Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-07-20

The Expedition Lately Returned Gave
GreeIy an Often Sought Opportunity to
Gain Justice SO Long Refused the Heroic
Commander.
WASHINGTON, d. c, July l7.-Lieut
Greely, whose heroism will now be eXtolled
throughout the civilized world, and whose
merit has at last been recognized, was for
years, aud session after session, postulaut
before Congress asking to be awarded the
rank to which he was entitled, and from
which he had been deprived BY transfer
from one arm OF the service to the other.
By this transfer he had been placed lower
in line and rank than he should have been.
He appealed in vain 20 the sense of justice
Of the war department and Of the adjutant
generals Office for relief Failing to obtain
this he sought the intervention
Of Congress but was 80 per
sisteutly fought ov West Point in
flueuce that he never succeeded in securing
the passage of his bill. Lieut. Greely en-
listed aS private, and served as corporal
and first sergeant of company b, 18th Mas
sachusetts volunteers. He was promoted
ia 1853 10 be second lieutenant Of the Slst
United States cOlored infantry. In 1864,
while holding the rank of first lieutenant,
he was breYeted major 'or gallant and mer-
itoriOus service He was mustered ont Of
the cOlOged troops as captain in 1861,
when he was appointed a second lieutenant
IN the %Gth infantry Under the subsequent
reorganization Of the army he became
superuumersry and was unassigned until
transferred to the ,jth cavalry in 1869. In
1873 he was promoted to the rank Of first
lieutenant which he at present holds. lie
stands now number seventeen on the list of
first heutenants of cavalry. 1t will there
fore he seen that be is only a first lienteu-
ant after seventeen years of service Had
Congress passed his bill he would have
been awarded the linesl rank in the cavalry
arm which he held in the infantry service
and that would have advanced him to
csptaincy long since. Lieut.. Greely has
always felt very keen sense of injustice
respecting this matter and for that reason
earnestly desired to 60 on this expedition in
search ofreputation and fame.
The Beebs Expedition.
II will be noticed in the details Of the
Greely rcScue that here and there is men
toned the Beebe expedition. which failed to
find GreCly but left some stores where il
seems tley were subsequently found. There
IL painful episode here which deserves
mention. Mr.. Beebe served with distinc
ton during the war ot the rebellion ON the
stsS OF Gen. Ha1n, and WAS brcveted Wa
ior foy distinguished services. He was
sferwsrd appointed captain in the regular
army but ia the reduction under the act Of
July. 1870, was placed on the supcrnumcr
ary list and honorablv discharged. His
friends claimed that tais was the result Of
personal malice ou the part Of is depart.
ment commander growing out Of quarrel
in which Beehe resented u personal affrOnt
Several bills were presented in Congress to
restore Capt. Beebe 10 the army. and great
influence was used from the State of Ohio
to secure their passage He failed, how.
ever, to obtain what he desired ow-
ing to the opposition Of the Adju-
tant Generals Office. When Gen. Hazcn
Vas appointed chief signal officer to sue
ceed the late Gen. Mver, Becbc WAS given.
at Hszens solicitation, IN appointment as
clerk in the general service and was as
signed TO duty in the signal bureau Here
he remained as an enlisted man until Hsz-
en- dispatched him in the first attempted re
lief expedition Of Greely. This effort
proved futile Beebe could not get through
the ice, and WAS forced to return without
having accomplished his mission, upon the
SUCCESS Of which he largely depended to Sc
cure his possible reinstatement in the army!
What traRspired subsequently to this is not
clearly known, but it is believed Beebe
found himself in the unenviablc position Of
q scspegoat He became gloomy and DIS
sipsted. aud was found dead in his bed at
his lodgings and is supposed to have taken
his own life. There was great effort made
TO conceal the fact and circumstances of his
suicide and poor Beebe passed away "uu-
handseied, disappointed and uusneledF