Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-12-11
IN import


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and about sixty birds were killed dGiii &
the winter and siring, which materially
assisted. 10 sustaining life. In the mid
die of the month Of April a small bear
and youn. seal were killed, which render
cd possible slightly increased ration and
prevented further immediate deaths
About the middle Of May the last food
was issued, and deaths again commenced.
From about the middle Of March the IA
ton was supplemented BY minute sea
shrimps, which were caught in a tidal
crack, and later by saxafIase and iiehens
which, with seal-skin from clothes and
sleeping bags, formed the supply Of food
from the middle of May. BY June 18th
but seven of the party remained alive,
the rest having persisted By starvation,
except Eskimo Jens Edward, who was
drowned, and Private Henry, who was
executed by order of Lieutenant Greedy
for repeated theets of food. From the
middle Of April Lieutenant Greely's party
looked with longing hope towards Little
ton Island, trusting that relief would come
from that quarter From tia, time for
ward broad channel, free from ice, ex-
listed in Smiths Sound, which could have
been crossed by strong men, but was ut
terly impossible for Lieut.. GreeIy's party,
enicebled and diminished as it was by
months Of starvation.
Preparations fer the rescue this season
were timely, the plan being carefully
elaborated by board of officers of the
Army and Navy, at which the Chief Sig
nal Officer presided. The expedition
sailed from New York in three ships, the
Thetis, "Bear" and alert" the latter
having been given to the United States
by the Queen of England for the purpose
about the lst Of May, under Commander
w. S. Schley, of the Navy, reaching Cape
Sabine the ed Of June, effecting tho
rescue of the seven survivors, and return
ing to the United States, reaching Ports
mouth, New Hampshire, the LIST day OF
August, and, with the exception of weak
ness, all in good health. Sergeant Eli
son, who was frozen in an attempt to
secure the provisions cached at Isabella,
died on the home passage, July 9th, after
suffering amputation Of all his limbs. The
work of rescue uader Commander Sehley
was most praiseworthy and successful
Up to the return OF the expedition this
year had hoped there would be no oc-
CASTOR. for raising the question Of blame
at this or any future time. But new
hight has been east upon the subject, and
with it my duty becomes plain, and the
truth Of history, and justice to all, calls
for such impartial inquiry and authorize.
tive judgment as tribunal broad enough
to embrace the whole question shall, in
stitute and pronounce, and the Congress
of the United States is manifestly such
tribunal.
The international Polar Expedition
was organized and set in motion by the
direct order Of the President of the Unit
ed States, pursuant to the authority vest
ed in him by an act of Congress. Its
progress and achievements have command
ed the attention and challenged the ad.
miration of foreign countries, and reflect
ed rev lustre upon CUR own.
The magnitude of those achievements
has only been paralIeled by the disaster
in which it terminated. That such dis
aster could have been averted, aud that
it was in no respect due to the command
or Of that expedition, can be established
by indubitable evidence. The causes that
co-operated to produce tragedy that has
APPALLED, the civilized world, aud the re-
sponsibility for such dire result, can be
traced with certainty.
Therefore trust that this whole matter
of Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, and
the expeditions organized for its relief,
will bs deemed worthy Of thorough in
vestigation BY Congress body that will
perform its duty, and stand above the
suspicion Of being swayed by partisan
considerations.
This expedition will stand among the
foremost Of its kind. 1t carried its work
farther north than any other. 1t gained
detailed geographical knowledge Of great
er breadth in that region than any other.
1t brought back more complete data upon
physical problems than any other 1t
dispelled the myths and superstitions of
Arctic living, and completed in master.
ly way all the services it was sent to do,
in the exact manner as it was arranged,
having made clear addition to the sum
Of human knowledge, and returned to the
place of rendezvous intact aud perfect,
aud it is proper that the fault Of failure
afterwards be fully understood. Both
Lieutenant Greedy, in the Arctic, aud the
signal Bureau, in Washington, carried
put their parts of the pre-arranged plan
ef rescue literally and successfully in
every particular. This plan seemed to be
! good one and Lieut.. Greedy reiterated
I after reaching his station and seeing
what he wanted, and it proved to be good
ICoSrIsuEp sExr WEEK.