St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-04
STILL GAINING.
The Arctic Heroes Still Gaining in
Strength. but Very Weak Yet.
Greely's First Sound and Refreshing Nights
Rest in Three Years.

NEWCASTLE, n. H., Aug. 3.-sI have not
had SO sound and refreshing a nights rest
Tor over three years, said Lieut.. Greedy to
Lieut. Powell, of the signal service corps
and Gen. Hazen's aid, as the latter greeted
the explorer in front of Admiral Lucas res
ldenee this morning. at makes me feel so
strong and hearty that I could almost forget
my Weakness at about 10 O'Clock this
morning the lieutenant and Mrs Greeiy and
the admiral and Mrs. Wells drove through
the navy yard and around by Kittery
point through the city of Portsmouth
to sook al the decorations which everywhere
abounded. Greedy was looking better than
he has at any time since his rescue. The
distinguished party were recognized by but
few persons on the streets and the carriage
returned soon to the navy yard without stop
ping anywhere. One old fellow who stood
on kittery bridge. along which the carriage
went over, recognized Greely and taking
off his rough cap gave three hearty cheers,
which no one heard except the distinguished
party themselves. Greedy, in recognition,
politely lifted his bat.
The day was generally spent very quietly
here. great many people visited the navy
yard, and about everybody tried to get a
glimpse Of Greely, but no one got nearer
than the picket railing inclosing the ground,
around the admirals residence. The en-
closure, however, is constantly surrounded
with people who seemed content with gaping
at the Arctic hero as he sat on the lawn
under the trees with his family and close
friends around him
Ever since early this morning all sorts of
water craft have piled betuee the city and
the lower harbor laden with visitors to the
war vessels at anchor The interest, of
course, is conferred in the Artic feet, and it
is estimated that 5000 or 5000 persons in
spected the Bear Thetis and Alert to-day
Tie other survivors walked about the navy
yard in the cool of the morning and most of
the day lounged idly about the deck of the
old Constitution. The surgeons have de-
cided TO permit Greedy and his little
party to participate in to-morrow's
demonstration. They will leave
the admiral's residence at 10 a. m. and
will be taken to Portsmouth under the con-
duct of /. c. Powell At the Portsmouth
wharf Gen. Hazen and the surgeons viii
meet them with large tally-ho coach. They
will then be driven to the large speakers
stand that has been erected in the public
square, where they will remain seated during
the parade The surgeons will be constantly
in attendance and if the faintest signs of
weakness are observed among the survivors,
the party will be conducted Immediately back
TO the navy yard. Tonight the entire party
are apparently well and in the best of spirits
The city Is absolutely packed with strangers,
and hotels have more applications for rooms
than they can possibly fill. Nearly all build
ings are handsomely decorated and
it is expected to-morrow's dis
play viii be the most magnificent in
the history of Portsmouth. All relics of the
expedition are exhibited on the deck of the
Thetis to-day and viewed by hundreds of
visitors. At the stern of the Thetis was
wooden pole the thickness Of an oar on
which were nailed three pieces of cloth, one
colored handkerchief, another piece of
calico, and the other remnant of a wooden
shirt. This was the distress sigma! of the
rescued men. Their sledge was shown, it
was composed Of two rough pieces of plank
shod with rough pieces Of iron, resembling
hasp iron, Joined by clumsy cross bars. An
other object viewed with great interest was a
bag of reindeer skins, used by one of the
party to sleep in. Greedy was
on deck for two hours this
morning, and was introduced to many
visitors. He appeared weak and hesitated a
little in his speech as if from wearness
During the forenoon the fore hatch of the
Thetis was raised and the metal sarcophagi
for the dead were revealed. On each, about
the middle, is place for the name of the
deceased, and near the top is beautiful
arctic scene on plate Of FURNISHED silver.
In the tank of the Bear are the bodies of the
dead heroes, but no one is allowed to visit
them. From one of the crew of the Thetis
was learned a few details of the expedition
yet unpublished. He said they encountered
the first ice between Disco and Littleton
Island, but that the thicllest was found in
Melville bay, where it averaged ten feet At
Melville bay the first real difficulty was
experienced, and here use was made of tor
pedoes and dynamite. Neither were found
to work well, and ramming the ice produced
the best results. Backing the Thets a good
distance and putting ON full head of steam
she would crash into the ice, the shock shak-
ing her from STERN to stem and rocking her
masts like boughs in tree. Sometimes it
seemed as if the masts would come out
When all other means failed huge ice saws
eighteen feet long, with teeth three inches
long, were used. 1t was rugged to winch
forward aud driven by steam, max
ing three feet Roadway per
hour. The. ice at Melville bay was
mainly broken by ramming. After checking
their advance for ten days. High at the
main of each vessel is the ''ciow's nest,''
where lookout was kept Commander
Schley probably occupied that on the Thetes
longer than any other man, his meals being
often served to him there. Nauman, the ice
pilot, was also a frequent occupant. Two
hours in the nest was a watch, and at the
great altitude above deck it was sometimes
terribly cold in the sentry box After
entering the regions where it was supposed
Greedy might be the heavy bass whistles were
continually blown, and in the clear Arctic
air was very weird. On the night of the res
cue a terrific gale swept the Arctic ocean, and
the Thetis, though near land, keeled over
again and again before the tempest.
THE LYDlAN MONARCH.