Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-17
SEVENTEEN STARVED TO
DEATH.
RESCUE BY THE THETIs AND BEAE
Another Terrible Chapter in the
Story of Arctic Horrors.
REPORT OF COMMANDER sCHLEY.
History Of the Greedy Colony and 0
the Relief Expeditions.

ton, D. c.:
The Thetis and Bear and Lock Garry arrived
here to-day from West Greenland: all Well Sepa-
rated from the Alert $50 miles north. during gale.
At p. m June %, five miles OF Cape Sabine, In
Smith sound. Thetis and Bear rescued. alive Lieut..
A. w. Greedy, Sergeant Braincrd Sergt Fredericks,
Sergt Long, Hospital Steward Beiderback, Private
Conneh and Sergt. Ellison, the only survivors Of
the Lady Franklin bay expedition. Serg. Ellison
lost both hands and feet by frost bite and died July
9Th, at Godhaven, three days after amputation,
which had become imperative. Seventeen OF the
twenty-five persons composing their expedition
perished 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 Thet1s and Bear one, ErSmo
the desire OF the inspector Of Mister Gzzand. Five
ooaies buried IN the ice lort near the camp were
sweps away 70 sea ey WINDS and currents before
my arrival, and could not be recovered.
NAMES OF DEAD
recovered, with date OF death, as follows Sergt.
Cross, January lst, 1884; Wederck Eskimo, April
9Th; Sergt Linn, April 9Th; Lieut. Lockwood, April
9th; Sergt- Jewell, April 18th; Private Ellis, May
,stn Ms Ssergt Ralston May Ssd Private Whistler,
der, June 18th.
Names or dead buried in the ice fort with date OF
death where bodies were not recovered as follows:
Sergt Rice, April 9th, 1884, Corporal Saern June 3D.
private Bender, June 9Th; Acting Assistant Sergt
II.
Drowned while breaking through the newly
lormed Ice while sealing: Jens Edwards Eskimo,
April oath.
would urgently suggest that bodies now on
poard De placed In metallic case here for safer and
Detler TRANSFORMATION In sea way. This appears
10 me Imperative.
SLOW STARVATION.
Greely abandoned Fort Conger August 9th, 1888,
and reached Baird Inlet September 29th following
with entire party well. Abandoned all his boats
and was adrft for thirty days Ice foe In Smiths
SOdn !; MS permanent camp was established Octo-
Der 2lst. 1885, at point where he was found during
nine months his party had to live upon scant al
lowance of food brought from Fort Conger that
cached Payer Harbor and Cape Isabella by Sir
George Mares, In 1875, but found much damaged by
iapSe OF time. That cached by Beebee at Cape
Sabine In 1882 and small amount saved from
wreck OF Proteus In 1888 and landed by Leutenants
Darlington and Cowel on beach where Greelys
party was found camped. When these provisions
We're consumed the party was forced to live upon
boiled seaskin strips from their sealsktn clothing
lchens and shrimps preserved In good weather
When they were strong enough to make the exer-
tlon AS 1900 shrimps were required to fill gallon,
measure the labor was too exhausting 10 de-
pend upon them to sustain life entirely The chan
mel between Cape Sabine and Littleton Island did
not close on account OF the violent gales all winter,
SO that 24O rations at the latter point could
reached. All Greely's records and all the tnstru-
menLs brought by him from Fort Conger are re-
covered and are On board.
FIGHTING THE ICE.
From Hare Island to Smiths Sound had a
constant and furious struggle with ice; i'm
passable foes Solid barriers OF ice were over
come 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 thick
ness from three to Six feet and when RATED much
greater Ihetfs and Bear reached Cape York June
18th, after passage OF twenty -one days In Mel
Vile bay with the two advance ships OF the Dundee
whaling fleet, and continued to Cape Sabine. Re-
turn ng seven days later fell in with others
OF this fleet on NostenhOlme island, and announced
Greely's rescue TO them that they might not be
into the dangers OF Smiths Sound. In view OF the
reward OF S25 200 offered by Congress Returning
across Melville bay fell in with Alert and Lock
Garry on Devils thumb, struggling through heavy
ice. Commander Cof1n did admirably TO get along
SO far with transport SO early In the season before
Bear. has supported me throughout with great
sk1llrulness and unflnching readiness in accom-
piishlng the great duty OF relieving Greedy.
would ask instruction about Lock Garry as the
charter party held by her master differs In several
respects from mine.
IN FoRTY-EIGHT HOURS MORE NOT 4 SURVIVOR
WOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT.
Greely party are very much improved since res
cued but were critical in the extreme when found,
and for several days afterwards. Forty-eight
hours delay In reaching them would have been
fatal to all now living. Season north Is late, and
closest for years. Smiths sound was not open
bay most severe for twenty years. This great re-
suit IS entirely due TO the unwearied energy OF
yourself and Secretary OF War in fitting out this
expedition for the work it has had the honor to
accomplish w. S. SCHLEY. Commander.
Dispatch from the Navy Department to
Commander Schley.
Admiral Nichols, acting Secretary OF the Navy,
this morning sent the following telegram to Com
mander Schiey, at st. johns
"use your discretion about care and transporta-
ton OF bodies Report by Wire when ready to sail
for New York. Department sends most hearty con-
gratulations to yourself, officers, and men,"
How the News was Received Here.
THE TELEGRAxs READ TO THE PRESIDENT AND SENT
OVER THE cOUNTRY-EXCITEMENT AT THE NAVY
DEPARTMENT.
The news Of the rescue Of the survivors OF the
Greely party, which was received at O'Clock,
spread like wild fire, and all over the city inquiries
were made OF those who were supposed to know as
to its authenticity. The telegram was received ia
three sections. AS soon as the first section which
contained the full news, was received, it was i'm
mediately sur mtted to Admiral Nichols who is
OF secretary Chandler. With the telegram in hts
hand he sought Gen. Sheridan, Acting Secretary
Of Wa ad AFTER breaking the news to him
showed the telegram to the President, who has
takes deep interest in the expedition, and ex-
pressed great concern at the sad death OF so many
OF the party. AS the succeeding kilograms were
received, copies were made on the hektograph and
sent to the various government officials in the diff
ferent departments and the whole telegram was
put upon the wires and sent to Secretary Chandler
at West Point, and to Secretary Lincoln at New
1OTk 1uc IdulllleS OF Lieut.. Greely, commander
Schley and Lieut. Emory were also informed OF the
rescue.
EXCITEMENT AT THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
For hours after the first receipt of the news there
was great excitement at the Navy department. The
chief clerks room was crowded with clerks outside
officials, and newspaper reporters, anxious to get
the fun returns The telephone kept up constant
ringing, and inquiries came from all parts OF the
city from interested parties asking for Information
regarding the safety OF certain members OF the
party. In the judge advocate generals of1ce, ad-
Joining that OF the Chief c.erk, typewriter was
kept going to make a copy OF the telegram, which
was Immediately manifoided by means OF the HEX
tograph Newspaper reporters, unwilling To wait
for the official copies, took down the news as it was
dictated to the typewriter, and the Information
shed over the wires In every direction. After
the excitement had subsided the telephone kept
up its ringing.
An Interview With General HaZen.
HOW TIE PARTY MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVED II MORE
STORES HAD BEEN LEFT AT CAPH sABNE-NRS.
GRIZZLY INFORMED, &C.
Shortly after the news was first received STAR
reporter found General Hazen carefully perusing
the telegram In answer to the reporters greeting
he said: ut ts joyful news In some respects and
sad In othera am particularly reJoiced for two
things, that Greedy himself Is safe, and that the
fact the failure a tn