24 GREELY RELIEF EXPEDITION. 



The wislied for change came finally on the 27th. Immediately it 

 was taken advantage of and the Bear reached Upernavik on the 

 afternoon of May 28, having first gone to the Brown Islands, some 

 18 miles farther north, where the ice was found nnhroken, with no 

 prospect of advance, owing to solid barriers in all directions. 



The following morning the Thetis arrived at Upernavik and fell 

 in with the Bear. The history of the movements of the latter vessel 

 from this point of departure will be embraced in that of the Thetis, 

 as both ships were always together until their arrival at Cape York. 



The outfit and stores of the Thetis having been completed and 

 stowed on board by the morning of May 1, she sailed at 2.30 p. m. of 

 that day in obedience to your order, as follows : 



Navy Department, 

 Washington, April 21, 1884. 

 Sir: The Thetis, Bear, and Alert, the ships of the Greely Relief Expedition of 1884, 

 being ready, you are ordered to take command of them and to proceed to the coast 

 o" Greenland, or farther north, if necessary, and, if possible, to find and rescue, or 

 ascertain the fate of Lieut. A. W. Greely and his comrades. 



All the officers and men under your command are hereby enjoined to perform any 

 duty on sea or land to which you may order them. 

 No detailed instructions will be given you. 



Full confidence is felt that you have both the Capacity and courage, guided by 

 discr, tion, necessary to do all that can be required of you by the Department or the 

 nation for the rescue of our imperiled countrymen. 

 With earnest wishes and high hopes for your success and safe return, 

 I am. very respectfully, 



WM. E. CHANDLER, 



Secretary of the Navy. 

 Commander Winfield S. Schley, U. S. N., . 



CoTinmanding the Greely Relief Expedition. 



The repetition of the popular demonstration of sympathy along 

 our route to sea was extremely gratifying. 



The salutes of cannon from the navy-yard, Grovernor's Island, and 

 Fort Hamilton when the Thetis passed could only be answered by 

 the dipping of our colors, as the ship carried no guns. 



The officers and men were much touched by the evidence of your 

 sympathy and interest when the Tallapoosa steamed as far as the 

 lower bay with us to say the last good-bye, and to see the last of the 

 ship and her officers upon whom you had conferred such responsi- 

 bility and honor. 



Reaching the Sandy Hook light- ship the vessel was swung to 

 determine deviation of her compasses, after which she continued on 

 to sea and reached St. John's, Newfoundland, at 3.35 a. m., May 9, 

 after a most delightful passage of eight days, without other incidents 

 than a slight break down of the connecting rod of the air-pump, 

 which was promptly repaired in a few hours by Chief Engineer Mel- 

 ville. 



