Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-20

until the middle Of February. No warmth
could be obtained from its rays. and Il was
along In March before IL shone on our hut,
owing TO the high hills -round us. The
only news that the party received Of the
outside world during al this time was OBJ
tained from scraps OF paper taken from 4
hex Of lemons landed by the Proteus before
she was crushed bv the Ice. We dried these
carefully and kept them, so that they could
be read over and over again By each
one OF the party. The lemons were
frozen and In good state Of pre-
scryation. and were OF inestimable
value 10 the men in their weak and
debiliiated condition. Every Sunday
served out quarter OF lemon to each per-
son. Bread and meat ratlons were issued
daily; oil other stores were issued on
Thursdays. On Sundays the ration was
increased little. AT Conger had been In
the habit Of letting each man choose his bill
Of fare when his birthday came. and tried
10 keep u up during our reduced days nj
Camp Clay. Any little divergence that
would break the monOtonv was OF great
value. Days 10 come would be ANTICIPATED,
whilereferenee 10 those past would occupy
us when there were none ahead to look for.
A iayorite amusement was 10 make out
bil OF fare OF what we would like when
relief came. The tastes OF the men were az
tonishingly varied, and when we look at
them now seem almost ludicrous. / tried
10 cali of their attention from the contem-
rlatiOn OF the frightful situation in which
we were placed. a series OF lectures was
begun aud other intellectual amusements,
all OF which had highly beneficial effect
on the tagging spirits OF the party. Two
hours day could be filled In by lecturing
on various subjects Of personal interest, in
Guiding the United States, their products,
&c. Each State would furnish the data,
and when the lecture was over q general
discussion would be entered into by all
hands, each one expressing bis views.
Mr.. Rice. the photographer. would devote
another hour each day. either In telling
stories, OF which he had large supply,
or else would draw from his stock OF gene
raj information, OF which be had a great
deal. DR.. Pavy would give very instruc-
tive and carefulIy-thought-up lectures
on history, despite the wretehed con-
dition OF his audience. Six days OF
the week were occupied In this man.
ner. On Saturday the subject would
be moving incidents by food and field,
in which each person would speak In
turn. In this manner the personal expe-
riences Of those who went on the various
sledging and exploring parties became
familiar to all. and enables us now to speak
most intelligentiy OF all the work we have
accomplished. The seventh day we rested
quietly, each one with his own thoughts.
The most trying position OF any indi-
yidual member Of the party was that occu-
pied by Sergeant Braiherd. Placed in a
similar position not one man in thousand
would have been as faithful to the tempt
ing responsibilities that were allotted him !
as he was while issuing rations TO the |
party. lie found himself, day after day, |
exposed TO the temptation OF partaking
Of more THAI his share OF the rapidly |
decreasing supplies; but he acted with
heroic fidelity, and never in one in
stance abused the confidence reposed in him
by his comrades. Indeed, he must have
used less food than the allotted amount, as
the supplies under his care turned out on
the approach Of spring fully 9 per cent.
more than the most sanguine of the porty
had dared to anticipate. In this way the
drenry weeks and months dragged slowly
and hopelessly along without leaving II ray
OF hope TO light up the souls OF that doomed
company Of victims to the cause Of science.
ON June Sd the party reached the highest
northern latitude by four miles in latitude
$50 2f/ 81.