The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1884-10-30

pedition.
WAsHtNGroN, j. G., October 90.
Commodore Schley OF the Grce.y relief
expedition has submitted his report tc
the Secretary of the Navy. After giving
in detail a description Of the progress Of
the expedition through he heavy ice, he
describes Lieutenant Greeiy's permanent
camp as being located nearly midway be-
tween Crooked Hat Island and cape
Sabine. iIe says it was situated about
seyenty-iiye feet back from the beach on
slight elevation above the water and
protected by high mountains 10 the south
ward.
Commodore Sch cy then described at
length and substantially as heretofore
pub ished, the impressive scene inside
the tent OH his arrival.
In concluding his dispatch the Commo-
dure says;
hope never again in my life to look upon
such NrctchcduesS ana such deStitu ION. The
picture wus more startling and more deeply
pathetic than had eVer dreamed could he
possible. In behuliing il, stood for a mo.
mcnt almost unnamed, and then realized
that il the expedition had demonstrated any
one thing more thananother, it was that an
hour had its vUluc TO at eust one OF that par
ty Stouter hearts tAan mine felt fun OF sor-
row. Eyes that had not wept for years were
m3istemed with tears in the sQelnnity Of that
band of sufferers, until this moment SO hope
less aud h. lpess.
Continuing, Commodore Schley says;
The survivors were taken on board the ship.
The surgeons and myself accompanied them.
Lieutenant Emory was left ON shore 20 ex-
hume the dead and to bring oil everything
belonging to the expedition found in or about
the camp. did not return to the Shore The
dead were buried on a ridge back OF the camp,
distant from II about forty yards. The bodies
of Private Henry and Schneider were found
hot fr,rNtu n ln
yards In eShuIniup these bodies one at a
time, they were taken up und wrapped In
blankets. Tickets or tags OF canvas were
sewed to them marked in the order OF cN-
huming them, /, 2, 3, etc. Lieutenant Emory
drew the plat Of this burying ground, with tho
numbers of the graves marked in order Of
| this eXhuming This plat wits subsequently
submitted to Sergeant BTainard, VINO had
snperintendod the buras. The names of the
deaf /, corresponding 70 tho numbers, were
marked under them Their identity was
complete.
slowed in one OF The dories on board the The
| It's They were then covered with ice and
guarded until tanks could BE- prepared 10 hold
! alCohOl This was done three days after
| ward when six of the bodies We're trans
! ferred to the Bear All the bodies were
| then pla, ell in alcohol in the tank and SO
/ carried TO st. John, N. r. The orders OF
i Lieutenant Emory wore carried out with
| such promptuess and disaatch that Mt
| a. m, June -. the bodies of all the dead
| as well as all records, instruments, clothing
| and relics found in camp were on board the
| IhetiS ana lb'aN
both ships then steamed back to Payer Har-
! bor in order o give officers and men few
! hours sleep and lest after their hard work
Sergeant Brainard being much improved by
| 10 a. m. of June I'D, Informed me officially
! 0he former referring me TO his Diary for verb
ticutlOn) that seventeen men OF the Lady
! Franklin Bay expedition had pershed by
starvat. on aud that one had been drowned
while out sealing The bodies OF the dead
| were recover d except that OF Jeans Edward,
/ Esquimaux, who was drowned while sealing,
and those OF Sergeant Rice, Corporal saylor,
| Private Bender Sergeant Gardiner aud Dr.
| payy. These bodies having been buried in
| the ice fort were swept away by winds and
tides before my arrival, No trace of them
could be discovered, although the vicinity
was carefully searched.
Emory with tho Bear back 10 the wrecked
camp. Lieutenant Sebree, Chief Engineer
| Melville and Il number of men from tho
| ThetIs were detailed to accompany him in or
der TO make another senrch more exteuIed
| than that ufthe preceding day, ana 10 include
the coast from the ice limit half n mile west of
the camp up TO Cape Sabine This search
asted several hours, but added nothing 70
that made the previous day. At p. m. the
Bear returned TO Payec Harbor she barely
| escaped the crush of iee against the land in
| the vicinity OF cape sabine
The tanks having been prepared by June
25th, the bodies Of the deal were transferred
| to them. DR.. Green, Chiet Engineer Mel
| vile and Ensign Harlow, of the Thets, Dir.
| Ames, Lieutenant Crosby and Lieutenant
| COlwel, of the Bear, prepared the bod @ in
the following manner: t'rom each body the
clothing was removed. It was then wrapped
in strips Of cotton cloth from head to foot
backward and forward several times. Cotton
| Ehccting was then used to cover the whole,
cut TO fit the form of the bouy. Wrapped
in this way the body was placed in the tanks
and secured against movement from ram
ming ice, or when rolling in che passage
after leaving the ice. This ARRANGEMENT was
temporary, and would not answer when max
ing the passage beyond st. Johns.
In preparing the bodies OF the dead for
transportationiin alcohol to St Johns, il was
aA lanN al LN hon
bury, Scrgoats Jewell ana Ralstop, Privates
Whistler. Henry and Ellis, had bcon ct.s and
extent. When the bodies Of the dead were ex-
posed in preparing tnom the identification
MAS found to be complete. Some of them
could be recognized by aid Of picture taken
with us from home. Others whose features
had decayed, were Identified by othcr eharac.
nj take was made IN this important natter,
which so impressed us from the beginning,
He states that the total expense OF the
expedition will aggregate about $780,
000 but that q considerable portion
OF this sum was for the purchase of
the ships, which were returned in good
condition. He highly commends Com.
mander Coffin and other officials OF the
various ships, and says the selection OF
the crews OF the three vessels was fault
less. There were no punishments on
board the ships until the return 10
civilization, and the few cases then
were caused entirely by rum. The Com.
modore pays a high tribute to Secre.
taries Chandler and Lincoln for their ef.
forts In securing Congressional action.
and concludes as follows;
beg 20 thank you for your earnest, prompt
and cordial support in preparing the eXpedi
tionary force Tor its work, and above nll tol
the lasting honor conferred upon me, aud
the officers and men composing it, in connect
ing our names in our efforts with yours in
: relief which has Nilpi the DnliDO. and indeed
the civilized world, with the gravest sOlicitudt
for year past