Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-20
STARVING ON CAPE SABINE.
A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION.
A Terrible Scene At the Camp Licutcnan,
Greeiy's Narrnt,ye-A Faithful Mar.

already touched upon 10 the matter we
have published about the Grcely rescue, Il
will be found intensely interesting:
In each OF the cairns records OF Greely
were found. dated In October, 1888, and
reporting all well at that time. The loca-
ton OF their camp was given as being at n
point midway between Cape Sabine add
Cocked-Hnt Island. Captain Schlcy went
on board the Bear IL once. and started FOR
the camp. The rhe;is remained 70 pick up
her officers aud mcn, and soon Joined the
Bear at Camp CLAY, as the winter quarters
OF the Greely party were called. All re-
marked on the possibilities OF the next
hour while on our way around, but no one
dreamed Of The horrible tragedy that was
20 be revealed. The wiad had increased
60 wellniph hurricane. IL tore over
the hills IN furious blasts. driving the water
In sheets before IL, and heeling the ship 10
an uncomfortable degree. The Bear had
steamed nearly up t. the fec. and people
could be seen running about on shore.
Some one was seen on the ice signalling
with flags. Your correspondent ran for
ward and took the message rs follows:
''Send doctor with stretcheTs and Harlow
with photograph machine; seven alive"
When II came TO the last two words made
him repcst them. With what careful inter-
VI NfN'tNG Authi ilU UhC tsAll ItdtlLt. Nv
might be D-E-A u, but no; ALIVE
waved plainly through the air, and the fate
OF the Greedy party was knoH n on board
the Thetis. Boats were lowered at once
manned with strong crews, and a party
81 officers and men started for the shore.
II seemed long pull. IL was hard pull,
but with water dashing over the rail- at
every hnge and rolling gunwaleS under in
the short bui heavy seas, we finally reached
the ice foot and hurried to the scene OF
misery. A few steps from the landing we
met black face, with horrid staring eyes,
wrapped in clean blanket that contrasted
strangely with the filthy clothes that COW
cred the body OF one OF the survivors. IL
was FTedeTicks, who was strong enough To
walk 10 the boats--a miserable sight, but
cheerful compared with the one that met
our gaze Few steps further on.
slight incline 10 the left and the
busy relief parties came in view.
Passing a small fire on which Dots
al milk were warming we came 10 the tent.
under which lay four OF the poor fellows.
Two lay outside-one with his face swollen
so that he could barely show by his ewes
the wild excitement that filled his being;
The other was muitering in voice that
could scarcely he heard in the bowling of
the gale his hungry appeal for food. Push
ing aside the flags of the tent, we saw
sight the like OF which we trust never TO
see az lin. Crowded together in the little
Of the tent that was left standing lay Greely
and three Of his men in their sleeping.
bags, their faces black with dirt. Their
hollow cheeks and their cleaning ewes
made q picture that we will never forget,
and told a story that has but few rivals in
the histories Of miserable suiferings. The
short glance revealed four mcn with the
hand OF death upon them; one, indeed,
was gasping his last feeble breath while
food and stimuants were forced between
his teeth The fate OF the other three was
a question Of Il very few hours. The gale
was killing them in their weak and eX-
hausted condition. 70 move against such
wind WAS an impossibility. An able
bodied, healthy man bent to it at times.
So there they lay, waiting for death, unable
to cook the pi,iiul ration Of tanned oil seal
skin and lichens that they called their meal.
Our glance was a short one; work was to
be done, and all turned to it with heart
and hands. The poor sufferers were wrapped
in blankets, fed with warm milk. beef-tea,
and crackers, and carried TO the boats. a
photograph was taken Of the camp despite
the time (1l =. M and the weather. The
living having been provided for, our next
sad duty lay with the dead. The graves
were on the summit OF ridge behind the
Camp-ten OF them, with their Scanty
coverings OF gravel. Each body was care
fully uncarthed and wrapped in blankets.
marked TO correspond with its num-
Der on the diagram that was made and
carried 10 the boats. This task being
finished and the bodies divided between
the boats, the next difficulty was 70 reach
the ship. II seems almost a miracle that
they got safely alongside and could dis
charge their sad carcOeS, with the survi-
vOTS IN charge OF the sympathiZing officers
and crew, who removed their rags, bathed
and fed them. Their dead comrades were
piled on the dory and covered with tar
paulin. We steamed back 20 Payer Hsrbor.
and about 4. NJ. made fast TO the ice
agaih in about the same place we first had
the information that led 70 the stirring
events OF the night.
The next day the Bear revisited the
camps and collected every scrap and relic
appertaining 10 10. The earns were re-
visited, and the records left D. Greelv. his
pendulum, Journals, the 1!ag OF the Mares
expedition that be proudly brings back
from The place where they left it as mark
ing their highest latitude, his instruments.
and their records. Our work being COM
plctod, we turned homeward IRON the
places made sad by so many former. and
triply so by the recent, disasters. They
have closed The gaies OF smiths Sound for
time, but expeditions 10 come-aad they
are sure TO come--will earn more from the
conduct ~ the party in command of Lieu
tenant Greedy tian they could ever know
from the combined experiences OF the
earliest to the latest explorers in those re-
gi0ns.
The work that he has accomplished Is
marvellous. The lessons he will teach
Arctic explorers are valuable ones, but
how very, very dearly bought. Aside from
The valuable additions 10 scientific and
geographical knowledge that he brings us
is bis testimony 90 the heroic devotion OF
comrades 20 one another when evil dlvs
had hefallou them. II is a tale OF self.sacri.
fee. even 20 the iaViug down OF ones life
for his friend. Tic and his party are a
band OF heroes; their doings me record of
heroes. The trip down was an unevent-
full ore. The Alert and Loeb Garry were
met on the evening Of the 18Th. Upernayik
was reached on July "a, Disco on July 9TH.
and this port on the morning OF the 18th.
All were surprised at our sudden return,
imagining Us still in Smiths Sound or IN
Melville bay. Congratulations. official and
personal, have poured IN on Us, and we
IlNt NitN Nui 4tiNlI 10 Now ! bIh before
Us 10 complete our work as members Of the
Gree!y relief expedition Of 1881.
LIEUTENANT CEEELY's NARRATIVE.
During the trip from the Arctic region
10 -. Johns Lieutenant Greedy gave de-
tailed description al the mess-table OF the
Theis Of the hsrdships his party cncoun-
tered during the long winter in camp ON
Cape Sabine. The following is the sub.
stance OF his story:
when TIE site FOR the camp had been Sc
lccied we set NJ once 10 building house to
shelter Us from The seventies OF The winter.
stones were gathered together and pilcdin
walls to inclose space OF about 25Xl1 feet.
over the toD Of this was placed the whale
boat found at Starknecht Island, left by the
Neptune IN lSs2 This formed a ridge
pole, and The rest Of the roof Tas
made by stretching tent and boat-sails
down 10 the sides OF The house aud
pinning them down with rocks. Snow
was heaped up 10 the caves. which were
about live feet high, 20 keep out the wind.
In this miserable hut We laid down from
The lst Of November until the latter part OF
MAY. From the inside the walls were
barely high enough TO ALLOW the men TO sit
up in their sleeping-bags. An during our
retreat from Fort Conger fuel had been q
very precious article. Everything was
saved, OF course, and the striciest watch
kent on its issue There was never enough