Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-07-25

party and who went before the Arctic
relief board last spring to urge the Of
fering of such rewards as would Sc
cure the cooperation of whalers in
the search, was asked tonight by an
associated press reporter what he
thought of the news just re-
ceiyed from ST. Johns. He
replied it is a story of remarkable
and hel ole achievement in the field,
followed by disasters due to.incompe-
tence in Washington. If Greeley and
his party had all returned in safety to
the United States as they might have
done had they been properly support
ed, their Arctic record in the point
of skilfull management and their
success would have been unparalleled
No other Arctic expedition has ever
spent two consecutive winters and a
part of the third in such high lati-
tudes and achieved such results with
out casualty or a single case of Sc
rious sickness. If Lieut.. Greeley had
fouad at the mouth of Smiths
Sound the shelter and food
which he had right to
expect there, he would probably have
brought his entire party back to the
the United States IN perfect health
after three winters spent in the highest
northern ATTITUDES which has ever been
reached and after a series of Shedding
campaigns which for boldness and
skillful exec ltion have rarely if ever
been surpassed.
PoUGHKIEPsIE, KY, July 17.-Sec-
rotary Chandler was found at Edward
Kinsiey's residence, at West Point
this evening reading dispatches from
acting secretary at Washington re-
lating to the Greeley rescue the same
as it appeared in the early evening
edition. He SAID he desired not to
be interviewed in detail. In
reply to questions he said !:
l have nothing additional to
communicate I'd the press The news
is sad, and yet it is fortunate that
some of the party has been rescued.
1t seems they did not begin to die of
starvation until April, as the report
Shows they went from January 1st to
April without any deaths. l had
some expectation of hearing from
them as soon as this. l think the
ships have - done remal kably
we'll to get out SO soon. 1t
is a pity that Lieut.. Darlington
did not remain at Littleton IslaId
after the Proteus was lost, IN accord
ance with instructions, for he would
have been rejoined by the Yantic
with provisions and supplies, and
would have rescued Greeley and his
party entire at Cape Sabine.
ST. JOHNS, N. F., July 17.-On ar
rival at the anchorage of the relief
squadron to-day, the associated press
correspondent interviewed Lieut..
Greeley and other survivors of the
Arctic colony. The" following facts
were disclosed: After passing two
waters at Fort, Conger, in scientific
research, Lieut.. Greeley, with his
whole party intact, broke up their en-
campment and commenced a south
ward descent. This was accom-
plished amid great perils from
gales of wind, ice nips and
other casualties. Cape Sabine
having been reached, a temporary
home was erected, built of stones and
covered by the boats sails, which
were brought along by the party.
On the 29th of September winter
quarters were established at Cape Sa-
bine. The commissariat had become
very meagre and a cache of provis-
ions left by the Proteus last year, but
poorly supplemented it. The steam
launch had become fast in the
ice few weeks previous and had to be
abandoned during the winter. The
first havoc in the ranks was early in
JAN, VIXEN one of the men dropped of
with the scurvy. On April 9th Lieut..
Lockwood and Mr. Rice photograph
err, succumbed after heroic attempt
to secure for their starving comrades
about 200 pounds of meat supposed to
be cached at place named Bad Greek
distant about Is miles from the en-
campment. Israel Astron persisted
May 81; Lieut.. klslen died June 1st
and DR.. Pavey, naturalist slept in
death June 9th. Not one of the vic
TINS realized that death was near.
They all died tranquil, painless
deaths. Two Esquimeaux also per
ished. one Of starvation, the other
drowned, his koyak being pierced by
some newly formed ice April II, thus
cutting off all hope of getting sup
ply of seal meat for the starving ex-
plorers. The Esquimeaux were most
faithful and devoted followers and
helpers of Lient. Greeley.
Ellison was rescued and safely
brought on board the steamship Bear,
where he died a few days subsequent
ly. His extraordinary instance of
human endurance, while away some
ten miles from his hut, last winter,
the temperature suddenly fell As de-
grees below zero His hands
ana feet were frozen to the
very bone and he was dragged by his
comrades in an almost dying condi-
ton to his hut. Ills feet and hands
were literally anputated by incisive
frost, and in this terrible state he Lived
through the dismal months that in
tervened between that time and the
rescue. The bodies of twelve of the
victims have been brought up by the
steamers Bear and Thetls, embalmed
in tanks flied with alcohol. The sur
vivors are all doing well and rapidly
gaining flesh and strength.
Lieut.. Greeley, who was in an ex-
ceedingly critical condition when
transferred to the Thetis, is now able
to move about. This morning he
drove cut for an hours ride to get
country air, and came back quite re
suscitated The rescue took place on
the 22d of June under circumstances
of great difficulty. The Thetis and
Bear lay off from the shore about 300
yards; there was a terrific gale blow
ing from the southwest with a heavy
sea, The party We're con con
rations and all kinds of
food had to be utilized. For six weeks
previous to the rescue regular pro-
visions ceased to be given, but sea
weed, shrimp, se2lskins, sassafras
and every variety of shrub were
greedily devoured Death made its
first havoc in our ranks early in
January, and a formidable ice nip
was apparently inevitable. Lieut..
Greeley and the ether six survivors
had TO be transferred from their camp
to the steam launch and whale boat
in their sleeping bags. aud while
from the land to the ships
the destruction of the whole party at
one time seemed certain. The
sea swept furiously over them and the
fury of the wind Threatened eyeru in