The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-07-25

least until ADVANCEMENT IN Navigation anu
the sciences have provided greater security |
for those who search out the great unknown
amid the ice Of half the world, beyond the
dead line Of graves that lie under the glitter
Ing stars of the North.
THE GREEDY PARTY SAVED.
The Relief Expedition Under schley Re
turns to St. Johns with Six Survivors.
Found on the Very Verge of Starvation In .
Remote Beach of Smiths Sound.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE following
telegram was received at the Navy Depart
ment this morning:
ST. JOINS, N. F., July II, o a. m.-Hon.
William E. Chandler, Secretary of the Navy,
Washington: The Thetis, Bear, and Lock
Garry arrived here to-day from West Green
land. All are we'll. They separated from
the Alert $50 miles north, during a gale at 0
p. m, June %, five miles off Cape Sabine, in
Smiths Sound. The Thetis has rescued
alive: Lieut.. A. w. Greedy, Ser. Brainerd,
Sergt. Fredericks, Sergt. Long, Hospital
Steward Beiderback, Private Connell, and
Ssrgt. Ellison, the only survivors of the Lady
Franklin Bay expedition. Sergt. Ellison had
lost both hands and feet by frost bite, and
died July 9th at God Haven, three days after
amputation, which had become imperative.
Seventeen Of the twenty-five persons com
posing the expedition persisted by starvation
at the point where found. One was drowned
while sealing to procure food. Twelve
bodies OF the dead were rescued, and are
now on board the Thetis and the Bear. One
Esquimaux was buried at Disco, in accord
ance with the desire of the Inspector Of
Western Greenland. Five bodies buried in
the ice near the camp were swept away to
sea by the winds and currents before my
arrival, and could not be recovered.
Greedy abandoned Fort Conger August s,
1888, and reached Baird Inlet September 20,
following, with the entire party. He aban-
doned all bis boats and was adrift thirty days
on An ice foe on Smiths Sound. His per-
manent camp was established October 81,
1883, at the point where be was found. Dur
ing nine months his party had TO live upon
a scant allowance Of food brought from Fort
Conger, that had been cached at Payer Har-
Dor and Cape Isabella by Sir George Mares
In 1875, but found much damaged by the
lapse of time. They also had that cached
by Bebee at Cape Sabin in 1882, a small
amount saved from the wreck Of the Proteus
In 1888, and landed by Lieuts. Darlington
and Colewell on the beach near where
Greely's party was found. When their pro-
visions were consumed the party was forced
to live upon boiled seal skins stripped from
the seal-skin clothing, and lichens and
shrimps caught in good weather, when they
were strong enough to make the exertion, as
1t took thirteen hundred shrimps to fill a
gallon measure, and the labor was too ex-
hausting TO depend upon them to sustain life
entirely. The channel between Cape Sabine
and Littleton Island did not close, on &C.
count of violent gales, all winter, so that the
rations at the latter point could not be
reached. All Of Greely's records and all his
instruments, brought by him from Fort Con.
ger, are recovered, and are on board. From
Hare Island to Smiths Island had q con-
slant and furious struggle with Ice and i'm
passable foes. Solid barriers were overcome
by watchfulness and patience. No opportu-
nifty to advance mile escaped me, and for
several hundred miles the ships were forced
to ram their way from lead to lead through
ice varying in thickness from three to six
feet, and, when RATED, much greater. The
Thetls and the Bear reached Cape York June
18th, after passage of twenty -one days in
Melville Bay, with two advance ships Of the
Dundee whaling feet, and continued to Cape
Sabine. Returning seven days later, they
fell In with seven others of this feet off the
coast Of Holm Island, and announced Gree
lys rescue, that they might not be delayed
from their fishing grounds, nor be tempted
into the dangers Of Smiths Sound in view of
the reward of $4,000 offered by Congress.
Returning across Melville Bay, they fell In
with the Alert aud Lock Garry, of DEVILS
Thumb, struggling through The heavy ice.
Commander Coffin did admirably to get
along so far with the transport SO early In
the season, before the opening had occurred.
Lieut.. Emory, with the Bear, has supported
me throughout with great skillfulness and
unfinching readiness in accomplishing the
great duty of relieving Greedy.
The Greedy party are very much improved
since the rescue, but were critical in the ex-
treme when found, and for several days after.
Forty-eight hours delay In reaching them
would have been fatal to all now living.
The season north is late and the closest for
years. Smiths Sound was not open when
eft Cape Sabine. The winter about Melville
Bay was the most severe for twenty years.
This great result is entirely due TO the I'M
wearied energy of yourself and the Secretary
Of War In fitting out this expedition for the
work 1t has had the honor to accomplish.
w. ii. ScHLEY, Commander.