Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-01-26
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INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE ARCTIC
EXPEDITION.

ial abstinence. The aDSlalners VINO went
out with the expedition were six-viz. :
William Malay, Adam Ayles, william
Gore, Joiner and Sell, Of the Alert, aud
Henry Petty of the Discovery. There were
two or three other seamen who Joined the
Temperance cause during the commission,
and il is only fair TO state that the novices
suffered from scurvy like the rest of the
crew.
Malay was not employed on any long
journeys, but was repeatedly out with sup
porting parties. He states that the sledg-
i0g parties of the Alert suffered greater pri-
vatiOns than those from the sister ship.
They had pushed beyond the limit OF ami
NAL life, and their supplies OF reindeer aud
musk-ox were soon exhausted. They were
consequently obliged to subsist entirely up
on ships stores, aud this enforced absti-
nence from animal food made them in a
special degree susceptible TO scurvy. On
the termination VI the sledging duties at the
end Of July The abstainers found that they
had surpassed the remainder OF the Alerts
crew in the number of days sledging per-
formed. On this occasion Ayles had been
out 10 days, and Malay 9s, "and it is re-
markable fact" the latter remarks, "that
neither OF us was attacked by scurvy, but
enjoyed good health, and were only weak
ened by our arduous duties in sledging
work"
Adam Ayles is a tcetotaler Of many years
standing. He was not only out for ITO
days sledging, but on one occasion he was
lne ell 10,
time. On this occasion scurvy had at
tackled the party, aud had gained on them
50 suddenly that with the exception of
Lieut.. Aldricb and Ayles, the whole of the
men (seven in number) were in helpless
condition. Dodge and Mitchell still man
aged 10 struggle by the side Of the sledge,
but the other four invalids, who had held
out until the last moment, were obliged to
he carried. We have already stated that of
the two who were free from the scurvy,
Adam Ayles was one. The other was
Lient. Aldrich, who, although not an alb
stainer, was next door TO one, diluling his
rum more than any other member of the
expedition. During the whole of bis sledge
journeys Ayes ate and slept well, and bore
tue COlu tNtu bbNlSA tldu thOoO W bO ntIO
accustomed to lake stimulants. The rest
OF the party had a double allowance OF
grog, 40 above prof, before turning in.
They also smok ed a great deal, but for his
part, Ayles says he neither drank nor
smoked, and he took care that his allow
ance Of grog was stopped Oh joining the
ship. Twice week there was beer served
out, which was considered great luxury,
as ii occupied much room in the travelling,
and was deali out very sparingly. He was
never in better health in his life than at the
present time.
Henry Petty, a teetotaller of l6 years
standing, was the only total abstainer in
the Discovery. He accom- 'anied Capt. Ste
pbenson in all his sledging excursions, aud
as it fell 10 his lot 10 act as cook while they
were away from the ship, and be was thus
obliged 10 get out into the cold for an hour
aud half in The morning and for the same
period in the evening, he was IN Ost exposed
to the frost Of any man in the ship. He
was sledging sixty days in all. On one oc-
casion he accompanied the captain 10 the
Alert, distance Of some ninety miles, do
ing the journey in four days and eight
hours, and returning in three days and
half He had been medically examined on
Tuesday by the doctor OF the ship, with the
rest Of the crew, and he learnt that lie had
never been treated for scurvy. He had on
ly suffered from cut in the hand. He be-
lieved that his immunity from disease was
entirely owing TO his teetotalism. He had
slept well throughout the campaign and
had reished his food. He had also escaped
frost bite.
Gore, 1t seems, had been an sbstainer un-
ill he was 81 years old, but in an unguard-
ed moment while on the sledge Journeys,
lie succ umbed to the temptation aud per-
suasion of his com panions, and took to
grog. Previous TO breaking bis pledge,
Gore states that he could eat as well as any
one. In fact, afler oevouring his portion,
he was in the habit of looking about for
more; but no sooner had he taken TO grog-
drinking than he found his appetite began
TO fail, and he was deprived OF the refresh
ing sleep which he had formerly enjoyed.
He was The only Good Templar who Joined
the expedition thai was attack ed with sour
Wy, and for this he was no coubt indebted
to his unfaithfulness. He gave stimulants,
he remarks, fair trial, and he is now con-
vinced that ii was the grog which did the
mischief. 1t may be noticed that the testi-
mony of the whole ships ompanles-doc-
tors and officers included-is unanimous
and conclusive against the serving out of
stimulsnts during the day. They emphat-
ically state that no work can be done upon