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This is a wonderful photo by Sergeant George W. Rice, expedition photographer, of the ex steam sealer PROTEUS which was hired by the US to be used by the Greely Lady Franklin Bay Expedition in 1881. It shows her in Discovery Bay having landed the members of the expedition. She was crushed and lost in the ice 6 miles north of Cape Sabine on her way back. Thanks for posting it Rory, Charley
PROTEUS, Ellesmere Island, Discovery Harbor [Harbour], and the framework of what would become Fort Conger.
Tied up along the stern of PROTEUS is the steam launch [a Bogie African Queen look-alike] in which the explorers would make their escape only to have to abandon her due to ice problems.
Remember, this photograph is huge, and the resolution in fantastic. There is something else shown here that makes no sense at all. On the shoreside [Port] can be seen a railroad open vestibule double sheathed baggage/express car with monitor roof. Ahead of this car is a locomotive. All that can be seen of her is the top of her Diamont Stack and ash collector, the top of the boiler lifting valves, and part of the roof of the cab of this engine. There may be a car seperating the engine and baggage/express car. It is possible the loco is a tank type. When I first saw the car I thought it would make for a quick bunkhouse for the party, and they had brought it along stripped of trucks and other railroad stuff; but on seeing the locomotive that changed everything. What would such equipment be doing that far up there.
Cheers,
Rory
Tied up along the stern of PROTEUS is the steam launch [a Bogie African Queen look-alike] in which the explorers would make their escape only to have to abandon her due to ice problems.
Remember, this photograph is huge, and the resolution in fantastic. There is something else shown here that makes no sense at all. On the shoreside [Port] can be seen a railroad open vestibule double sheathed baggage/express car with monitor roof. Ahead of this car is a locomotive. All that can be seen of her is the top of her Diamont Stack and ash collector, the top of the boiler lifting valves, and part of the roof of the cab of this engine. There may be a car seperating the engine and baggage/express car. It is possible the loco is a tank type. When I first saw the car I thought it would make for a quick bunkhouse for the party, and they had brought it along stripped of trucks and other railroad stuff; but on seeing the locomotive that changed everything. What would such equipment be doing that far up there.
Cheers,
Rory
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