Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-07-18
STORY OF THE RESCUE.


squadron at st. Johns, N. F., yesterday, the
Associated Press correspondent interviewed
Lieut.. Greedy and the other survivors of the
Arctic colony and the following facts were
disclosed
After passing two winters at Fort Conger
in scientific, research, Lieutenant Greedy,
with his whole party intact, broke up their
encampment and commenced southwark
descent. This was accomplished amid great
casualties. Cape Sabine having been reach
ed, temporary house was erected, built of
stones and covered by the boats and sails
brought along by the party. On the 29th of
September winter quarters were established
at Cape Sabine. The commissariat had be-
come very meagre, and the cache of provi
.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 he abandoned. During the
whole winter the party were constrained to
exist on quarter rations, and all kinds of
food had to be utilized. For six weeks pre-.
vious to the rescue regular provisions ceased
to be given out Seaweed, shrimps, seal
skins, saxefrage and every variety of shrub,
were greedily devoured. Death made its
first havoc in the ranks early in January.
One of the men dropped off with scurvy on
the 9th OF April. Lieutenant Lockwood
and Mr.. Rice, the photographer, succumbed
after heroic attempt to secure for their
starving comrades about two hundred
pounds of meat supposed to be cached at
place named Bad Creek, distant about fif-
teen miles from the encampment. Mr..
| Israel, the astronomer, persisted on May
9th Lieutenant kislingbury died on June
LIST, and DR.. Pavy, the naturalist slept into
death on June 9th. Not one of the
victims realized that death was near.
They all died a tranquil, painless
death. The two Eskimos also perished-
one of starvation, the other was drowned,
his Kayak being pierced by some newly
formed ice on April II, thus cutting off all
hope of getting any supply of seal meat for
the starving explorers. The Eskimos were
most faithful and devoted followers and
rescued and safely brought on board the
steamship Bear, where he died few days
subsequently. His is an extraordinary in
stance of human endurance. While away
some ten miles from his hut last winter the
temperature suddenly fell to 4S0 below Zero
his hands and feet were frozen to the very
bone, and he was dragged by his comrades
| in an almost dying condition to his hut
His feet and hands were literally amputated
by the incisive frost and in this horrible
state he lived through the dismal months
that interviewed between that time and the
rescue, The bodies of twelve of the victims
have been brought up by the steamers
Bear and Thetis, embalmed in tanks filled
with alcohol. The survivors are all doing
WELL and are rapidly gaining flesh and
strength Lieut.. Greedy, who was in all ex
ceedingly critical condition when transfer
red TO the Thets, is now able to move about,
Yesterday morning he drove out for an
hours ride to get the country air, and came
back quite invigorated.
The rescue took place on the 22d of June,
under circumstances Of great difficulty. The
Thetis and Bear lay off from the shore about
800 yards. There was terrific gale blow.
ing from the southwest, Il heavy sea was
running, and a formidable ice nip was ap-
parently inevitable. Lieut. Greedy and the
other six survivors had to be transferred
from their camp to the steam launch and
whale boat in their sleeping bags, and while
steaming from the land TO the ships the de-
structiou of the whole party at one time
seemed certain. The sea swept furiously
over them, and the fury of the wind threat
ened at every moment to capsiZe them.
At length they were safely placed on board
the rescung squadron, where every posi-
| bic preparation had been made to insure
their recovery and comfort. 1t was discov-
cred during the past winter by Lieutenant
| Greedy that Cape Sabine was part of an is.
| land not the main land, az was thought by
previous geographers. 1t is separated from
the main land by narrow creek, now call.
ed Rice's Strait, in memory of the dead pho
tographer. Lieutenant Greedy informed
your correspondent that large body of val
liable scientific work had been done during
the two seasons spent at Fort Conger by him.
self and his Lieutenants, about 2, 500 miles
of exploration had been effected and many
valuable ns-magnetic, thermo-
metric and acknowledgement been made
| The winter of 1881 was the severest of the
three. The mean Of the thermometer dur
| ing February was 4S0 below zero. Seals
were observed as high up in latitude as 81
and 3d. Several varieties of ducks were OBJ
served, and a variety of other birds, known
and unknown to orpithologists. Over a
hundred musk oxen were slaughtered during
the two winters residence at Fort Conger
Their flesh proved very valuable food,
being palatable, wholesome and nutritious
The whole official work of the expedition
plans, sketches, Photographic plates and
scientific sketches--has been saved and
brought home by Lieutenant Greedy. The
Greedy party reached the highest latitude
ever yet reached by polar explorers, namely
S2o 25 5. 10> The coast of Greenland was
carried up to S3o So by observation, and
named Cape Lincoln. The steamship Alert
parted company with the squadron Wed
nesday off Turks Island, and has not yet
reached port.
CLEVELAND AND IRIsHMEN.-Ex-Sena