Arctic Cruise of the U.S. S. Thetis in 1889. 181 
sighted four vessels—steamers—at anchor off the village of 
Ootkavie at Cape Smyth, 8 miles from Point Barrow, and the site 
of Captain Ray’s Signal Service meteorologic station of some 
years ago, the house that sheltered the party being still stand- 
ing. One of the steamers proved to be our old friend the “ Bear,” 
which had passed to the northward when we had returned south- 
ward from the Arctic with the survivors of the “ Little Ohio.” 
The other vessels were made out to be steam-whalers, and at seven 
o’clock we anchored near them, off the site determined upon for 
the house of refuge. 
Finding the Bear had commenced to discharge her stores and 
materials, all of our facilities were at once used in tending her as- 
sistance, our steam launch Achilles (now, as of yore, the child of 
the Thetis) being busily at work towing boats to and fro, while 
our men and mechanics, with officers, were busily engaged in 
aiding the construction of the house of refuge. 
Our arrival at Cape Smyth and vicinity of Point Barrow was 
on the 29th of July, the Bear having arrived on the 27th, the 
Saturday previous. While we were lying at anchor engaged in 
the erection of the house of refuge, the rest of the whaling 
fleet, both sail and steam, gradually arrived and came to anchor 
off the coast, reaching from Cape Smyth to Point Barrow. 
After a short stay the steamers went on to the eastward of Point 
Barrow, following along the ice-pack, which was in sight from 
Point Barrow, until they reached the heavier ice off Point Tan- 
gent. When the last of the whaling vessels had arrived, a fleet 
of forty-seven vessels carrying the American flag had assembled 
within sight of the most northerly point of the United States, 
composed of steamers, barks, brigantines and schooners. These 
vessels, manned by about twelve hundred men, I venture to say 
formed the largest assemblage of vessels and men under the 
American flag to be found anywhere during that year. I cannot 
speak too highly of the skill, seamanship, courage, and endurance 
of the whaling masters. They are a fine body of American 
seamen. 
The scene on shore was one of abnormal activity for this 
region, the erection of the house of refuge, the hasty landing 
and transportation of stores (in which the whalers assisted), the 
movements of the Eskimos about their village (which was dotted 
with the white summer tents of the residents and the visiting 
inland Eskimos), and the clustering and trading about the Whaling 
