The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-07-24


-pril 9th; Sergeant Jewel,
tn; Private Ellis, May 10Th
Sergeant Ralston, Nav 23rd; Private
Whistler, May 9th; Sergeant Israel,
May 9th; Lieutenant Kisingburv,
June 1st; Private Henry, June, 9th
Private Schneider, June 18th. The |
names ofthc dead buried in the ice fort
with the date of death, whose bodies
were not recovered, arc u follows:
Scrgeon Rice, April 9th, 1854; Corpo-
raj Salem, June Sd; Private Bender,
june 9th; Acting Assistant Surgeon |
Pavay, drowned while breaking
through newly found ice while seal
ing); Jcns Edwards (Esquimaux),
April 2dth. l would urgently suggest |
that the bodies now on board be plac-
cd III metallic cases here, for safer and
better transportation in sea wavs.
This appears to mo imperative.
Commander Greedy abandoned Fort
Congcr August 9, 1888, and reached
Baird inlet September 20 following,
with the entire party well. lie aban-
doncd all his boats and was adrift for
thirty days on an ice foe in Smiths
Sound. Ills pcrmanc>.t camp was
ee,e"lioilra October u, 1883, at thc
point where he was found. Durino
nlnc months his party had to live upon
the scanty allowance of food brought
from fort Fort COnGcr-that ct,rEcT ot
Payer llarbcr and Cape isabella by
Sir George Mares in 1873, but found
much damaged by lapse of time: thai
c0chcd by Bccbec at Cape Sabine in
1892, and n small amount saved from
the wreck Of the Protcus in 1883 and
landed by Lieutcnants Darlington aud
Colwcll on the beach where Grcclv's
party was found camrcd. When these
provisions were consumed the party
was forced to live upon boiled scn'lskin
strips from their ScnlSllin clothinm.
llchcns, and shrimrs preserved in good
weather when they were strong
enough to make the cXcrtion. AS
500 ShrimrS were required 10 fiji a
gallon measure the labor was too cy-
hnusting to depend upon them to sus-
talh HE entirely. The channel be-
tween Cape Sabine and Littlcton
Island dld not close on account of
violent gales all the winter, co that 2lO
ratlohs 1T the latter point could moi be
reached. All Of Grccly's records and
all instruments brought by him from
fort ConScr arc recovered and are on
board.
From Hare Island TO Smiths Sound
l had constant and furious struggle
with ice IN impossible foes. Solid
barriers Of ice were overcome by watch
fulness and patience. No opportunity
to advance milc escaped me, and for
several hundred miles the ships were
forced to ram their way from lead to
lead through ice varying in thickness
from three to six feet, and when RATED
much greater. The Thctis and Bear
reached Cape Trick June IS, after n
passage of II days in Melville Bay,
with two advance ships Of the Dundee
whaling fleet, and continued to Came
sabine. Returning seven days later,
VIC fell in with seven others of this
fleet off Wostcnholmc Island, and mn
nonced Grcely's rescue to them, thar
they might not be delayed from their
fishing grounds nor be tcmpted into
the dangers Of Smiths Sound in Wow
of the reward Of $4,000 offered bv
Congress. Returning across Melville
Bay, we fell in with the Alert and
LOCK Garry of Devils Thumb, struo-
Cling through heavy ice. Commandcr
Collin did admirably to get along so
lar with the transport so early i'm the
season before an opening had occurred.
Lieut.. Emory with the Bear has
supported me throughout with grcat
oNiili'llieSS ana un1llnchlng readiness
IN accomplishing the great duty of re-
lieVlng Grecly. | would ask instruc.
ton about the Lock Garry, as the
charter party held by her master differs
III several respects from mine.
The Greely party arc very much i'm.
proved since their rescue, but were
critical in the extreme when found ond
for several days after. Fortv-cioht
hours delay in reaching them would
have fatal 30 all now living. The sea-
son North is late and closest for years.
smiths Sound was not open when
left Captain Sabine. The winter about
Melville Bay was the most severe for
twenty years. This great result is
entirely due to the unwcaricd energy
of yourself and the Secretary of War
in fitting out this expedition for the
work it has had the honor to accom-
plish.
(Signed)
w. s. SCHLEY, Commander