The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-07-19

Lieutenant Greeley and Seven OF
His Party Found.

telegram was received at the Navy de-
partment this morning:
Hon. william y. Chandler, Secretary OF the
Navy, Washington. ID. c.:
ST. JOINS. N. f., July 1.-THE ThetIs.
Bear and Loch-Garry arrived here to-day
from West Greenland; all well. They
separated from the Alert, $50 miles north,
during gale at 0 p. IN. on June -. Five
miles of Cape Sabine, in Smiths Sound,
the Thetis and Bear rescued alive Lieu
tenant A. w. Greeley, Sergeant Brain
ard, Sergeant Frederlcks, Sergeant Long,
Hospital Steward Burbank, Private Con-
nell and Sergeant Ellison, the only sur
vivors Of the Lady Franklin bay expedi-
ton. Sergeant Ellison had lost both
hands and feet by frost bite, and died
July at God Haven three days after an
amputation, which had become impera-
tive. Seventeen Of the % persons COM
posing the expedition persisted by star
walton at the point where they were
found, and one was drowned while seal
ing to procure food. Twelve bodies Of
the dead we're rescued and are now on
board the Thetls and Bear.
One Esquimaux, Jurnevik, was buried
ut Risoo, In accordance with the desire
Of the inspector of Western Greenland.
The rest OF the bodies, buried In the ice
near the camp, were swept away TO sea
by wind and currents before my arrival,
and could not be recovered. The names
Of the dead recovered, with date Of
death, are as follows: Sergeant William
III. Gross, January |, 1884; Wederick, an
Esquimaux, April .; Sergeant Linn,
April @; Lieutenant Lockwood, April =;
Sergeant Jewell, April l2; Private Ellis,
May 10; Sergeant Ralston, May 20; Pri-
vate Henry, June @, and Private Schnei-
der, June Is. The names Of the dead,
buried In the Ice fort, with the date Of
death, whose bodies were not recovered,
are as follows Sergeant Rice, April o,
1884; Corporal Salon, June @; Assistant
Surgeon Parry, June @; Sergeant Gard
ner, June IL, drowned by breaking
through newly formed ice while sealing;
J. L. Edwards, April a..
l would urgently suggest that the
bodies now on board, be placed in
metallic cases here for safer and better
transportation In sea way. This ap-
pears to me imperative.
Greeley abandoned Fort Conger on
August 0, 1883, and reached Baird inlet
September 0. following, with his entire
party. He abandoned all his boats and
was adrift 80 days on an ice foe IN
Smith sound. His permanent camp was
established October 81, 1883, at the point
where he was found. During nine
months his party had to live upon
scant allowance of food brought from
Fort Conger and that cached at Payer
harbor and Cape Isabella by Sir George
NareZ In 1875, but found much damaged
by the lapse of time, and that cached by
Beebe at Cape Sabine in 1882. A small
amount was saved from the wreck
of the Proteus in 1888 and landed by
Lieutenants Darlington and Colwell on
the beach near where Greeley's party
was found. When these provisions
were consumed the party was forced
to live upon boiled sealskin, stripped
from the sealskin clothing and lichens
and shrimps caught in good weather
when they were strong enough to make
the exertion. As 1t took 100 shrimps
to fill the gallon measure the labor was
too exhausting to depend upon them to
sustain life entirely. The channel be-
tween Cape Sabine and Littleton island
did not close on account of violent gales
all the winter so that the 240 rations at
the latter point could not be reached.
All Of Greeley's records and all the in
struments brought by him from Fort
Conger are recovered and are on board.
From Hare island to Smiths sound
had constant and furious struggle with
the Ice In impossible foes. The solid
barriers were overcome by watchfulness
and patience. No opportunity to ad-
vance mile escaped me. For several
hundred miles the ships were forced to
ram their way from lead to lead through
ice varying thickness from three to
six feet and when RATED much greater.
The Thetis and Bear reached Cape
York on June is, after passage of 81
days In Melville bay, with two advance
ships of the Dundee whaling fleet and
continued to Cape Sabine. Returning
seven days later, we fell In with seven
others Of this fleet Off Woosterholm
island, and announced the rescue to
them, that they might not be delayed
from their fishing grounds nor be
tempted into the danger Of Smiths
sound In view of the reward of $4,000
offered by Congress.
Returning across Melville bay we fell
In with the Alert and Loeb Garry of
the Devils Thumb, struggling through
heavy ice. Commander Coffin did adj
mirably to get along so far with the
transport so early in the season before
the opening had occurred.
Under Lieutenant Emery Webb, the
Bear has supported me throughout with
great skillfulness and unflinching readi.
ness In the accomplishment of the great
duty Of relieving Greeley. The Greeley
party are very much improved since Oh
board, but their condition was critical
In the extreme when found, and fol
several days after. F0rty-eight hours
waiting would have been fatal to all the
living. The season ut the north was the
latest closing for years. Smiths SOUND
was not open when l left Cape Sabin
The winter about Melville bar was tn,
most severe for 30 years. This grea
result, due to the unwearied persistence
Of your efforts and the Secretary o
Wars In fitting out this expedition, II
has the honor of having accomplished
w. s. SCHLEy, Commander.