lapuising ti^e iBineteentl^ 



Aboard the "Bear'' 



ON Friday, May 26th, we finally got away 

 from Seattle, though I did not feel sure 

 of the voyage till we were securely out of 

 sight of land. There was no knowing whether 

 some department clerk in Washington might not 

 accidentally be stricken with an idea and wish to 

 hold the ship till he could have time to turn it over 

 in his mind. It is admitted by all who know the 

 conditions that the Bear should have been pawing 

 her way northwestward by May ist. The season 

 is short enough at longest for the season's work. 

 It was refreshing to find one man who knew the 

 value of time in the arctic empire. When Lieu- 

 tenant Jarvis, the heroic leader of the rescue of 

 the whalers, was notified that the command of 

 this expedition was assigned to him, he took the 

 cars and made the trip across the continent in four 

 days. Instead of taking time for personal conve- 

 nience and preparations he immediately put to sea, 

 and has pushed everything right along. There is 

 business in that man. 



Arriving at Port Townsend in the afternoon, 

 some time was required for aligning the compasses, 

 which is done by sailing the ship experimentally till 

 203 



