FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS, 1879-1881. 867 



by the order oi. the Secretary of the Navy June 7, 1871, at a salary of $100 per month 

 and subsistence. 



The Polaris was wrecked on the north coast of Greenland in 1872. Her voyage, 

 loss, and the marvelous experiences of the heroic souls comprising the expedition, 

 are matters of history, and comprise one of the most interesting chapters in the 

 annals of arctic exploration. 



Upon the return of the survivors, in October, 1873, the claimant was directed by 

 the Secretary of the Navy to prepare the preliminary report of the voyage, and sub- 

 sequently ordered to the Smithsonian Institution, and there engaged in working out 

 the scientific results of the expedition. 



The claimant appears to have been thus engaged until May, 1875, when he was 

 ordered by the Navy Department to repair to San Francisco and embark on the 

 United States steamer Saranac for Alaskan waters to complete the ethnological vol- 

 ume of the Arctic Expedition. The Saranac, after being at sea about two weeks, was 

 wrecked between Vancouvers Island and the mainland. 



The claimant immediately returned to Washington, and was again ordered to the 

 Smithsonian Institution, to continue the preparation of the scientific report of the 

 Polaris expedition, and where he remained so employed until March, 1880. 



The claimant now alleges (1) that he had a large amount of personal property on 

 board of the Polaris, which was lost with the vessel, and for which he ought to be 

 reimbursed; (2) that he had a large amount of personal property on board the 

 Saranac, which was lost with the vessel, and for which he ought also to be reim- 

 bursed; (3) that he has made large advances of money upon the work now in prog- 

 ress from his own private means, for which he ought to be reimbursed; (4) that he 

 has been paid no salary for the period from August 30, 1876, to March 1, 1880. 



In regard to the first item for which relief is claimed, viz, articles lost on board 

 the Polaris, it appears from the evidence submitted to your committee that a large 

 portion of the outfit of scientific instruments and apparatus deemed necessary for the 

 use of the expedition could not be furnished by the Government, owing to the short 

 space of time intervening between the appointment of Dr. Bessels and the day fixed 

 for the departure of the expedition. It will be observed that the date of the order 

 of the Secretary of the Navy designating Dr. Bessels for the position of chief of the 

 scientific division of the expedition is June 7, 1871, and that the Polaris sailed July 

 10, 1871, too short a time for the Government to procure or prepare the scientific 

 instruments and apparatus. 



In this emergency Dr. Bessels supplied this deficiency by ordering a large amomat 

 of his own personal property on board of the Polaris for the use of the expedition. 

 This seems to have been done upon consultation with Professor Henry, the then 

 Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and one of the joint directory of the expe- 

 dition. The claimant produces an inventory of this property thus furnished, pre- 

 pared by himself and Professor Henry, and having upon it the following indorsement: 

 ' ' Inventory of articles lent to the North Polar Expedition by Dr. E. Bessels, for 

 which the Government of the United States ought to pay in case they are lost. 

 (Signed) Joseph Henry, July 7, 1871." 



This document, with the indorsement of Professor Henry as above given, was 

 deposited in the archives of the Smithsonian Institution by Dr. Bessels before the 

 sailing of the Polaris. The articles were lost with the vessel, and there would seem 

 to be no question about the duty and obligation of the Government to indemnify Dr. 

 Bessels therefor. The value of these articles your committee find to be the sum of 

 $1,378.50. 



Your committee also find the value of the articles lost on board the Saranac by Dr. 

 Bessels to be the sum of $1,022.50, and that the claimant is entitled to indemnity 

 therefor. 



