The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-04
III WIFE AND HOME.
Return of the Survivors of the
Greedy Expedition.
Reception of the Arctic Fleet by the
itavaI Squadron at Portsmouth.
"Cheers for the Living and Tears for
the Dead"---And Tears of JOY
for the Living, Too Some
Affecting Scenes.

PORTSMOUTH, n H, Aug l. Twenty
four hours before they were expected just
before sunrise, Friday morning, Aug. l, the
Greely relief fleet was sighted off the Isle
OF ShOalN. A vessel WAS Immediately sent
out with Secretary Chandler's order to lay
off until II o'clock, and preparations were at
once be2un to receive the gallant men who
had ris..ed their lives so bravely and
so proIitably. The city was crowded
with visitors and Immediately the news
wns known put on holiday appearance and
the wLalveS were soon black with thousands
gathered to give the explorers a hearty
welcome home. The harbor WAS alive with
banls OF all kinds, and as the hour for the
approach OF the fleet drew near every point
Of vantage was occupied by people straning
their el es tCr the first glimpse Of the gallant
vessels
At :25 The Thetis was seen rounding
GolIish island and twenty minutes later the
Alert and Boar made their appearance
The squadron i'll the harbor was composed
of the frgate Tennessee Commodore Luce's
flag ship, massive craft 375 feet long; the
Yantic, Nandalia, Portsmouth, Constela-
| ton, Dale, Swatara, and jamestown.
The Thetis-fag ship of the Arctic squad
| ron-followed the Alliance, and behind her
came the Alert and Bear. Black, rough
| looking craft they appeared but yet stanch
| and hardy, as though built for work
and not show At their mast
heads stin remained the httle barrels
the crows nest, from which many weary
sailor had kept lookout for sign of ice-foes
among the Arctic waters. The Thetis bore
| the rescued survivors and the Bear carried
the romans of the lost ones. The latter
| craft was long and more imposing than the
| Others, yet was trim in appearance. On
| deck, barrels, and other luggage covered the
space between her fore and main masts
| Every flag was flying from the mastheads,
| instead of being half-maSted as before.
| This is "A day of rejoicing" the secretary
of the navy had declared to his officers, land
we will do honor to- the survivors now, ieav
| ing the honor to the dead for more appro-
| pirate 0c casion." Swiftly the Alliance glided
| between the Yantic and Vandal n to her old
mocrings. Then everything was made ready
| by the anchored feet for the salute. The
| Thetis drew near. Lay aloft!" echoed the
order from the bridge, and Immediately up
the rigging ran the blue coated sailors, cover
| Ing III an instant the whole line from deck to
masthead like a swarm of bees Every YES
| rel OF the squadron followed the action of
| their 1iasI ship and in the rigging perched
! 1000 sailors-no small proportion of our en-
| tire navy
| just Rs the last Arctic steamer passed Fort
| Constitution -four bells" was tolled on every
ship, and then the public exercises of the day
| began. Afterward, just as the same gongs
| .,,. . l,II ~ l,f,
the tennessee, and the public exercises were
over As the Thetis drew near, the officer
of the deck raised his voice and, shouting
through his trumpet, called, Three cheers
now with will, j" and out from every throat
of these sailors, high up sleft,
BURST FORTH RINGING HUzzA
for the returned officers and crews Scarcely
had the last echo died away when from the
deck of the 1ag-,hip was waited
over the water the familiar strains
Of "Home Again" striking, none can
tell how pleasantly, upon the ears Of the sea
men. 1t ccrtG .lly was a moment of which
they could be proud, and not single person
trod The deck of any man-ofwar present at
the scene but was proud then and there Of
Uncla Sam's naval representatives. Again
the cheers were called fer and again given
with every hat raised in the air Then
"Do"n from sloft and pipe belowi" rang out
the command. and the sailors quickly hurried
from their positions.
The commanders of the three relief ships
came aboard the Tennessee where Capt
Schley met his wife and daughter for the
first time since his arrival from the arctic
Among the gentlemen on board the Ten
oko ID Dolt
son, and he was giving praise to all. Said he:
Capt Schley, how is Ensign Reynolds"
"Weil. sir" was the reply. I'm glad to hear
it" said he, in a hearty tone. "Ispoke against
him in congress, and want now to square
that all up" Vote him decoration" sug-
gested a gentleman who stoed by. Il will
yes-and thousand decorations" was the
prompt acquiescence-
As for Capt. Schley, Mr.. Robinson would
have him made a rear admiral
The secretary of the navy, Gen Hazen and
others then went aboard the Thetis where
they met the rescued men.
INCIDENTS OF THE DAY.
When Commander Sehley went aboard
the Tennessee after brief and informal con-
velSation between Commander Schley and
Secretary Chandler, the former looked anX-
iously around the cabin, and gradually his
countenance became overcast with gloom.
Surgeon Gen. Gunnell, noticing the look of
disappointment which had overspread the
commanders countanance, stepped forward,
saying: Your wife is In yonder state-room,
captain" With bound Commander Schley
reached the presence of his wife and daughter.
After half an hour spent in conversation and
| nleba tna midi off
GERS Of the relief ships returned to their yes
sels
Mrs Greely, wife of the explorer, reached
Portsmouth on an early train in the after
noon, and was at once conveyed to the flag
ship Ter nessee, reaching there about 8
O'Clock After the commanding officers had
gone back to their ships Mrs. Greedy was
put Oh board of the secretary's barge and
conveyed to the Thetis, where her husband
was As the lady passed down the compan-
ionway to the barge, she walked with firm
tread, and showed no signs of emotion other
than by biting her lips and slightly clutch.
ing her hands Lieut. Greedy had not been
informed that his wife was about to &C
on board the Thetis, and few minutes be-
fore her arrival in conversation with the
commander, he said he did not expect to sec
her so soon. When the secretary's barge was
seen to leave the Tennessee with Mrs. Greely
and her two brothers, G. o. and C. A. Mes
muth, sitting in the stern sheets, Commander
Schley said to Lieut. Greedy, Lieutenant,
should like to see you in my cabin for a few
moments Commander Schley ther
entertained Lieut.. Greedy in con
versation about Arctic matters unit
peculiar signal was given by the
boatswain to indicate that Mrs. Greedy wa!
on board and ready to meet her husband
The lady trembled very much, her breatl
came in gas2s, and her whole frame s6oOl
with emotion. With faltering steps sb wen
TO the cabin door, and just at the irsIa It sl;'
s,atered, Commander Schley left the room
leaving the long-separated couple alone
Lieut. Greedy was sitting with his back t
the door but when Commander Schiey
abruptly left him he turned, and at the sam
instant saw his wife enter. With low CT
he bounded from his chair. Mrs. Greei
rushed to meet her husband, crying; IA
thur. Arthur home at last"
After Mr.. and Mrs Greely had been alor