The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-08-04

OF Lieut.. Darlington, of the Seventh
cavalry; and this relief expedition like
wise proved to be failure.
When Darlington and his party had
returned to this country, and reported
that Greedy had not been found, it was
generally believed that the signal Off
Ger and his men were starving or freez-
ing to death somewhere within the
arctic circle, and every newspaper in
the land from day to day published ar
ticles concerning the country where
Greedy was last heard from, and many
theories were advanced concerning the
proper plans to be pursued to rescue the
party. President Arthur became great
ly interested in the matter and appoint
ed a commission to determine upon a
definite plan for the relief expedition.
In the meantime congress adopted
joint resolution authorizing the Sec
rotary of the navy to prepare an expedi-
ton regardless of cost, and send it as
promptly as possible to the relief of the
colony. Secretary Chandler purchased
the Thetis and the Bear, two sealing
vessels, and the British government
presented the Alert to the government
of the United States without condi-
tons.
Commander Winfield Scott Schley
was appointed by the secretary of the
navy to have chief command of the re-
lief fleet at the Brooklyn navy yard
and under his direction the vessels
were fitted and supplied for the special
service. The secretary of the navy
chartered the Loeb Garry to accom-
pany the expedition, carrying sup
ply of coal. The congress authorized
a reward of $4,000 to be distributed
to any ship or ships, person or persons,
not in the military or naval services OF
the United States, that should discov-
err, rescue or ascertain the fate of the
Greedy expeditions.
Commander schley took the Alert
which was the largest vessel of the
small feet, and used it as supply
ship. Provisions for two years were
placed upon that vessel and large
supply of coal was also provided. Com.
mander Sch1ey took the Thetis for his
flagship. The crews of. the. vessels
were especially enlisted as volunteers
for this service. The vessels assembled
at St. Johns, Newfoundland, where
they purchased additional supplies OF
sealskin clothing and dogs for sledg
ing. They left st. Johns on the 18th
of May, 1884, sailing direct to Green.
land.
The remainder of the story may hes,
be told in the words of Commander
Schley himself. In dispatch to thesec
rotary IF the navy, dated at St. Johns
announcing the rescue of the Greedy
party, Commodore Schley said:
''Thctis. Bear and Loeb Garry arrived
here to-day from West Greenland. All
well. Separated from Alert $50 miles
north during a gale. At nine p. M.
June %, five miles off Cape Sabine
in Smiths sound, Thetis and Bear res.
cued alive Lieut.. A. w. Greedy, Sergt
Brainerd, Sergt. Fredericks, Sergt
Long, Hospital Steward Biederbeck
Private Cornell and Sergt. Ellison, the
only survivors Of the Lady Franklin
bay expedition. Sergt. Ellison ha6
lost both hands and feet by frost bite
and died July 6 at Godhaven, three
days after amputation, which had be
come imperative. Seventeen of the I.
persons composing the expedition per
ished by starvation at the. point where
found. One was drowned while seal
Ing TO procure food. Twelve bodies d