Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-19
A STORY OF THE RESCUE.
SERGT. LONG FIRST TO HEAR
THE LAUNCH'S WHISTLE.


Almost too Weak to Answer the Wei
come siSnaI-COnneI so Weak as to be
Unable to Realize his Good Fortune
for Several Days-Sergt. Fredericks
Describes the Heartrending Death
Of Artist Riee-PIans of the Rescuine
Fleet.
ST. JOHN, N. f., July 1s.-Sergeant
Long, Of the Greely party, who was the
first to respond to the welcome tone of
the steam whistle, says that he and Ser
geant Brainard were the first to hear the
sound and they helped each other to
crawl out of the tent.
When Sergt. Long got clear OF the entangle-
meat oi the tent which had been swept to the
ground he rose to his feet with great difficulty
ana succeeded in clambering up to a rock that
gave the most extensive view in that neigh
Dornood. Sergt. Brainard went back, but
Sergt. Long stayed, looking in every direction
for some strange object. At length he saw an
unwonted sight, large black object about a
mile distant, which at first looked like a rock
put ne knew that there was none there.
suddenly the steam launch changed its course
and Sergt. Long recognized the approach of the
rescuefs. He came down from the rock went
towards the camp, raised flag pole and flag
which had been blown down, and held 1t for
about two minutes tfil his strength gave out
and It fell again to the ground. He then adj
Vanced totteringly in the direction of the Int
tie steamer, and soon the warm hand of Capt
Ash had grasped his in greeting.
CoNNELL TOO WEAK TO REALIZE IT.
Maurice COnnell, who is still excessively
weak, said that for some days after his rescue
ne had no recollection of anything that trans
pred lie did not hear the awakening scream
OF the whistle. When his comrades shook him
from his PROSTATE position in the camp and
told MIN that succOr was at hand. he wildly
exclaimed, For Gods sake, let me die in
Nuaf ae
70 his lips called back the heeting
ltfe-spark, for Connell could not have
survived more than few hours.
and the strongest must have succumbed in
forty-eight hours. The story told by Connell
IRON his recollection Of their starvation eX-
perience IS simply heartrending-how they
burned the hair on their seals, cut them into
strips, boiled them into stew and ate vora-
ciously of them till their stomachs rebelled
and nausea and weakness ensued4 In several
cases nature gave no call for twelve fifteen
and even eighteen days, and then bloody
hemOrrhage and consequent weakness ensued.
prostrating the victims for several days.
FIGHTING AGAINST FREEZING.
The difficulty of keeping heat in the body
was great. The rule of the camp was 10
permit no one to sleep longer than two hours.
lie was awakened roughly and called ND to
shake himself, beat his hands, pound his feet
and restore circulation. This was found
absolutely necessary to prevent torpor and
possible death, the usual accOmpaniments Of
intense cold.
Commander Sohley has received instruc-
tlons from the Secretary of the Navy to remain
at st. John till there are twelve iron caskets
constructed to receive the bodies of the de-
ceased explorers. The survivors are all doing
well, but are still weak and suffer from nerv-
GUS prostratlon. Lieut.. Greedy has improved
from l2O pounds weight ON June % to 1859
pounds to-dav. Sergt. Brainerd and the
weather here is delightful and all that could
be desired for the sufferers, the mercury rang
ing from 65 to 75 degrees. Great sympathy is
evinced by all classes here alike for the sur
vivors and the dead, and every token of
respect is manifested for them.
A soMBRE SCENE.
The Thetis and Bear, as they ride quietly
at anchor in the harb&r, wear sOmbre and
mournful appearance, with the flags OF the
United States at half-mast. The United
States war ship Alert arrived here at S
O'Clock tonight. Her detention was caused
by fog and search for the other ships of
the squadron. ALI on board are well.
Sergeant Julius Il. Fredericks relates
mournfully the tragic story of George Rice,
the artist OF the expedition. April Rice
and Fredericks volunteered to leave
tance of twenty-five miles for
some meat that was cached near Cape Isa-
bella. They had sled, rifle, and a hatchet,
and provisions for five days. They travelled
for three days, but failed TO find the cache. On
the way to their camp Rice got weak and |
gave up. He was attacked by the bloody
H.
succumbed, and was inferred in an ice grave. |
Fredericks camped out that night under the
fragment of boat, and the next day
revisited his companion to pay |
the last tribute to the remains, |
Frederlcks retained sufficient strength to drag |
the sledge back to the camp, where he encoun- |
tered more woe in the form of Lockwood and |
another. The cached meat that Fredericks
and Rice were in search of was brought by
them on April from Cape Isabella and aban-
doned the next day. Rice was the life of the |
party, full Of hope, buoyancy and energy, and |
his death was terrible blow to them. He |
dled In brave struggle to prolong their ex-
istence.
CARING FOR THE SURVIVORS.
WASHINGTON, July S.-Rear-AdmiraI |
Nichols, Acting Secretary of the Navy, |
and Gen. HaZen, Chief Signal Officer, had |
a conference to-day, at which it was con-
cluded to suggest to Commander Schley |
that he bring the survivors of the Greely |
party from st. John to Portland, Me-, |
where they can remain until better pre-
pared to stand change of climate. Their |
families can join them at Portland, if so |
desired. The vessels of the expedition |
will remain at st. John several days.