The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-08
THE GREEDY EXPLORERS.
EIGHT YEARS SINCE THEY WERE
BROUGHT BACK DYING.


/ Rusk's Grammar.
From the Boston Herald.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 4.-Time flies. 'Tis
eleven years since Lieut. Greedy left with
such high hopes on his expedition to the
north, aud eight years since ne and It's other
survivors we're brought back TO life from
the very threshold Of death, where they had
been left 80 long through the cruel blunder-
ing Of men in authority.
1t will be remembered that when they
arrived 10 this country they were 90 re-
duoed in strength and emaciated in form
that for a long time it seemed doubtful
whether they would ever be in robust
health again. Yet they are all alive to-day
and as well as they ever were.
Gen. Greedy, indeed, looks better to-day
than he did before be went away. even il be
Is grayer now than then, and be works as
hard and accomplishes as much as he ever
did. he was wise enough as soon as he
was able after his return from the north to
engage actively in scientific, military
literary, social and all other affairs with
zest and zeal, for il be had set himself
down to brood over the horrors and errors
through which he had brought his expedition
he could hardly have retained his sanity.
Inasmuch as 1t did not spoil him at all 1t
was also we'll for him that he was honiZsd
in this country and abroad as few heroes
have been. save for purely military sue
cesses, for the attentions and distinctions
showered upon him also served TO agreeably
divert his mind from his recollection OF his
fearful experiences.
think his relnquishment Of the weather
bureau service for its REIMBURSEMENT since
in the first place congress would not have
FRA EpaathaF huraan IN ha
agricultural department. If Gen. Greely's
consent had not first been obtained aud, In
the second place, he would have been ap-
pointed director of the new weather bureau
after it had been transferred, IL the Presi-
dent could have obtained his con sent, gave
him new lease Of life.
With all his sense OF humor he took the
exacting duties of the chief of the weather
service, and the exasperating criticisms
made upon his performance of them very
seriously. He was more conscientious about
the work than most men would be, and
knowing that it was efficiently as well as
FAITHFULLY PERFORMED.
it must have been hard for him to enjoy
the chestnutty chaf OF the newspaper para
graphers and Of tina people who gst heir
wit from the newspapers about the blum
ders Of "Old Probabilities"
AS a matter of fact, the difference be-
bWcel buS hDGuEhuJ VI WGabubE DEbulGblOuBs
to take only one branch of the work, under
the real "Old Probabilities, )" the first chief
of the weather bureau, Gen. Albert j.
Myer, and the accuracy of them under Gen.
Greedy, who brought them to probably the
highest possible standard, was never
thought Of by the laborsd wits who laughed
at the occasional failure. No one enjoys a
joke or tells one better than Greedy. but it
is not strange that he did not find much
humor in this kind Of TESTING, or that it
seemed TO wear upon him to the point of
tediousness.
At all events when he came back from
the pleasant farm up In Now Hampshire,
where be and Mrs. Greedy and the babies
having been spending the summer, the
other day , he looked better than he has for
many years.
In talking with me about Lieut.. Brain
ards account in ScribneT's of that striking
achievement Of his expedition, the attain.
ment Of the farthest point yet reached to
the north, he told me to-day that all the
survivors of the expedition were in good
health and in prosperous circumstances.
Naturally, the five other survivors all
still look up to him as their chief, although
not one of them is now actually his official
subordinate, and at the same time regard
him as their best friend, for he has kept in
communication with them and has always
been quick to aid them in every way In his
power when they needed assistance
He keeps up "a constant correspondence
with them, 80 that, although he has not
seen some OF them for years, he is ALWAYS / n
touch with them. Brainard, the only on 10
who still remains in the army, is a second
lieutenant In the Second cavalry. stationed
now, l believe, at Fort Stanton n. NJ. and
likely to be promoted, Gen. Greedy said
with much satisfaction, to be a first lieuten-
ant within the next six months
Gen. Greedy may we'll take satisfaction in
Brainard's success, for he had great diffi-
Guilty, as happen to know, in
GETTING HIS COMMISSION
for him after he came from the north, when
his rank was only that of sergeant in the
regiment in which he Ia now a lieutenant
In recognition of Brainard'g distinguished
services with the expedition, especially In
its journey to the farthest north point, Gen
Greedy tried, as soon as he was able to do
anything after the return, to get Brainard
promoted to second lieutenant.
But although Brainard passed the re-
quislte examination, and although Presi-
dent Arthur promised to promote him. hs
never did, and he only got his commission
finally by resigning from the army alto
gether aud passing the examination and
getting an appointment from civil life. go
that his commission gets none of the glory
land neither does the army OF his service
at the north.
have been told, on good authority, that
the personal spite OF a high officer in the
army, then on duty in the war department.
was what prevented President Arthur
from fulfilling his promise to promote
Brainard.
/ remember that this high officer in talk
ing to local newspaper men here, just after
the return of the survivors, quoted Brain
ard as authority for one of the disagreeable
stories about the expedition which this high
officer and others who were jealous OF
Greedy were then circulating, and that
Brainard Indignantly, but indiscreetly, an
nounced through the newspapers that the
high officer in question was lying about
him, inasmuch as there was no truth in the
statement whatever. The high officer
vowed then that Brainard should never get
promotion if he could help it, and he was
able TO keep him out Of a commission for
two years or more, but he will not be able
to prevent his promotion now.
Biederbeck the only other officer commits
stoned or non-commioned who returned
from the north, aud who was a hospital
steward in the army, is now an inspector uf
customs in the New York custom house, a
place which be secured on his merits after
passing the requisite examination Of the
civil service commission.
rs is a man of intelligence and con-
siderable education, and, of course, is very
efficient in the execution Of his duties. 1t