and three other boats adapted to the navigation of Smith Sound. Moreover, Lieutenant Greely knew that at Thank God Harbor, twentyeight miles distant, at Newman Bay, thirty-eight miles distant, at Cape Collinson, Cape Hawks, Cape Norton, Littleton Island, the Cary Islands, and several other points along the route to the south wore cac/ies of provisons left by previous expeditions and by his own m the passage northwards ; while at the two nearest stations a couple of serviceable boats were available. It would thus seem that there was little likelihood of disaster happening to the expedition from want of provisions. Lieutenant Greoly's instructions wore to abandon his station not later than September 1883, if no relief had reached him by that time ; and as we have said above, Nordenskjold's party brought home an Esquimaux rumor that the members of the expedition had succeeded m reaching Littleton Island ; while the official report before us states it is possible, bnt very improbable, that they are m Upernivik waiting for the break-up of the ice. But m a case of this kind nothing must be taken for granted, and the report urges that the relief expedition must ba adequate to reach Lady Franklin Bay, and be prepared to spend two years on the ice. The navigation of Smith Sound is extremely uncertain. The season of 1881 was a very open one, and the Proteus, which took out the expedition, reached her destination m eight days from the date of leaving Littleton Island, whereas the Nares expedition m 1875, with two powerful steamers, took twenty-eight days to cover the distance ; while m, 1882 and 1883 the two relief expeditions were completely baffled and barely escaped destruction. Hence the propriety of sending bo many vessels', and furnishing the expedition for two years' absence. It is proposed to send an advance ship to the Danish settlements previous to the time fixed for the assembling of the expedition at Upornivik ; should a favorable opportunity present itself, the vessel will push northwards and rescue the Groely party. The relief ships will arrivo at Upernivik not later than May 15th, and will push northwards as soon as the ice permits towards Littleton Island, the natives will be communicated with and all possible information obtained as to the whereabouts of tho expedition. When the ice is reached, one of the vessels will push its way through it while the other will maintain such a position m the rear as to be able to rescue the party on No. 1 should that ship come lo grief. Should neither vessel be crushed, and should neither succeed m communicating with Lady Franklin Sound, one, it is recommended, should winter m Franklin Pierce Bay, and the other m the vicinity of Littleton Island. On the route northwards variou3 points are to be examined and depots of provisions left at certain specified quarters. The fullest equipment as to boats, sledges, clothing, tents, wooden hoxises, provisions, &c, is recommended, and every precaution is to be taken to secure success. The addition of tho Alert to the rescue fleet will undoubtedly add greatly to the chances of accomplishing the objects of the expedition. It is recommended that the personnel of each veßsel bo kept down to a minimum, so as to give ample space should tho expedition be absent two years, and diminish tho risk of shortness of provisions. It is calculated that the total expense will bo about 420,000d01s