68 



GREELY RELIEF EPPEDITION. 



We were delayed on this account for twenty-four hours, but 

 reached New York on Friday, August 8, at 11 a. m., and delivered 

 the bodies of the dead at Governor's Island to Major-General Han- 

 cock, commanding Military Department of the East. They were re- 

 ceived with military honors. All records, relics, and effects of the 

 living and the dead were delivered at Governor's Island on Satur- 

 day, August 9. • 



The ships were taken to the navy-yard Monday, August 11, in 

 obedience to your orders, and the bulk of their stores and provisions 

 landed. 



COAL CONSUMED. 



During the cruise in the Arctic regions, from New York until 

 their return, the following amount of coal was received and con- 

 sumed by each of the vessels of the relief expedition : 



The distance traversed by the Thetis and Bear was nearly 7,000 

 miles, and by the Alert about 6,000 miles. 



The HerreshofE steam cuttei-s supplied to the Thetis and Bear 

 proved most excellent boats in a sea-way. For the uses of the general 

 cruisers of the Navy they are very desirable additions, but for service 

 in the Arctic, which is exceptionally severe and where the exigencies 

 of hard usage and neglect are rather the rule, I must say the Herres- 

 hoff type did not meet my expectation. Simpler design of engine 

 and boiler seems needed in that region, or at least a type which occa- 

 sional neglect would injure to less extent than the Herreshoif. In 

 both these cutters the coils burst; the spring safety-valves failed to 

 work at a critical moment and nearly involved the loss of both cut- 

 ters; the exterior condenser was unsuited and Anilnerable when hauled 

 on to the ice. On the other hand, their advantages over the ordinary 

 launch used in the service were: the rapidity with which steam could 

 be got up, their economy in the use of coal and water, and their speed. 



The White steam cutter of the Alert was an exceedingly handy 

 boat. She was neither so fast nor so good a seaboat as the Herreshoff 

 cutter. The engine is simple and easily kept in working condition. 

 The boiler being of old type, too much time is consumed in raising 

 steam, a fatal error in launches for Arctic service. This cutter com- 

 pared with Herreshoff's for such service presents defects of equal 



