The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-14
TIE GREEDY EXPEDITION.
Denunciation OF Greely's Management-Ty-
rannical Treatment Of Officers and Men.


Greedy expedition. Entries in short hand were
made in a small note book, and the writer evil
IDENTITY put down his impressions fearless,y from
day to day. The criticism of Greedy is scathing
As transcribed, the notes fill $50 pages of fools
cap. Aug. 9, 1888 after the abandonment of
Fort Conger. is the opening. On Aug ii, 1885,
Lieutenant Kislingbury writes:
! hear Lieutenant Greedy has used up all the
coal but about $500 pounds. He lost twenty
miles of steaming power by wading in the ice
Yesterday. If he would only let the - have a
chance to Get out of Smith sound we might get a
big run; but no, he will not tolerate advice. Be-
Sides should have remarked before that &C.
cupy the same status l have since Aug. 26, 1881
when relieved from duty as member of the ex-
petition try to help now all can and when
ever can. He has assigned me no particular
post or duty"
The next day he writes: 'Lieut CTS conduct
lately In threatening to shoot Cross without
the slightest reason the other day. and swearing
at the men on other occasions without reason, his
silly actions lately in controlling the launch
when there are better men who can do it, his
carrying pistol, small sef-cocking arrange
ment, is too ridiculous. These men are so easily
controlled and have behaved, without exception,
so unexceptionaly throughout the whole expe-
dlton, that there is not the slightest excuse for
such intimidation. Confound the man. why can't
he be sensible and do things right Putting
DR.. Pavy. the most sensible and hardest work
ing man we have along in arrest is another OF
his silly acts. The man is not in service and
on this extraordinary duty is in close arrest and
the whole thing was a putup job, as Will be
proven as soon this miserable farce can be IN
vestgated."
Saturday, Aug. 1s 1883, tenth day: 'Called
to breakfast in a nasty, wet, heavy snow-storm.
everything was wet and disagreeable. The
sleeping bags were covered with snow. and there
were tents. Lieut. G. is on the launch.
alongside the boiler, covered by canvas, and
comfortable; but we have rugged coverings over
our boats by using tents and poles Yet how
much better If we were on shore. But why
complaint We are jolly and good natured in
spite of ALL"
Saturday. September Is: "But record here
that am possessed with comforting assurance
that we will get out of this scrape. l cannot
believe that twenty-five such good men as com
pose the strength of this party can be utterly
lost after their hard work and all they have sub
united too so patiently, at the hands of the man
IN command OF the expedition. The other man
iLock woody do not include in this reflection
because his conduct has been such as not to
deserve the slightest thought. from myself at
least. if not from the others of the party Both
of their doingS will be produced, trust. to the
world some day. which believe will justify this
opinion AS for myself, I'm responsible for all
my conduct since | left my country. have
always tried to do my duty and my best to help
my fellow men. and through all | have held to
what l conceived to be right In my conduct
towards the thing which commands this expedi
ton, say now. that | would take the same
course if had it to do over again. / have tried
not to surrender my rights, and would never
agree to wrong to please him
He continues to note the daily unnecessary use
of coal and labor, instead of waiting for more
favorable winds.
On August 81 he writes:
IF he would take the advice and heed the
reasoning of those who understand there would
be some encouragement There is serious dissat-
lsfaction among the men. Poor fellows, they
cannot be blamed they behave manfully pa
tent and sensible through all, but it is all dread
fully trying to the good. sensible fellows"
August %, the fifteenth day, he says: "As the
ice came pressing in, the men acted as when be-
fore In q scrape something like this, mooring
their boats to safe places Greedy gave go orders,
and acted like man who knew not what to do
l write things just as they occur, and do not
allow my personal feelings to govern me in the
slightest but do not mention half the weak
puslllanimous, nonsensical and scores of things
but the right ones, the man has done since we
left Conger. In fact. he does nothing right and
our reaching this place is due only to good for
tune, the hard work and good management of
the men,"
Wednesday. September 10 "Leut Lock
wood and Sergeant Rice were directed to go out
after breakfast and settle the most favorable
route. The plan is simply nonsense but 1 can
not go into reasons. 1t is to dark to see to write
He gave reason for his taking this course
that he had heard the men lately criticsing him.
some of the talk was mLtinous but that he was
powerless to take any action or to stop the talk
pay any attention to the talk of the men?
God knows, there is not man here who has not
done his level best to please his commander and
there is not one VINO has not promptly responded
to his orders and wishes, and for the sake of
peace and harmony humored him beyond human
endurance in responding cheerfully to every one
of his many silly demands. Great God does he
call 1t doing his duty to attempt his ridiculous
plan Of abandoning half our supplies and moving
over floating ice because he has heard the men
fol inc Ghn Rohl hov
write any more. | must not forget that he h. |
not seen the condition of the foe, having been n
has sleeping bag"
Sept. Il, forty,thrd day: s'The commanding
officer was complaining again last night al out
the growing of the men and ordered Sergeant
Ralston to make notes (spy in fact) on one of
the men (Connell) 1his sort of thing is irving
and very discouraginG to the men, and all of u.s.
in fact"
Oct 9: After learning of the wreck of the
Proteus and the intention of Lieut. darlington
to catch the naval vessel at Littleton island, he
writes:
II nope and pray the poor fellows got across
all right 1t is my belief that Darlington will
have gotten the naval ship to leave all supplies
possible at Littlaton island providing she got
there and that he is there himself and will there
remain until he can cross, which, think, will
be at the earliest late the ice will permit him to
cross. The crew of the Proteus probably re-
turned to the United States in the naval ship.
Of course we are greatly encouraged by the
news, and thankful for the efforts being made
by our government for our relief. God bless my
friend Darlington for his efforts. as also our gov.
ernment. l was struck farorablv when reading
Garlingtons last record telling us of
the wreck. In closing he showed such
indifference for their own critical copdi
ton and misfortunes, and said that he
would DO everything that man could do for u.s.
was effected nearly to tears, and my voice nearly
failed me when reading aloud. Poor fellows
His suffering by anguish must have been great.
indeed, and feel for him the disappointment
know he must feel at his failure through the loss
of his ship. But firmly believe he is now at
Littleton island"
Lieutenant Kislingbury frequently refers to
Rice III his diary. more so than to any one else,
and says he is the toughest and best man in the
party, the only trouble being that he works too
hard. The events of the dreadful winter which
followed are familiar to the public from the
writings of the others of the party, and Lieu
tenant Kisingbury's does not differ from them.
On April 9. 1884 he gives an account of his