Arctic Blue Books - British Parliamentary Papers Abstract, 1877a

1877a. GREAT BRITAIN. (45255)

Arctic expedition, 1875-6. Journals and proceedings of the arctic expedition 1875-6, under the command of Captain Sir George S. Nares; in continuation of Parliamentary papers, C-1153 of 1875, and C-1560 of 1876.

Presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty, 1877. London, Harrison & Sons. vii, 484 p. illus., plates incl. fold. maps. (Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Sessional papers, Accounts and papers, 1877, v. 56, no. C-l 636)

Contains reports of an expedition attempting to reach the North Pole by Smith Sound‹Robeson Channel, and exploring adjacent coasts: HMS. Alert (Capt. G. S. Nares) wintered at Floeberg Beach, near Cape Sheridan on northeast Ellesmere Island, with sledge parties traveling westward along the north coast, eastward to Greenland, north towards the North Pole, in addition to numerous local journeys; HMS. Discovery (Capt. H. F. Stephenson) wintered at Discovery Harbour in Lady Franklin Bay, with sledge journeys eastward to Greenland and along its north coast to Sherard Osborn Fiord, southwestward on Ellesmere to the head of Archer Fiord, westward into The Bellows, besides local journeys.

After the wintering (first of two planned), the expedition returned to England because of ravages of scurvy. Reports of each ship, its sledge parties, the doctors, report on provisions and stores, also records of Capt. C. F. Hall, and account of the 1876 voyage of the Pandora are included and described in turn infra.

Scientific results from the vessels en route and in winter quarters were published separately (No. 45257).

Sledge parties' observations of weather, snow, ice, trail conditions, position, atmospheric phenomena, health of men, etc. are included in their reports infra, and some of the information is presented also, in different form (evidence), in No. 45256.

1. The Alert

(Floeberg Beach, about two miles south-southeast of Cape Sheridan (82š26' N. 61š30' W.(p. 1-44); account of the voyage to Baffin Bay, Smith Sound (p. 4-8), Kane Basin (p. 8-10), Kennedy Channel to Lady Franklin Bay (p. 10-11), where the Discovery established winter quarters; the Alert continued north through Robeson Channel (p. 11-13) to winter quarters at Floeberg Beach (p. 13-16); winter activities (p. 16-20), including scientific observations, game list, and spring sledging program (p. 21); communication established with the Discovery (p. 20-22), and route located to Greenland across Robeson Channel (p. 22-23); outbreak of scurvy (p. 23);

Beaumont's sledge expedition eastward along north coast of Greenland to Sherard Osborn Fiord (p. 23, 28);

Fulford's and Coppinger's examination of Petermann Fiord (p. 24, 28-29);

Markham's abortive attempt to reach the North Pole (p. 24-26);

Aldrich's journey westward along the north coast Ellesmere Island to Yelverton Bay (p. 26-27); journey across Robeson Channel to Polaris Bay (p 24, 28-29); decision to terminate expedition, reunion with the Discovery, voyage south along the east coast of Ellesmere, and return to England (p. 30-38).

2. North coast Ellesmere Island

Sledge expedition by Lt. Pelham Aldrich westward from the Alert, along the north coast of Ellesmere to Yelverton Bay (p. 167-231), including Aldrich's report stressing deteriorating health of crew (p. 168-72); track chart (fold.) facing p. 172; report on clothing (p. 173-75); tabulated weights of sledge equipment and provisions, ration scale, sledging times and distances (p. 176-77); sledge journal (p. 178-231) with 18 sketches of features along the north coast and fold. sketch (at p. 197) of ice cliff, Cape Columbia.

Relief expedition under Lt. Wm. H. May, westward to Depot Point, with tabulated weights of equipment and provisions (p. 316-20).

3. Sledge journey towards North Pole

Under command of Cmdr. A. H. Markham, with support sledges (p. 118-57), proceeding along the coast northwest to Cape Joseph Henry and north over the ice of the Lincoln Sea to latitude 83š20' N. (about 30 miles offshore); tabulated weights of equipment and provisions (p. 120-23); Markham's report and sledge journal (p. 123-57) with track chart facing p. 126. Report of support sledge commanded by Dr. Edward L. Moss (p. 157-64), who accompanied Markham on the start of his outward journey, including sledge journal (p. 160-64) to Cape Joseph Henry; fold. sketch view facing p. 163.

