After the loss of the Rodgers in Saint Lawrence Bay in northeast Siberia, Stoney and other crew members were sheltered by local villagers.

On the return journey, he spent two weeks exploring the delta and lower portion of the Kobuk River in northwest Alaska while the Thomas Corwin completed her Arctic patrol duties.

After returning to San Francisco, Stoney submitted a report to Secretary of the Navy William E. Chandler recommending additional exploration.

[2][5] At the time, the 49-ton merchant schooner Ounalaska was impounded at the Mare Island Navy Yard after her civilian crew had been arrested by Salvadoran authorities for smuggling arms to rebels in El Salvador.

[6] Stoney assembled a crew for her consisting of Ensign John L. Purcell, USNA Class of 1879, Dr. Reed, a San Francisco physician serving as ship's apothecary, a gunner's mate and eight Navy seamen.

Her cargo included six months of provisions and stores, trade articles for interaction with the Alaskan natives and the 28-foot Navy steam cutter Helena.

Leaving Ensign Purcell in command of the Ounalaska, Stoney then set out to explore the Kobuk River valley in the Helena.

Returning to the Ounalaska in late August, Stoney gave Ensign Purcell command of the Helena to explore Lake Selawik for a week with two seamen and two natives.

The process required temporarily transferring some of the cargo to shore, using the Helena as a towboat and obtaining additional aid from the local natives.

During the voyage home, the Ounalaska stopped at Saint Lawrence Bay on 13 September so that Stoney could meet with the Siberian villagers again and present some additional gifts.

Twenty months of provisions were provided, most of which were leftovers from the 1884 Greely relief expedition, plus the means to hire natives and purchase dogs and sleds.

Final authorization for departure was provided by the new Secretary of Navy William C. Whitney on 1 May 1885, and the Viking sailed from San Francisco two days later.

[5] On 11 August 1885, Stoney located a suitable place for their winter camp a short distance upstream from present-day Ambler, Alaska.

From 26 December 1885 to 25 February 1886, A. V. Zane made an overland round trip between Fort Cosmos and St. Michael, Alaska with one sailor, an interpreter and two natives.

After the Explorer was sold to a local resident for two thousand dollars, the Bear sailed on 4 September and arrived back in San Francisco on 21 October 1886.

[14] Stoney died in his cabin aboard the Santee while moored at Annapolis, and his remains were transferred to the receiving vault at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on 2 May 1905.