What was the Overland Expedition?
Q: What was the Overland Expedition?
A: The Overland Expedition, also known as the Overland Relief Expedition or Point Barrow-Overland Relief Expedition, was a long trip in 1897–8 by three officers of the United States Coast Guard (then named the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service), with the help of two civilians, using sled dogs and reindeer to rescue more than 250 whalers trapped in the Arctic Ocean by ice around their ships.
Q: Who ordered this expedition?
A: The expedition was ordered by then-U.S. President William McKinley.
Q: Who were part of this expedition?
A: The expedition consisted of First Lieut. David H. Jarvis, Revenue-Cutter Service, commanding; Second Lieut. Ellsworth P. Bertholf, Revenue-Cutter Service, and Dr. Samuel J. Call, surgeon of the Bear - all volunteers - as well as Mr W T Lopp and Artisarlook who both accompanied them on their journey to Point Barrow with a herd of reindeer they had acquired along their travels..
Q: How long did it take for them to reach Point Barrow?
A: It took them three months and twelve days from when they landed from the Bear at Cape Vancouver on Alaskan coast of Bering Sea to reach Point Barrow with their herd of reindeer..
Q: What did President McKinley ask Congress to do after hearing about this successful mission?
A: After hearing about this successful mission President McKinley asked Congress to award gold medals commemorative of their heroic struggles in aid of suffering fellow-men to Lieutenants Jarvis and Bertholf and Dr Call and also asked for an appropriation sum of $2 500 be disbursed by Secretary Treasury in bestowing rewards upon W T Lopp Artisarlook native herders who rendered material aid relief expedition .
Q: Why were these whalers stuck in ice around their ships?
A: These whalers were stuck in ice around their ships due to bad sanitary conditions and want of proper food which put them on verge great suffering while sickness had broken out among them .