Relief expedition under command of Lt. W. H. May (p. 313-15), west to Depot Point, including tabulated weights of equipment and provisions.

4. Eastward journeys to Greenland

Sledge trips across Robeson Channel by Sub-Lt. Geo. Le C. Egerton to Repulse Harbour and return (p. 279-86), by Lt. W. H. May (p. 303-307, with 2 sheets of fold. sketch profiles inserted) and by Lt. Wyatt Rawson (p. 275-78); each, also Rawson and Egerton infra, includes tabulation of sledge equipment and provisions.

Rawson's journey eastward across Robeson Channel in company with Beaumont to Repulse Harbour and Cape Stanton, returning southwestward along the Greenland coast to Thank God Harbour in Polaris Bay, advancing later to meet Beaumont in Newman Bay (p. 404-418); he joined the Alert off Cape Beechey on Aug. 3, 1876; journey to mid-Robeson Channel by Egerton (p. 292-96) to take serial temperature observations, and to measure currents at different depths, and different phases of the tide.

5. Local journeys from Floeberg Beach

Northwestwards: to Dumbell Bay, by Sub Lt. G. Le. C. Egerton (p. 296-99); to Depot Point, by Lt. W. H. May, with tabulated weights of sledge equipment and provisions (p. 307-313); to Cape Joseph Henry, by Lt. Pelham Aldrich (p. 64-78) with track chart at p. 78; to Cape Joseph Henry, by Cmdr. A. H. Markham (p. 78-88), with tabulated meteorological data, increase in weights of sledge equipment, and track chart at p. 88; to Cape Colan, by Lt. George A. Giffard (p. 257-59); and to Giffard Peak, by Giffard (p. 231-56), with his report, track chart (at p. 232) and sledge journal.

Southeastwards: to Cape Union, by Lt. Wyatt Rawson (p. 63-64, 89-93) including meteorological data and track chart; to Lincoln Bay, by Lt. Wm. H. May (p. 300-303) with fold. sheet of sketch profiles; and to Discovery Bay, by Lt. G. Le. C. Egerton (p. 104-116), including lists of clothing and equipment, ration scale, medicines, sketch of floeberg, and track chart facing p. 116.

Southwards: inland sledge journey by Egerton, towards the United States Range of mountains, including 3 full-page sketches and 2 fold. sketches of topographic features seen, and tabulated weights of sledge equipment and provisions (p. 286-92).

6. The Discovery

(Discovery Harbour (81š42' N. 65š20' W.) Lady Franklin Bay, on northeast coast of Ellesmere Island): Report of proceedings (p. 44-58) by Capt. H. F. Stephenson, including establishment of the Discovery's winter quarters, local surveys, scientific activities, spring sledging expeditions to Archer Fiord, The Bellows, and eastward to Greenland; outbreak of scurvy, game lists, coal seams, fish, etc.

7. Eastward journeys to Greenland

Journey by way of Floeberg Beach, across Robeson Channel, along the north coast of Greenland (Nyboes Land) eastward to St. George and Sherard Osborn Fiords, returning to cross Newman Bay, Hall Land, Polaris Bay, and Kennedy Channel, by Lt. Lewis A. Beaumont, Apr.-Aug. 1876 (p. 338-404) including fold. track chart at p. 358, abstract of proceedings (p. 341-58) tabulated weights of sledge equipment and provisions (p. 359, 363-64), sledge journal (p. 358-94), abstract of times and distances, angles and bearings, astronomic observations, latitudes and longitudes (p. 394-400), and progress report from Polaris Bay (p. 401-404).

Journey by Dr. R. W. Coppinger, accompanying Beaumont to north Greenland (by way of Floeberg Beach) as far as Cape Stanton, thence returning southwestwards to Newman and Polaris Bays, and Petermann Fiord (p. 418-31), with 3 fold. sheets of profiles and sledge journal (p. 424-31).

Coppinger's report on Petermann Fiord, May-June 1876 (p. 444-46) has 2 fold. profiles of the shores inserted, also fold. map of the Fiord.

Journey by Lt. R. B. Fulford eastward to Polaris Bay, following which he accompanied Coppinger into Petermann Fiord: report, sledge journal, and angles (p. 432-43).

Journeys across Robeson Channel to Polaris Bay by Archer (p. 320-22), and Conybeare (p. 452-55).

