Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-19
STORIES or THE SURVIVORS.
The First TO Hear the Welcome steam
Whistle.


Whistle.
fBy Associated Press.i
1T. JOINS, n. f., July lS.-Sergeant
Long, OF inc Greely relief party. who was
INC hrst 10 respond to the welcome tone OF
Tie iesm whistle, says that he snd Ser
geant Brainard were The first 10 hear the
sound. and they helped each other to crawl
out 81 the tent.
When Long got clear OF the entanqic-
ment Of the tent which had been swept 20
the ground lie rose TO his feet with grea.
difficulty and succeeded in clambering up
20 rock that gave most extensive view
IN that neighborhood. Branard went back
10 The tent, but Long remained, looking
oul searchingly in every direction for some
strange object. At length be saw an I'M
wouied sight. large black object about
a mile distant. which ct first looked
Ike rock, but b. knew there was
no rock in that line. Suddenly the steam
launch changed It's course, and Long recog-
nized The approach OF rescuers. He came
down from the rock. went towards the
camp. raised the fag-pole and flag. which
hod been blown down during gale, and
held 1t for about two minutes, until his
strength gave out and it was blown once
more to the ground. He then advanced
steamer, and In few minutes the warm
hand OF Captain Ash had grasped his in
greeting.
F0I GODS SAKE LET he DIE ~ PEACE.
Maurice Connell, who is still excessively
weak, stated in an interview thb for some
days sitter his rescue he had no recollection
OF anything that TRANSFERRED. He did not
hear the awakening Jcream Of the whistle
when his comrades shook him up from his
PROSTATE position in camp ana told him Of
the succor at hand, be wildly exclaimed,
"FOr Gods sake let me die in peace"
a teaspOoniuI OF brandy applied 70 his
lips called back the fleeing life-spark. for
Ccnncll could not have survived more
than a few hours. lie was by lar the
weakest Of the seven survivors, and the
strongest must have succumbed wrihia
foI1y-oight hours.
The story told Iy Cornell from his recol-
lection OF their starvation experience is
simply heart-TendiDg. How they burned
tie hair oil their seal-skin boots aud coats,
cut them into strips, boiled them into a
stew, and ate voraciouSly OF them till the
stomach rebelied and nausea and weakness
ensucd. In several cases nature gave no
call for twelve. fifteen. and even eighteen
DAYS, and then bloody hcmorrhage
and consequent weakness enSued, prostra-
ting the victims for several days. The diff
fculty Of keeping heat in the body WA
very great. The rule Of the camp was
10 permit no one to sleep longer than
TWO hours. He was awakened roughly.
and called up TO shake himself. beat his
hands, pound his feet, and restore circula-
ton. This was found absolutely neces sary
to prevent torpOr and possible death, the
usual accompaniment OF intense cold.
Commander Schley has received instruc-
lions from the Secretary OF the Navy TO re-
main at 81. Johns until there are twelve
iron baskets constructed to receive the bo-
dies OF the deceased explorers. The suryi-
yors are all doing well, but are still weak
and suffering from nervous prostratiOn.
ALL sPROyING-sYNPATHY FOR THE Sur
vIyORs.
Lieutenant Grccly has improved from
ls0 pounds weight on the 23d Of June 10
100 pounds to-day. Sergeant Brainlrd and
the others ere pulling Ip propOrtiOnatelv.
The weather here i delightful aud all
that could be desired for the sufferers, the
mercury ranging between Cj 10 - degrees.
Great sympathy is eyinced by all classes
here, alike for the survivors and dead. and
every token OF respect i manifested for
them. The Thetis and Bear, a they ride
quietly at anchor in the hlrbor OF st.
Johns, wear a sombre and mournful ap-
pearancc with the fiags OF the United states
at hali-maSi. The United States wlr-ship
Alert arrived here at o'clock y. VI. Her
detention was caused by fog and search for
other ships Of the squadron. All on board
are well.
TRAGIC STORY OP RICE, THE ARTIST.
Sergeant Julius X. Frederick relates A
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS story OF George Ricc.
the artist OF the expedition. On April 9th
Rice and Frederick volunteered to leave
camp TO proceed distance Of twenty-five
miles for some meat that was cached near
Cape Isabella. They had \ sled, rifle, and
Ratchet. and provisions for five days. They
travelled for three days, but failed 70 find
the cache. On the way towards their camp
Rice became weak, and finally gave up. He
was attacked 10y bloody AUX that grad.
ually wore him down. He finally succumb-
cd. and was inferred in an ice grave by his
companion.
Frederick campCd out that night under
the fragment 81 boat, and the next day
revisited his companion to pay the last
tribute TO Iii, remains. Frederick retained
sufficient strength 10 drag back the sled
with the Ratchet. rifle, and cooking utenSil,
20 camp, where he
ENCOUNTERED MORE WOE
IN the form Of the death OF Lieutenant
Lockwood and another Of The party. The
cached meat that Frederick and Rice were
in search OF wa brought by them on
April 9Th from Cape Isabella and aban.
donCd tie next day in order 10 drag Eli
zen, one OF their party who had been
frozen. into camp.
Rice was the life Of the Grccy party,
fun Of hope, buoyancy, and energy. and
his death was a terrible blow to them.
lie died in 4 brave struggle to prolons
their existence.