Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-01
EXTRACTS
From the Diary OF Lieut.. Lockwood of
the Greedy Arctic Colony.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
The National Republican tomorrow will
contain further extracts from the diary of
Lieut.. Lockwood of the Greely Arctic Colony,
beginning Dec. 26, the day after Christmas,
when they breakfasted late on soup made
OF seal blubber and supped on "English
meat" The record is carried down to the
night of Jan. lst. In the entry for Dec. 26.
Lieut.. Lockwood says that in addition to the
meals above mentioned he had "a few bread
crumbs and some salt water and gunpowder"
which Long warmed for him over the lamp.
He says: 'We spoke good deal today of
the prospects of getting across the straits in
the spring, of Rice's preliminary trip and the
chances of finding food there, etc. We count
on 240 rations as certain at Littleton Island"
On Dee. 27, with the thermometer 29.5
deg. below zero, he writes of their suffering
from cold hands and feet, and saws: The
GOODNESS of the eXtremities is due evidently
to short rations and shows how food is fuel in
this country" He also enters this day
"Brainerd shot blue fox last night. This
gives us extra for next Sunday. How impa-
tiently we watch the cook as he divides the
bread and meat, each fearing that he may get
little less than his share Other mess have
one of their number to fill the plates, but we
still trust to Long"
On Dec. 2S, the thermometer at minus
OF 30 deg. some rope was brought in and cut
up for fuel. He says in the entry: ''The
house was exceptionally quiet today, and
most of the forenoon passed with every one
down IN their bags. Little or nothing was
said. No particular reason for this quiet In
the evening they talked about the quantity of
fuel left them, and found they had 16 hard
wood barrels on hand"
HeIe 1t. Lockwood writes alt. Greely
Il IL At
the subject and directed Sergt. Brainerd to
issue 10 pounds of blubber for the expert
ment. This is unfortunate, as it will dmin-
ish our food by that muck blubber.'
He writes ALSO II am eking out my to-
bacco with tea. Today | found two or three
pieces of raw fox--mere scraps-on the
floor. and brushing the dampness off, ate
them with great satisfaction.
On December 80 the thermometer was
minus 3l.5 degrees.
In his entry he speaks of the trading be-
tween members of the party of one article of
food for another and of portions of one days
rations for portions of another days.
He writes also: ''There is now percepta-
BILE difference in the amount of light. Only
two more days of this year, thank God"
With respect to the proposal to experiment
with seal blubber for fuel, he says that Lit.
Kisingbury protested, and that he Clock
woody also took occasion to express disap-
proval of the proposition.
On the next day. Dec 80, he writes that
trading in food continued until a late hour,
and that one bargain was struck at 3 o'clock.
In the morning the entry for New Years
Day is as follows: 1.-The day was passed in
bags Lieut. Greely paid me visit shortly
after breakfast. He told me the doctor had
made overtures to make allowance for the
offensive remarks made some time ago and
he had declined. He told me also that some
time ago he felt certain that the doctor was
eating up during the night. Corporal Eli !
sons allowance of bread was within two and
one half feet of the doctor at the time and
would swear to the fact before court. lie
thought it right to mention the fact to Brain
erd, but had said nothing to any one else
about it. But this as well as former matters |
he should make subject of the report to the
proper authorities. He told me that Ellison's
hands and feet were suppuratlng fast and
that amputation would evidently have to be
performed. l ate today good breakfast OF
rice and tomatoes with some bread. At noon
ate three dog biscuits with butter, and later |
we had cloudberries and rum and lemon.
Supper consisted of fine seal meat stew.
While eating | had the misfortune to spill |
the last drop of nv tea. Very kindly Lieut.. |
Greely, Long and Biedbeck gave me a little
so that cupful was regained. When Ellis
perceived that had spilled my tea, he offered
to trade with me for cupful, but as he took
advantage of my misfortune | declined. We
have all been feeling remarkably high spirit
ed today, on the coming of the new year.
The condition of the party is far superior to
anything l expected and further bids well to
come out all right. How my thoughts wan
l. II tl,,nI thar
they thinking of me?