The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-12
GROG OR NO GROG,
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION FURNISHING AN
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF TO-
TAI ABSTINENCE.

THE SBCifC FURNISHING AN
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF TO-
TAI ABSTINENCE.
Among other results of the Arctic nxpe-
dition some curious statistics have been
obtained with reference to the question of
total abstinence. The absfainers who went
out with the expedition were six, viz: VIM.
Malay. Adam Ayles, William tore, Joiner
and Self, of the Alert, and Henry Petty, of
the Discovery. There were two or three
other seamen who joined the temperance
cause during the commission, and it is
only fair 10 ate that the noyices suffered
from the scuTvy like the rest of the crew.
Malay was not employed on any long jour
neys, but was repeatedly ont with support
ing parties. He states that the sledging
parties of the Alert suffered greater priva-
tions than those from the sister ship. They
had pushed beyond the limit OF animal
life, and their supplies Of reindeer and
musk OK were soon exhausted. They were
consequently obliged to subsist entirely
upon ships stores and this enforced absti-
, nence from animal food made them in a
special degree susceptible To scurvy. On
the termination of the sledging duties. at
the end of July, the abstainers found that
they had surpassed the remainder of the
Alert's crew in the number of days sledg-
ing performed. On this occasion Ayles had
been out 10 days and Malay 9S, land it
is a rema, kable fact the latter remarks,
''that neii her Of us was attacked with sour
w, but enjoyed good health. and were only
weakened by our arduous duties in sledg
irg work" Adam Ayles is believer in
Adams ale aud a teetotaler of many years
standing. He was not only out for 110
days sledgng, but on one occasion he was
out no less than 81 days from the ship at a
. time. On this occasion scurvy had at
tackled the party, and had gained on them
So suddenly that, with the exception of
Lieutenant Aldrcl and Aylcs, the whole
of the men (seven in number) were in a
helpless condition. Dodge and Mitchell
still managed to struggle by The side of the
sledge, but the other inyalds. who had
held cut until the last moment, were Oh
liged to be carried. We have ahcady stated
/ that of the two who were free from scurvy
Adam Ayles was one. The other was
Lieutenant Aldrich, who although not an
ahstainer. was next door to one, diluting
} his rum mrIe than any other member of
the expedition. During the whole of his
sledge journeys Ayles ate aud slept well,
and bore ,he cold even better than those
who were accustomed to take stiDulants.
The rest of the party bad a double allow
F., ance of grog, forty-five above proof, before
turning iu. They also smoked great
deal, buj for his part Ayles says he neither
drank nor smoked, and he took care that
his allowance of grog was stopped on join
ing ihe ship. Twice a week there was
, beer served out, which was considered a
great luxury, as it occupied much room in
the travelling. He was never in better
health in his life than ut the present time.
Henry Petty, tectotaler of sixteen
yeas s sandprg, was the Only total abstairer
in the Discovery. He accompanied Cap
lain Stephenson in all his sleGging eXcur-
sions. aud as it fell to his lot 30 act rs cook
while they were away from the ship, and
he was thus obliged to get out in the cold
for an hour and n half in the morning, and
for the same period in the evening, be was
most exposed to the frost of any man in the
ship. lie was sledging sixty days in all.
On one occasion he accompanied the cap
tain TO the Alert, distance of some uinety
miles, doing the journey in four days aud
eight hours, aud returning IN three days
aud d half. lie had been medically ex
amincd on Tuesday by the doctor of the
ship. with the .est of the crew, and he
j learned that lie had never been treated for
scnrvy. He had only suffered from cut
in The hand. lie believed that his immunity
from disease was cu,itely owing to his tee
intalism. He had slept well throughout
the campaign, and bad relished his food.
lie had also escaped frost bite.
Gore, it seems, had beenaan ahstainer
until he was twenty-oue years Old but in
} All ulle nlpuCiiL WlllIP on me
journeys, he succumbed to the temptation
aud persuasion of his companions, aud took
the grog. Previous to breaking his pledge
Gore states that he could eat as well as any
one. In fact, after devouring his portion
he was in the habit of looking about foI
/ more but no sooner had he taken to grog
drinking than he found his appetite 10 fail,
and he was deprived of the refreshing sleep
which he had formerly enjoyed. He was
the only Good Templar who joined the ex
pedition that was attacked with scurvy, and
, for this he was no doubt iuCebted TO his
unfaithfulness. He gave stimulants, he
remarks, fair trial, and he is now con-
vnced that it was the grog which did the
mischief. 1t may be noticed hat the testi-
mouy of the whole ships companies-doc-
tors and officers iEcluded-is unanimous
and conclusive against the serving out Of
stimulauts during the day. They emphat-
ically state that no work can be done upon
grog. but many of them seem TO cling to
the belief that glass at night was SOW
ereign recuperative agent, and fitted them
for the fatigues of the morning.
DIR. Coan. the senior medical officer on
board the Alert, speaks very favorably of
total abst inence as exhibited during the
petition, and his forthcoming report will
possess much interest.-L0ad0B Times.
NATURAL CURIosITY.-In the great val
ley between the north and south mountains
ln PppuSylyapi1 called the