Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-07-23
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE follow.
ing telegram was received at the Navy
Department this morning:

WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE follow
ing telegram was received at the Navy
Departm this morning:
ST. JOHNS, N. F.-9 A. M.-July 17.-Hon.
VIM. f. Chandler, Secretary Of the Nauy,
Washington: The Thetis, Bear and Loeb Garry
arrived here to-day from Wes6 Greenland, all
well. They separated from the Alert $50 miles
north during gale, at P. M, June o. Five
miles off Cape Sabine, in Smiths Sound, the
Thetis and Bear rescued alive Lieut.. A.
W. Greedy, Sergt Brainard Sergt. Fredericks,
Sergt. Long, Hospital Steward Beiderbick,
Private Council, and Sergt Ellison, only sur
Sergt. Ellison had lost both hands and feet by
frost-bite and died July 6, at Godhaven, three
days after amputatiOn, which had become i'm
perative. Seventeen, out OF twenty-five persons
composing the expedition, persisted by starva-
ton at the point where found. One was
drowned while sealing to procure food. Twelve
bodies of the dead were rescued
and are now on board the Thetis
and Bear. One Esquimo, Turvevek, was
buried at Disco in accordance with the desire
of the inspector of Western Greenland
Five bodies which were buried in in the ice nea
the camp were swept away by the winds and
currents before my arrival and could not be
recovered. The names of the dead re-
covered, with date of death, are as fol-
lows: Second Lieut. F. F. Klslingbury,
June; Sergt. Edward Israel, May;
christensen (half, breed, April S; sergt.
April 5; Sergt. Linn, April 6: Lieut. Lockwood,
April 9; Sergt. jewell April IL; Private Ellis.
May 10; Sergt. Ralston, May %, Private Henry,
June 6; Private Schneider, June 49, The names
of the dead buried in the ice fort, with date of
death, whose bodies were not recovered are as
follows: Sergt Rice. April 8, 1884; Cor
poral saloe, June 3; Private Bender,
6: Sergt. Gardner, June IL, drowned
by breaking through newly formed
Ice while sealing and Jens Edwards (Esquimo)
April "a. l would urgently suggest that the
bodies now on board be placed in metallic
cases here for safer and better transportation
in a seaway. This appears to me imperative.
Greedy abandoned Fort Conger August 9,
1888, and reached Baird Inlet September
20 following, with his entire party
well. He abandoned all his boats
and was adr1ft thirty days on the ice foe in
Smiths Sound. Permanent camp was estab-
lished October 81, 1883, at the point where he
was found. During nine months his party had
to live upon scant allowance of food brought
from Fort Cenger, that cached at Payer Harbor
and Cape Isabella by Sir Geo. Mares in
1875, which was found much damaged by
the lapse of time, that cached by Beebe
amount saved from the wreck of the Proteus in
1883, and landed by Lieuts. Darlington and
Colwell on the beach near where Greely's
party were found. When the provisions were
consumed the party was forced to live upon
boiled seal, stripped from the sea skin clothing
and lichens and shrimps caughtin good weather
when they were strong enough to make exer-
tions. AS it took 1900 shrimps to
fill gallon measure the labor was
too exhausting to depend upon them 10 sustain
life entirely. The channel between Cape Sa-
bne and Lttleton did not close Oh account of
violent gales all winter. so that the 240 rat1ons
at the latter point could not be reached. All of
Greely's records and all instruments brought
by him from Fort Conger are recovered and are
on board. From Hare Island to Smiths Sound
I had a constant and furious struggle
with ice in impossible foes and solid
barriers which were overcome by watchfulness
and patience. No opportunity to advance q
mile escaped, and for several hundred miles the
ships we're forced to ram their way from lead
to lead through ice varying in thickness from
three to Blk feet. and when RATED much great
er. The Thehs and Bear reached
Cape York, June IS, after a passage of
twenty-one days, in Melville Bay with two adj
vance ships ofthe Dundee whaling feet and con-
tinued to Cape Sabine. Returning seven days
later fell in with seven other of this feet OFF
Wostenholm Island and announced Greely's
rescue to them, that they might not be
delayed from their fishing grounds
nor to be tempted into the dangers
of $4,000 offered by Congress. Returning
across Melville Bay we fell in with the Alert and
Loeb Garry off Devils Thumb, struggling
through heavy ice. Commander Coffin did adj
mirably to get along so far with
transport, SO early in the sea-
son, before an opening had occurred
Lieut.. Emery, with the Bear, has supported
me throughout with great skllfulness and I'M
flinching readiness in accomplishing the great
duty of rescuing Greedy. The Greedy party
are very much improved since their rescue, but
were critical in the extreme when found and for
several days after. Forty-eight hours delay in
reaching them would have been fatal to all now
living. The season, North, is late and the
closest for years. Smiths Sound was not open
when I left Cape Sabine. The winter about
Melville Bay was the most severe for twenty
years. This great result is entirely due to the
unwearied energy of yourself and the Secretary
of War in fitting out this expedition for the
work it has had the honor to accomplish.
[Signed] W. N. ScHLEY, Commander.
GREELY's REPORTS.
WASHINGTON, July 17.-Gen. Hazen,
chief signal officer, has received the fol-