GEEELY RELIEF EXPEDITION. 25 



A painful though, not serious injury to the hand of Machinist 

 Walter Booth also occurred during this passage. While oiling the 

 engine Booth's hand was caught in the machinery and his fingers 

 crushed. 



My stay at St. John's was limited to two days and a half, during 

 which time seal-skin boots, Elsinore caps for the crew, and coal to 

 replace that consumed during the passage were taken on board; also 

 twenty-two Labrador dogs for service with sleds north. These dogs 

 were also obtained by United States Consul MoUoy from Labrador. 



In the interval I availed myself of an opportunity to call upon the 

 civil and military authorities of the port. 



The Loch Gurry, a chartered coal steamer, with 500 tons of Welsh 

 coal, commanded by Capt. Robert Jones, reported to me as a fourth 

 vessel of the expedition. 



The charter under which he served reads as follows: 



This Charter Party, made and con luded upon in the city of New York, the 29th 

 day of Mai'ch, 1884, between Sutton & Co., agents for owners of the good iron s rew 

 steamship Li^cli Garry, of Dundee, of 950 tons gross register, and 616 tons net reg- 

 ister; having engines of 98 hoise-power, and classed A 1 (built in 1880) a,t Lloyds, 

 oi 1 ,200 tons dead weight or thereabouts, inclusive of fuel and stores, now in Europe, 

 and Commodore Earl English, Chief of Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting, United 

 States Navy Department, by atithurity of the Secretaries of War and the Navy, 

 charterers: 



Witnesseth, that the said agents agree to let, and the said charterers agree to 

 hu-e the said steamship for the term of three calendar months, from the 5th day of 

 April, she being then (after docking and cleaning bottom) placed at the disposal Oi 

 the charterers, at Cardiff, in such dock or at such wharf or place (where she may 

 always safely lie afloat, at all times of tide) as charterers may direct, she being 

 then ready to receive cargo, and being tight, staunch, strong, and every way fitted 

 for the service (and with fuU complement of officers, seamen, engineers, and fire- 

 men for a vessel of her tonnage), to be employed in carrying 500 tons of coal in 

 bags (and passengei's, so far as accommodation permit) within the following limits, 

 viz : Cardiff, Wales, to St. John's, Newfoundland, for orders to proceed from thence 

 as ordered by the Greely Belief Expedition ; the United States Government assum- 

 ing all risks of % essel and cargo as soon as the steamer reports at St. Jolms. Value 

 of vessel, £15,000, equal to $75,000, on the following conditions : 



That the owners shall provide and i,ay for all provisions, wages, and consular 

 sliipping and discharging fees of the captain, officers, engineers, firemen, and crew ; 

 shaU pay aU engine room stores, and maintain her in a thoroughly efficient state in 

 liull and machinery for and dm-ing the service. 



That the agents shall accept and pay for all coal in the steamer's bunkers, and 

 the owners shall, on expiration of this Charter Party, pay for all coal left in the 

 bunkers, at the current mai'ket prices at the respective ports when she is delivered 

 to them. 



That the charterers shall pay for the use and hire of the said vessel at the rate of 

 $7.54 per gross register ton per calendar month, commencing on and from the day 

 of her delivery, as aforesaid, hire to continue until her dehvery in hke good order 

 and condition to the owners, fair wear and tear only excepted (unless lost), at Ha.- 

 ifax. 



It is understood and agreed that the steamer is to be at St. John's, Newfoundland, 

 before the 10th day of May next, dangers of seas excepted. 



