The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-18

LIEUT.. KIsLINGBURY's DIARY-Wash
ington, Feb. l0.-The diary Of Lieut..
Kislingbury of the Lady Franklin Bay
Arctic station party, which has been cop
led in the Signal Office aud thrown open
to inspection, covers $50 pages of fools
cap ard begins Aug. 9. 1883, after the
abandonment Of Fort Conger, where the
party had spent two winters. 1t appears
from the diary that Lieut.. Kislingbury
was suspended from duty by Lieut..
Greedy, The commanding officer, on the
Goth of August, 1881, just two weeks
after the arrival Of the expedition at its
destination. He was virtually under ar
rest from that time until April 8, 1884,
when he was restored to duty and notified
by Lieut.. Greedy that he was next III
rank, and should take command in the
event Of the %latter's death
Under date of the 10Th of May, 1884,
Lieut.. Kislingbury writes that Lieut..
Greelv came to him and said they had
misunderstood each other fer three years;
that his (~kislingbury' ; conduct had be n
he (Greely) begged pardon. Only a few
days later, however, the commanding Of
icer, according to Lieut.. kislingbury's
account, insultcd him by calling him a
liar. and their relations again became
hostile.
The greater part of Lieut.. Kisliug-
bury's diary is taken up with criticisms
and complaints OF Lieut. Greely, toward
whom the writer seems to have enter
tanned a feeling of bitter resentment
Among the acts of the commanding OH
Ger which are untavorably commented
upon are the using up OF Goa! on the re-
treat in futile attempts to force the steam
launch through ice instead of waiting tor
favorable winds and openings; the putting
under arrest, during the retreat OF DR..
Pavy, whom kislingbury characterlzes as
the most sensible and hardest working
man we have along" the carrying of a
pistol. to intimidate the men; the swear
ing at them and the threatening to shoot
one of them (Cross) without any reason
whatever. The whole diary is a record
of pickering, bad feeling, aud dlssension.
The following extract, under date oil
Oct. 9, shows the writer's feelings and
hopes upon hearing of the loss of the
Proteus, and reading Lieut.. Darlington
last record left at Cape Sabine, in which
he stated his intention to cross to Little
ton Islald in search of the Iantic i
hope and pray the poor fellows got across
all right. 1t is my belief that CARING
ton will have gotten the naval ship to
leave all the supplies possible at Little
ton 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 date the Ice vii
permit him to cross Drew of Proteu:
probably..returned to United States in /
naval ship. OF course we are greatly en-
outraged by this news, and thankful fol
the efforts being made by our Govern
ment for our relief. God bless my friends
Darlington for his efforts as also GU
Government. | was struck favorabl!
when reading Garllugtons last recorC
telling Us of the wreck. In closing h,
showed such indifference for their owl
critical condition and misfortunes, an,
said that he would do everything tina
man could do for us. | was %afectet
nearly tc tears, and my voice nearly faile'
me when reading aloud. Poor fellow, hi
suffering by anguish must have bee
great indeed. and | ieel for him the dis
appointment | know he must feel at hi
failure through loss of ship. But frml
believe he is now at Littleton Island