240 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



board, to secure from the rescued party as much information 

 respecting the geography, physics, and natural history of the 

 North as could be obtained. The result of this investiga- 

 tion was published in June last by the Secretary. 



In view of the disabled condition of the Polaris, and the 

 loss of so large a portion of her crew, the Secretary of the 

 ISTavy, with the consent of the President, determined to send 

 out a relief expedition, and accordingly purchased the Ti- 

 gress, a vessel admirably fitted for ice navigation, and ordered 

 her from St. John's to New York. 



At the same time the Juniata was ordered to proceed to 

 the coast of Greenland, and facilitate the movements of the 

 Tigress by carrying coal and other supplies, for which the 

 latter had not sufficient capacity^and to prosecute the search 

 herself as far as was prudent for a vessel not built expressly 

 for arctic navigation. 



Commander D. L. Braine was assigned to the command of 

 the Juniata, and Commander James A. Greer to that of the 

 Tigress, ^Yhioh. was ordered to make her way, if necessary, by 

 every means possible, and in the face of every danger, to the 

 spot where the Polaris was last seen ; while Commander 

 Braine was directed not to expose his vessel to any danger, 

 but to aid in every possible way the special object of the 

 Tigress. 



The Juniata left New York on the 24tli of June, and after 

 certain alterations at St. John's, fitting her better for her voy- 

 age, she left for the North, and reached Fiskenaes, in Green- 

 land, on the 14th of July. Continuing along the coast to the 

 north, she arrived at Disco on the 21st of July, and at Uper- 

 navik on the 31st. From this place the steam-launch, i^^^^e 

 Juniata, under command of Lieutenant George W. De Long, 

 sailed on the 2d of August for Cape York in search of the 

 Polaris and her crew, supplied with provisions for sixty 

 days, and with coal for fifteen ; and after performing one of 

 the most extraordinary voyages on record, she returned on 

 the 12th of August. At midnight of the same day she 

 reached Tessuisak, where she communicated with the Ti- 

 gress. 



The Tigress sailed from New York on the 14th of July, 

 and touched at St. John's, arriving at Godhaven on the 6th 

 of August, and at TJpernavik on the 10th. After receiving 



