Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-05-07
Major Greely's Experience.

y
Major Greedy during the three years OF
his life in the Arctic regions, was his
| observance OF all festive, religious and
national holidays. AS soon as the
habitation at Fort Conger was finish.
ed, he assembled his command of rs
men OH Sunday morning, and deliver
ed a short address on their situation,
and the duties which it suggested.
He said to them, that, although
they We're separated from the rest of
the world, it was most proper and
| right that Sunday should be observed
| and he informed them that he should
on every Sunday morning publicly
read q selection from the Psalms. He
expected every member of the expedi-
ton to be president unless any one
had conscientious scruples against lis
tenlng to the reading of the Bible.
After the service any parties wishing
to leave the station for hunting or
| other recreation should have permits
sion to do so, as such exercise was es-
peclally needed to break the monotony
of their lives.
He then read the psalms appointed
for the twenty eighth day OF the month,
| one verse OF which reminded them
chow delightful q thing it is for breth-
rem to dwell together in unity" This
text was SO appropriate to their stu
alton that the commander felt i'm
PEELED to preach little sermon upon
He dwelt upon the depressing effect
OF a monotonous life in the darkness
OF an arctic winter. He hoped that
! every one would endeavor to avoid
! discouraging words and irritating con-
duct, and would endeavor to conciliate
and reconcile any who might get into a
disagreeable controversy.
Every Sunday during their stay,
even when the circumstances were most
disheartening, the commander never
failed to repeat the brief Sunday: SER
vice, and to distinguish the day by
some little indulgences or extras in the
| matter of diet.
The birthday of each member OF the
party was also observed, the man him.
self being allowed to choose hedinner,
to which the commander always add.
| ed some unusual luxury as long as lux.
uries remained.
Such days as the Fourth Of July,
Washington's birthday, Decoration
Day, Christmas and THANKSGIVING were
! celebrated with all the ec}at and fes.
tivlty which their circumstances per-
mitted. Even the last Thanksgiving,
when the whole party were shut up
Tor the sunless winter in miserable
little smoky hut, was honored with
all the means at their command.
They were living then upon quarter
| rations; but the commander thought
| it right and best to give the men one
more tolerable meal, perhaps the last
they would ever enjoy. They had been
looking forward to the day for weeks,
for they were almost mad with hun
ger whenever they were awake.
Their Thanksgiving feast consisted,
| IN addition to their usual quarter-ra-
ton, OF six pounds OF rice, five pounds
| OF raisins, two pounds each of coffee
and chocolate, a little rum and a few
lemons. The psalms of the day were
read, and the banquet was enjoyed
| most keenly.
'It seemed to me, Major Greedy
says, "that making this a great and
happy day would so break in on our
wretchedness and misery as to give us
new courage and determination. lam
convinced that the idea was a most
| wise one.
To-day we have been almost happy,
and had almost enough to eat. =. :.
Longs stories and merriment in gen.
eral, kept us all amused and cheerful
until midnight"
Never was party of forlorn and
| desperate men commanded more ably
or governed more wisely, more ten
derby, or with more judicial firmness,
than the party which served under
Major Greedy in the Arctic regions.