Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-26
THE LATE DIR. AMBLER.


the memory Of the late Dr.. Amber:
''Dr. Amber was born in Fauquer CO.,
Va, December 80, 1918, and came Of long
line Of good ancestral stOck-the Marshalls,
the Carys and Amblcrs, names intimately
and always honorably connected with the
history Of Virginia since her carly colonial
days.
!'As 10 his early boyhood, which was
spent ~ and about his mountain house,
there was nclhng--so far as the writer
knows-o? phenomenal precocity or special
interest.
While maturing into manhood, with the
development of IL fine physique and much
manly grace the intellectual growth kept
pace. His mind was comprehensive and he
read much and read well, the books found
about him always being Of All e!cvating and
improving character The knowledge thus
gained, together with ready command of
| language and an unusually clear insight
into human nature, for one OF his years, put
| him q. ease in discussions on multliarious
subjects Ii also enlarged his views of life
and increased The liberality o! his ideas to-
ward his fellow men.
Though possessing more OF the really
manly attributes than are allotted 10 most
there was no obtrusire display of them-no
| ailccta.ion.
''In casting about for liie's occupation he
| decided upon the medical profession, and
| graduated at the University Of Maryland in
| March, 1863.
"On The lst Of April, 1874, he entered the
! naval service as assistant surgeon and was
soon after ordered 10 the United States
| steamer May flower. in 1915 he was at
| tacheI iOIhe United states steamer Kansas,
| North Atlantic station, and in 1876 was on
| board the United States training ship Min
| ncsota. He Was promoted to passed assi5'
! tant surgeon in 1877. During that year and
| part oi the next lie formed one of the staff
| at the Naval Hospital, Norfolk, Va.
'WhiIc there lie received IL telegram from
the Navy Department asking if he would
volunteer for duty on the Jeannette, which
was to DE sent III search Of a passage to the
| North Pole. Up to that time the idea Of
seeking fame among the frozen soas OF the
north had not been entertained by him but,
nov wishing to have his name occupied with
Il refusal where hardships Improbable dan
ger were involved he promptly accepted.
This he certainly would not have donc had
he known, rs he soon afterward learned,
that the same offer or request had been de-
cIined by others. 1t presented, however,
an opportunity for a display of thai manly
| stuff OF which he was made, He did not,
for this reason. rccedc from the RESPONSE
| bility he had assumed, but unremttingly
| bent every energy TO secure success to the
enterprise so far as in his power lay, and
10 his panstaking examination AS to the
ysical qualifications Of the personnel
of the ,Ieannctte's crew, to his zeal and fore
thought in providing the necessities Of life
under the peculiar conditions TO which the
ship's company were TO be subjected, and
TO lis wise hySenic and sanitary suggestions
NAV be ascribcd for the most part The Wig
urOllS health Of the officers and men, ena-
bling them finally TO encounter uuprcCe-
dented labor and exposure. The immunity
from that terrific scourge OF polar travellers,
scurvy, in which the Jeanette expedition
stands prominently alone, were there moth
;u2 else, should be u lasting memorial to
his professional capacity and foresight. But
The mouths OF the survivors Of that ill-iated
expedition have opened To testify how
grandiy he arose 10 all emergencies. They
portray him as the genial companion, the
skilful surgeon, the accomplished phys-
Clan and sturdy officer. Melville, when
asked By the court whom Of the expedition
he would specially commend for his beha-
yor, promptly replied, "Dr. Amber" and
he was unstiuted in his praise of him. Dur
lug the famous retreat over the ice Amber
was one Of the leading spirits He harness
ed two half starved Esquimaux dogs to a
sled Of his own contriving, on which were
lashed the surgical instruments, medical
stores and scientific records; and leaving
them TO follow in the rear with the sick,
the Doctor took his place in advance, day
after day, as chief Of the roadmakers.
He welded q heavy sledge hammer like a
Hercules, breaking down ice hummocks to
level Il road for the boats. 1t was related OF
him that he invariably, when the days
work began, took up the heaviest OF the
sledges, thus setting al encouraging exam
pie to the men, We see him laying this
down for a moment to perform an iridecto-
nv, one Of the most delicate operations in
eve surgery. After De Longs boats had
reached the Lena delta, and failing to find
succor for three weeks or longer the COM
mander decided to send two of the strongest
of his party in advance to seek aid. The
main body travelled very slowly, most o.
them being scarcely able to walk at all, and
having to transport the sick. DeLong was
, able to walk only for five minutes at time
Amber was the strongest of the party, and
! the commanding officer selected him and
Nindemau to go on ahead for succor and tC
save their own lives, if possible, both o.
them being able for long march. When
this was communicated to the doctor ne
told his commander that he thought ne
ought not to leave his sick; as he preferred
, to Share their fortunes to the end, ana nlsgo
ing away would look like ABANDON
ing them. This doubtless touched the
gallant De Long, whose first though
seems ever to have been his high duty tt
those under his command. Noros was thel
sent in Ambler's stead and his life was say
,, ed. Amber remained with his sick com
rades to the last and died with them. 1t !:
doubtful if the medical profession afford: