Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-18

The news telegraphed yesterday from
st. John BY Commander Schley that Lieut..
Greedy and part Of his party had been
rescued, was joyfully received not only
throughout this country, but also in En-
rope. For more than a year the fate Of
Lieut.. Greedy has been the subject Of a
great deal Of speculation throughout the
civilized world. While there is general
rejoicing over his escape from horrible
death there is sadness that 50 many Of
the brave men who composed his party
more than two-thirds-died under the
hardships and sufferings they encountered.
Seven out Of the original party Of twenty
i've were found alive, and one ofthese died
from the effects Of an operation that was
performed with the hope of saving his
life. Some idea is gained Of the exhausted
condition Of the survivors from the state
ment OF Commander schley, that if re-
lief bad been delayed forty-eight
hours longer, not a man OF the
party would have been found alive.
Two attempts were made TO reach the
Greedy party before that which has just
proven successful. Lieut.. Greedy reached
Lady Franklin Bay Aug. u, 1881, and
Immediately established his camp there.
1t was understood that an effort would be
made 10 reach him with supplies the
following year. 1t was also under
stood that if the effort failed,
another effort would be made during the
summer Of 1883. Lieut.. Greely's instruc-
lions were that if relief did not reach
him by Sept. 1, 1888, to move south to
Littleton Island, where it was promised
supplies would be left for
him. Lieut.. Beebe, in the
Neptune, attempted to reach
Lady Franklin Bay in 1882 and failed. He
did not get far beyond Cape Sabine. In
1855 Lieut.. Darlington with the PIOteus
and Yantic made an effort to reach Lieut..
Greedy. There was a misunderstanding
respecting his instructions which sub
jected him to a great deal Of criticism,
until it was shown that the responsibility
for it rested on Gen. Hazen, Chief Of the
Signal Service. 1t was intended that Lieut..
Darlington should leave supplies at Lit
Teton Island as he went north, so that in
the event Of a disaster to his vessel Lit
tleton Island would afford a safe retreat
for his crew, and also for the Greedy
party.
His instructions, however, did not di-
rect him to stop at LittletOn Island, but
to proceed northward with all speed if the
way appeared to be open. When he reached
the island he found there were no signs
Of ice in his path to the north, and fearing
that delay might prevent him from reach
ing Lady Franklin Bay he decided to push
forward and, IN the event Of failure, to
leave supplies at LittletOn Island on his
return. His vessel was crushed in the
ice before he had proceeded far,
and consequently no supplies were left at
the island. 1t now appears from Com
mander Schley's dispatch that II Lieut..
Darlington had left supplies at Littleton
Island, the Greedy party would not have
been benefited. In coming south in ae-
cOrdance with his instructions, Lieut..
Greedy landed on Cape Sabine, which
is separated from Littleton Island by
quite a stretch of water. 1t is stated as
remarkable fact by Commander schley
that the sea between the cape and the
island remained open all last winter, and
Lieut.. Greedy, having abandoned his
boats before reaching the cape, had no
way Of getting to the island.
Notwithstanding the dangers of
the Arctic regions and the
fact that hundreds Of the brayest men the
world has ever known have lost their
lives in trying to penetrate the mysteries
OF the far North. expeditions will con-
| tinue to be fitted out until the secret Of
the North Pole is wrested from the zone
Of ice which encompasses it. There is
fascination in Arctic explorations which
has lured men in the past from the en-
! jOyment Of ease and comfort, and, doubt
| less, will continue to lure them in
the future. This generation has reached
/ a point nearer the Pole than the
last did, and it is reasonable to suppose
that the next will go a step beyond the
point reached by the present generation.
The greatest barriers to the progress of
man that nature has ever erected will be
| finally overcome and passed.