Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-07-24

capes westward of the furthest seen by
Mares in 1876. The sound extends twenty
miles further west than shown by the En-
gel Land chart, but is possibly shut in by
land which showed across the western end
The two years of station duties, Observa
tions, all explorations and the retreat tC
Cape Sabin were accomplished without
loss of life, disease, serious accident, OF
even seriouss froste bit. No scurvy was
experienced at Congor, but one death oc-
Cured from it last winter.
| Signed. GREELY, Commanding.
A second dispatch from Lieut.. Greely is
as follows:
ST. JOINS, July II.
Chief Signal Officer, Washington:
Brainerd, Bierberbick, Connell, Freder-
icks Long and myself, sole survivors, ar
rived to-day, having been rescued at the
point of death from starvation by the relief
ships Thetis and Bear, June 22d, at Camp
Clay. northwest of Cape Sabin. All are
now in good health. but weak. Sergeant
Ellison, rescued, died July Sth Cross died
last Saturday, Christensen, Rice, Lock
wood, Jewett and Edwards in April, Ellis,
Weston, Whistler and Israel in May, Kes-
lingburg, SaleOr, Henry, Bender, Pavey,
Gardiner and Schneider in June We
abandoned Fort Conger August 9th
Abandoned Steam Launch September 18th.
| Eleven miles northeast Of Cooked Hat
| Island, when on the point Of landing,
were driven by southwesters into Kane's
sea, and finally landed September Doth in
| Baird inlet. Learning by scouting parties of
| the Porteus disaster and that no provisions
had been left for us from Cape Isabella
to Sabin. Moved and established winter
| quarters halfway between Sabin and Cock
hat. An inventory showed that the daily
rations were four and one-third ounces of
meat, seven ounces of bread and dog bis
cults, and four ounces of miscellaneous
food. The party W ould have ten days
full rations left for crossing Smiths Sound
to Llttleton Island. Unfortunately Smith
Sound remained open the entire winter
rendering crossing impracticable. Game
failed despite daily hunting. From early
in February (before the sun returned only
five hundred pounds of meat were obtained
this year. Minute seaweed, sassafras rock
lichens, and sealskin were resOrted to for
food, with results as shown by the number
Of survivors The last regular food was
issued May 18th. Only $50 pounds of meat
left by Warrington. They were compelled
in November to send four men to obtain
IA pounds of English meat at Isabella
During the trip Ellison froze his hands
and feet solid and lost them all, surviving,
however, through our terrible winter and
spring until July Sth. The survivors owe
their lives to the indomitable energy of
Capt. Schley and Lieut.. Emery, who pre-
ceded by three and accompanied by five
whalers, forced their vessels from upper
Navik through Melville bay into the north
water at Cape York They gained yard
whenever possible and always held it.
Smith Sound was crossed and the party
Rescued turing one OF the most yio.enL
gales that had ever been known.
The boats were handled only at
the imminent risk of swamping them
Four of thus were then unable to walk
and could not have survived exceeding
twenty-four hours. Every care and atten-
ton was given us. We save and bring
back copies of meteorological, tidal, astro.
nomical, magnetic, pendulum and other
observations; also pendulum, gale and
standard thermometers. Forty eight pho
tographic negatives, a collection of black
and Photographic proofs of Esquimaux
relics and sone other things were neces-
sarily abandoned. The Thetis will remain
here probably for five days.
Signed GREELY, Commanding.
The following dispatches were sent to
Lieut.. Greedy today:
SIGNAL SERVICE. July II, 1884.
Lieut. a. W. Greely st. Johns:
Our hearts are overfowing with glad
ness and thanks to God for your safety
and in sadness for those who without fault |
of yours are dead. Your family are we'll
and in San Diego.
[Signedl w. B. HAzEN.
Lieut. Greely, ST. Johns:
Your dispatches are most satisfactory,
and show your expedition to have been in
the highest degree successful in every re-
spect. This fact is not affected by disas- |
ter later.
Signed] W. B. HAzEN.
CHANDELIERS ANSWER.
WEST POINT, N. Y, July 1.-THE fol- |
lowing dispatch was forwarded by Secre- |
tary Chandler to Commander w. S. |
Schley, st. Johns, N. F.:
Receive my congratulations for your |
self and your whole command for your |
prudence, perseverance and courage in |
our dead and dying countrymen. |
The hearts of the American people 60 out |
with great affection to Lieutenant Greely |
and the few survivors of his deadly peril. |
Care for them unremittingly and bid them |
be cheerful and hopeful ON account of |
what life has in store for them. Preserve |
tenderly the remains of the heroic dead |
Prepare them according to your judgment !
and bring them home.
Signed. w. E. CHANDLER,
Secretary of the Navy.
UENNEN'S VIEWS or Tur EypEDITrON
WASHINGTON, July 17.-George Ken
men, of this city, well known Arctic ira
veler and author, who has taken an active
interest in the recent attempt to relieve
Lieutenant Greely's party. and who went
before the Arctic Relief Board last spring
to urge the offering of such a reward as
would secure the cooperation of whalers
in the search, was asked by an Associated
Press reporter tonight what he thought of
the news received from st, Johns. He re
piled: 1T is story of remarkable and
heroac achievement in the field clouded by
disaster due to incompetence in Washing
ton. If Lieutenant Greedy and his party
had all returned in safety to the United
States, as they might have done had theyS
been properly supported, their Arctic rec
ord, in the point of skillful
management and success would have
been unparalleled. No other Arctic expe
lition has ever spent two consecutive win
ers and part of the third in such high lat
tudes, and achieved such results without
casualties or single case of serious sick
1ess If Lieut.. Greely had found at South
Smith Sound shelter and food. which he
lad the right to expect, he would proba-
ply have brought his entire party back to
he United States in perfect health, after
hree winters in the highest northern lati
ude that has eyer been reached, and after
Series of sledrinr camnairns which for