The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-01
AN ARCTIC SURVIVOR
Lieut.. l.. ID. Bfainerd Visits Sergt.
Fredericks, His Companion.
These Two Veterans of the Greedy
Polar Expeditions Talk Over
Their PerilOus Trials.

Yesterday noon there came into the city
place in American history as one of the
six survivors of the Greedy expedition in
search for the north pole. This man was
Lieut.. L. d. Brainerd, first lieutenant of
the Second United States Cavalry, stationed
in New Mexico. While stopping in this city
he is the guest of Sergeant Fredericks, an
other OF the Greedy survivors.
Lieutenant Brainerd is a very striking
man. Tall and erect he impresses one a
perfect athlete. He is handsome looking
with well-formed features that show no
trace of the severe hardships which the
members of that famous expedition were
compelled to undergo. He has a straight
nose and high forehead, heavy dark mus
tache and eyebrows, with heavy, glossy
hair. He is possessed of a wonderful ply
sique, and is apparently man but little
past thirty-five years of age. He has been
spending a month at the worlds fair, and
came down to this city to call on his former
companion, Sergeant Fredericks. He was
seen by a reporter at the latters home in
Woodruff Place. last night, and expressed
himself as highly pleased with the beauty
of the city. Sergeant Fredericks'' he said,
has a beautiful home out here among the
trees, and the city is a most beautiful one
] am very much pleased with ii, and think
hold our reunion, If we succeed in having
one. There are but six of us left, you
know, of the twenty-five that started out
on that Inflated voyage to the north pole.
One of the six is in Washington, d. c.,
two are in Brooklyn, n. Y, one, Sergeant
Mexico, and the sixth also in the West
For a year past we have been considering
the idea of having a reunion. and have an
q m ~ N a CIlrO
held. We were so closely associated during
the three years we were out that we nat
urally entertain for one another a feeling
stronger than the ties OF brother. We
that survived the expedition saw our COM
rades die of fever and cold, and as they
passed away one by one the ties that bound
us together became stronger and frmer,
until they reached the point where it would
be almost if not quite impossible to sever
them. When we hold our reunion you
might hear some narrowing stories told of
the experiences upon that memorable voy-
age"
do you like to recount the experiences
of that timer" asked the reporter
mo; can't say that l do. There were
trials that we. We're compelled to undergo
which even a thought of makes the flesh al
most creep. 1t is not pleasant to recall
many of the bitter experiences of those
three years.
The reporter inquired of astronomer Is
rael, who persisted on the expedition, and
Lieutenant Brainerd spoke feelingly of his
death.
That" he said. was one of the saddest
things of the whole trip. the death of young
Israel. He was young man with bright
future before him. He was high
ly recommended by Professor Har-
young man of exceptionally high attain
ments in his chosen profession. and his
death was extremely sad, as he would have
lived to the lasting good of his country. At
school he was considered a phenomenon in
mathematics, and it the unanimous
opinion of both professors and students
that he would become one of the foremost
astronomers of his day, if not the fore
most"
How long do you expect to remain in the
city?'
II shall remain here but q few days,
when 1 will return TO my post in New Mex
ico.