The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-20

Then we realized that they had been unable to
cross the channel The records were nearly a
year old, and the men might have persisted
AT IL o'clock on the night of June %, under
the midnight sun, which was then shining, we
steamed into the cove near Cooked Hat island,
amid fearful storm. Those watching on deck
looked toward the shore where Camp Clay was
supposed Ito be situated. There, sure enough,
they saw man coming down the bank. He WAS
rather falling down, for he seemed unable to
other demonstrations, but his strength seemed
gone. The steam launch left the ship
and tried to get on shore. The wind
was blowing seventy miles an hour
steamer would be wrecked just as they had
brought salvation to Greely's men. The waves
dashed the shores with terrific force, and the ship
stood almost on her end. After time the
launch succeeded in landing The men ran to
the man On shore. They were seen talking with
him as he lay upon the ground. Then they sig
nailed back, SEVEN A-LI-V-Ep Only
seven alive, we thought. Then eighteen had died.
Soon / and others had landed. Longs face was
black with dirt and filth. He was sent to the
ship. We hurried up the hill where he directed
US. We passed their winter hut, which was
roofess and in which the water stood, while the
accumulated filth of the winter lay or foated IN
1t. We went on to the tent further up on the
HILL 1t had blown down upon them. Morton
had cut through, and was feeding the men
little brandy, beef tea and condensed milk. /
never saw more horrible sight than these men
presented. Their boards and hair, which had
grown long, were matted with dirt and filth;
their faces were black with dirt Their
eyes were filled with accumulations of rheum,
which had never been washed from them Their
cheeks were either sunken or swollen beyond
recognition, and their eyeballs glittered with an
unearthly light They didn't seem to realize
that they We're saved Poor Cornell lay upon
the ice and said Let me die in peace Sebree,
a big hearted fellow. cried like baby. We fed
them till the doctors came up and stopped u.s.
They were then carried as gently as possible, to
the launch, and from there were taken to the
ship. | helped to carry Lieutenant Greedy
Then and six or seven others
started for the dead who had been buried
were unburied. The first that died were buried
better than the Others showing how the strength
of the survivors had waned. Nothing but lit
tie sand and gravel could be piled on any of
them They presented horrible appearance
They were tied around with rags and ropes, and
in many cases their bare feet. legs and hands
were sticking out of the sand. / think was the
first to see that some of the bodies were mutila-
ted. saw that the flesh had been cut from one
leg. 1t had been done in a clean and
workmanike manner. / called the attention
of some of the men to the mutiations, but moth
ing further was said. We shouldered the bodies
and carried them to the launch and though the
day was bitterly cold and l had no gloves. the
perspiration ran from me- When we had start
ed back the hardest thing to do was to keep from
feeding the survivors Their appeals for food
were piteous and the doctors had to keep watch
to see that the sailors did not slip food to them
and thus endanger their lives"
Mr.. Van Spreckelson has now q piece of the
sealskin which the Greedy party had soaking in
a can for their next meal at the time of the res
cue 1t is as tough as iron, and almost as nearly
void Of nutrition.