Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-18

ST. JOHN, n. F., July lion the ar
rival at the anchorage of the relief squad
ron to-day an Associated Press CORE
sDondent interviewed Lieut.. Greelv and
the other survivors of the Arctic colony.
The following facts were disclosed:
After passing two winters at Fort Conger in
selentihc research Lieut.. Greely, with his
whole party intact. broke up their epcamp-
ment, and commenced the southward de-
scent. This was accomplished amid great
PeIlls from gales and ice Dlps and other cas-
uaitles. cape sabine having been reached a
temporary house was erected. built of stones
ana covered by boats and sails brought
along DY the party. On Sept. % winter quar-
ters were established at Cape Sabine The
con- omissariat had become very meagre and
the cScSe of provisions left by the Proteus last
year but poorly supplemented it,. The steam
launch had become fast in the ice few
weeks previous, and had 70 - - abandoned.
During the whole winter the party were con-
strained to exist on quarter rations and an
kinds OF food had to be utilized For six
weeks previous to the rescue regular prOvis-
Ions ceased to be given out. Seaweed, shrimps,
sealsklns, sassfras and every variety Of
shrub were greedily devoured.
Death made its first havoc in the ranks
early IN January. One of the men dropped
OF with seurvy.
MEETING HEROES DEATHS.
On the 9th of April Lieut.. Lockwood ana
Mr. Rice, the photographer, suecumbed, after
heroic attempt to secure for their starving
supposed
70 be cached at place named Bad Greek,
distant about fifteen miles from the encamp-
ment. Mr.. Israeli the astronomer persisted
on May "a: Lieut. kislinbury died on June
into death June 6. Not one of
the victims realized that death
was near: They all died tranquil, painless
death. Two EsquimauXs also perished-one
or starvation. The other was drowned, ,shis
kayak being pierced by some newly formed
ice on April Il, thus cutting of all hope of
getting any supply of seal meat for the staFv-
ing explorers. The Esquimaux were most
faithful and devoted followers and helpers
OF Lieut.. Greedy. Lieut.. Ellison was rescued
ana safely brought on board the steamship
Bear, where he died a few days subsequently.
His IS an extraordinary instance of human
endurance. While some ten miles from his
nut last winter the temperature suddenly
fell to 4S degrees belew zero.
ELLIsON's SUFFERING.
His hands and feet were frozen to the very
bone. and he was dragged by his comradc in
an almost dying condition to his hut. His
hands and feet were literally amputated by
lncisiye frost, and in this terrible
nal months that interYened between that
time and the rescue. The bodies of Y of the
victims have been brought up by the steamers
with alcohol. The survivors are all doing
well and are rapidly gaining flesh and
strength. Lieut.. dreely, who was in an
exceedingly critical condition when trans
ferred to the Thetis. is now able to move
about. This morning he drove out for an
hours ride to get the country air and came
back quite improved. The rescue took place
on June y under circumstances of
great difficulty. The Thetis and Bear
lay off from the shore about 800 wards
There was terrific gale blowing from the
southWest, heavy sea was running and a
formidable ice nip was apparently inevitable.
Lieut.. Greely and the other six survivors had |
to be transferred from their camp to the
stean launch and whale boat in their sleep
ing bags
DEATH ALMOST CERTAIN.
While steaming from land to the ships the
destruction OF the whole party at one time |
seemed certain. The sea swept furiously over |
Ill- Inem ana the Jury OF the wind threatened at
every instant to capsze them. At |
length they were safely placed on
board by the rescung squad, where |
every possible preparation had been made to |
discovered during the past winter by Lieut. |
Greely that Cape Sabine was part of an |
island, not main land, as was thought by pre-
Vlous geographefs. 1t is separated from the |
mainland by a narrow creek now called |
klce's strait, in memory Of the dead pho |
tograp9er; Lieut.. Greely informed the cor
scientific work had been done during the |
two seasons spent at Fort Conger by |
himself and his leutenants. About |
$500 miles of exploration had been effected |
and many valuable Observations-magnetic, |
thermometric and meteoToOgic-had been |
made, The winter of 1881 was the seyerest |
L thermometer
during February was As degrees below zero.
THE FOOD SUPPLY.
Seals were observed as high up in latitude as |
81 and 81 degrees. Several varieties of ducks |
were observed, and q variety of other birds |
known and unknown to ornitholOgists. Over |
100 musk oxen were slaughtered during the |
two winters at Fort COnger. Their flesh |
proved very valuable food, being palat- |
able, wholesome and nutritious. The whole |
official work Of the eXpedition-plans, |
nhntnRV~o nj IN fe1a a
sketches-have been saved and brought home |
by Lieut. Greedy. The Greely party |
reached the highest latitude ever reached |
by polar explorers, namely, S5 degrees and |
% 8 10 minutes. The coast of Greenland was |
carried up to SO degrees and 35 minutes. The |
steamship Alert parted company with the |
squadron yesterday of Tunk Islands, and has |
not yet reached port.
A COURT OF INQUIRY EXPECTED.
There is a general recognition of the |
tact That some one is responsible for the |
death Of the members of the Greely |
expedition who died from cold and hun |
ger, and general expectation that a |
court of inquiry will be ordered when the |
Secretary of War returns, to place this |
responsibility where it belongs.
CHANDLER AFFECTED BY THE NEWS. |
WEST POINT, N. Y, July 1.-THE fol- |
lowing dispatch has just been forwarded |
by Secretary Chandler:
To Commander w. s. Sch1ey, st. John. ". r.: |
Receive my congratulation and thanks, |
for yourself and your whole command, for |
your prudence, perseverance and courage in /
reaching our dead and wing countrymen. |
The hearts of the American people go out |
with great affection to Lieut.. Greely and the |
survivors of his deadly peril. Care for them |
unremittingly, and bid them be cheerful and !
hopeful on account of what life yet has in |
store for them. Preserve tenderly the re- /
mains Of the heroic dead; prepare them ac- |
cording to your judgment and bring them /
home.
[Signed WILLIAM e. CHANDLER.
Secretary of the Navy.
REJOICING IN LONDON.
LONDON, July 1.-THE newspapers here,
without exception. heartily rejoice over the |
rescue of the members of the Greely expedi- |
tion.