20 GREELY RELIEF EXPEDITION. 



H. B. Neale, fireman of the Thetis, and C. Baxter, seaman of the 

 Alert, being found unsuited for the service were transferred at St. 

 John's to New York, and their places filled by the enlistment of Geo. 

 Von Sprecklson and John Degen. 



Each oflBcer and man of the expedition willingly undertook the 

 hardships and exposure of this service, and felt complimented and 

 honored by your tender of the opportunity to engage in it. 



The officers and men were carefully examined by a medical board 

 at the Navy Department, at naval stations, or on board ship, under 

 . instructions of the Surgeon-General setting forth the physical stand- 

 ard necessary for service in the Arctic. ' 



It was determined from the beginning to compose the crews of the 

 expeditionary ships exclusively of volunteers from the able seamen 

 of the naval service and of mechanics whose trades connected them 

 with the repairs of hulls, engines, or boilers. Some delay occurred 

 in getting them together by reason of the necessary alisonce of the 

 vessels of the North Atlantic Squadron on service in the West Indies. 

 The time of their probable return north being too late to make vol- 

 unteers from their crews available or to get them in time from distant 

 ports, the commanding officer of the Powhatan, Lieut. Commander 

 ' C. J. Train, generously gave me the pick of his crew. The enlisted 

 men of the expedition were taken largely from that vessel. 



As soon as the officers had reported for duty a detail was made and 

 instructions given them to inspect all articles of outfit under prepa- 

 ration, and to report to me daily the progress made in the several 

 departments, as well as any deficiencies which might be discovered 

 in the submitted lists of outfit and stores. The medical officers pre- 

 pared the medical outfit and were charged with the inspection of all 

 provisions intended for the expedition. 



In this way it was easier for me to know at the beginning of each 

 day all that was going on, and to keep up with the preparation of 

 everything needed. Several important features came under consid- 

 eration in this way and were added to our lists. At the same time 

 the officers were familiarized with every article prepared or purchased 

 for the fitting of their vessels. 



The supplies and outfits were well under way by the first week in 

 April, those for the Bear being most advanced in order to start her 

 north by the 34th of April. Feeling confident that the date of her 

 departure would not be delayed the following orders were given her 

 commanding officer: 



U. S. S. Thetis. 

 Navy-Yard, New York, April 16, 1884. 

 SiE: The Bear being one of the vessels of the relief expedition to Lady Franklin 

 Bay of 1884, as soon as she is in all respects ready for the contemplated search you 

 will proceed with her under your command to St. John's, Newfoundland, using the 

 utmost dispatch consistent with safety, reporting, by telegraph your arrival, to the 

 Secretary of the Navy. 