8. Archer Fiord

Journey to the head of Archer Fiord, 81š25' N. 67š W. (p. 322-38), Lt. Robt. H. Archer's report, sledge journal, sketch of parhelion (p. 328), track chart (at p. 336), sledging abstract, astronomic observations, latitudes and longitudes.

The Bellows: Examination of this valley extending north for 15 miles from Discovery Harbour, by Sub-Lt. Crawford Conybeare (p. 97-100, with fold. sketch at p. 99), and by Archer (p. 94-97).

Local journeys around Discovery Bay: Journeys by Conybeare around Lady Franklin Bay (p. 448-51), and to Floeberg Beach along the east coast (p. 455-58).

Abortive efforts to travel overland to Robeson Channel by Lt. Reginald B. Fulford (p. 100-102, with track chart facing p. 100).

9. Voyage of the Pandora

Commanded by Capt. Allen Young, to Baffin Bay and Smith Sound in 1876, depositing mail for Nares at Cape Isabella, progress reports (p. 468-79), with track chart facing p. 478.

10. Medical reports

Letter to the Director General of Medical Dept. by Dr. Thomas Colan (p. 458-63) being a narrative of the expedition's proceedings north to Floeberg Beach, with atmospheric temperature data (p. 460), sledge expeditions (p. 461), remarks on scurvy (p. 462), return voyage.

Another letter to the Director General by Dr. Belgrave Ninnis (p. 464-65), with temperature data, ice thickness tabulation, and comments on scurvy. Report of condition of the northern sledge party (p. 164-66) by Dr. Edward L. Moss, with detailed description of men debilitated by advanced scurvy, starvation and exhaustion.

Clothing, equipment and provisions: Detailed report by Nares on the quality of provisions and stores supplied to his expedition (p. 480-84).

Capt. C. F. Hall: Records found by Dr. R. W. Coppinger on Newman Bay, northwest Greenland, written by Hall in 1871 (p. 61-62, see also p. 54, 57, 321).

11. Maps (17) of:

• Davis Strait and Baffin Bay, showing the tracks of the Alert and Discovery (fold. map at p. 38).
• Smith Sound, Kennedy and Robeson Channels, adjacent coasts, etc., showing the outward and homeward tracks of the ships, in addition to the sledge tracks of Aldrich, Markham and Beaumont (fold. map at p. 38).
• Discovery Harbour, showing the winter quarters of the Discovery, by R. H. Archer (fold. map at p. 62).
• Track of sledge journey by Aldrich shows north Ellesmere coast from Black Cliffs Bay to Cape Joseph Henry, scale 2 mi: 1 in. (fold. map at p. 78).
• Track of sledge parties under Markham, showing Ellesmere coast between Floeberg Beach and Cape Joseph Henry, scale 2 mi: 1 in. (fold. map at p. 88).
• Ellesmere coast from Floeberg Beach southeast to Cape Union (facing p. 92).
• The Bellows, valley west of Discovery Harbour, scale 2 mi.: 1 in. with track of Archer's journey (at p. 96).
• Attempted sledge journey from Discovery Harbour overland towards Robeson Channel (at p. 100).
• Egerton's journey along the Ellesmere coast from Floeberg Beach to Discovery Harbour (fold. map at p. 116).
• Tracks on the sea ice northward to 83 š20' N. and return, made by party under Markham, from Floeberg Beach by way of Cape Joseph Henry (fold. map at p. 126).
• Aldrich's journey along the north coast of Grant Land westward from Floeberg Beach to Yelverton Bay, scale 8 mi.: 1 in. (fold. map at p. 172).
• Giffard's journey westward from Floeberg Beach to Giffard Peak (at p. 232).
• Area southwest of the head of Ella Bay; steep cliffs backed by hills (p. 332).
• Archer's journey to the head of Archer Fiord (fold. map at p. 336).
• Beaumont's journey from Discovery Harbour to Floeberg Beach, across Robeson Channel and along the north Greenland coast to Sherard Osborn Fiord, returning to Discovery Harbour by way of Newman and Polaris Bays, scale 8 mi.: 1 in. (fold. map at p. 358).
• Petermann Fiord, by Fulford (fold. plan at p. 446).
• Track of the Pandora from England to West Greenland (fold. map at p. 478).

 

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