The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-10
REcAIIs soHLEY's HERoIC Ac1
In His Rescue of 0reelsy's Men His Courage and Judgment were Daily
 Tried in Face of Imminent Perils. LITTLE STORIES With Goodshrdlu

ot' Jonn IN. f.1 Letter " Smca&o neo-
 The controversy now rssgias as ,,.s to . the he schley in connection with the battle or Schleys magnificent achievement in res cuing the survivors of the ill-fated Greeiy expedition in 1884 Though seventeen schley centured into the soiitudes of the vast arctic circle on well nigh hopeless quest fer the devoted band of explorers. the world, the story of the rescue yet re- mains one of the most thrilling Tn the whole history of the arctic exploration: Three years had passed without sound from Greely or his men, and everybody knew that. if alive. they must De In dire distress.
 10 Commander schley, as he then ron was intrusted, and such was the con fidence reposed in him by his superiors that Senator Chandler. then Secretary of instructions, stating in the letter which contained the general orders that the department is fully satisfied that you will the objects of your mission, and that the officers zea1ously assist you"
 In many respects Schley's task In fac- ing the dangers of the north at the sea taking than attacking the Spanish heet, for it Is always possible to measure the resources of a human adversary, put no
 
 cope with in the Icy north. Schlsy en- tered the arctic fastnesses full two months earlier than 1t was usual for the whalers to venture there. and when his little flying squadron of three of our seal ships left St, Johns Harbor there were found not a few to venture the dis, meet the fate which 1t was feared had befallen those for whose succor 1t was bs- ing despatched.
 In July. 1881 the seal sSip sro.ens, Ssss Gap- left St. Johns for Lady Franklin Bay, an inlet on the northwest coast of Green land. She was conveying fhe American scientific expedition. consisting of Lieu tenant A. w. Greedy, in command, with twenty-four companions, mostly selected from the United States signal service, observations and explore the surround ing country, their party forming one. of g series of circumpolar stations for sim- sr 1o ey m in 1878.
 Every precaution was taken to make the expedition successful. but the sum- relief party under Major Beebe co Sld not pene trate the ice barrier of Melville Bay. Greedy and his men watched for the their way south. Another relief party went out to seek the explorers: but was nipped in the ice and its crew barely es- pSe battle out % ths % winter, M but their disasters were only beginning. One after another perished until only seven remained, They were reduced to feed on hchens and she'll death.
 In the meantime the flying squadron which Schley then commanded was hour ly nearing them. When the Yantic re- turned the preceding autumn with the crew of the wrecked Proteus and the tale of her misfortune, what it imported to the Greedy expedition was very apparent and the United States Navy Department began immediate preparations for thor oughly equipped relief expedition as soon se ss sP.s sh9ae oak bt sSps oSs fortified to contend with ice, the Thetis and the Bear were purchased and Com mander Schley, from a host of volun- teers. was selected to take charge, with the former as his flagship, Lieutenant Emory teing assigned to the command of the Bear and Lieutenant Goodrich to the old arctic snip Alert, which the Brit. ish Government presented to the United States to aid In the search.
 All three were crewed from the Ameri- two of the most experienced ice naviga- tors being chosen as ice pilots Schley pushed forward the prerarations with amazing s activity, rt,od sne thS crew aho ,na ships manned leaving here May [.
 Schlev steadily worked his way along until about mid-June he essaxed the yen ture of crossing the dreaded Felyille Ray. This accomplished at great risk, the tor tuous passage of Smith Sound occupied another week. as stops had to he made at every headland to search for news of the missing men. '''' co
 Like greyhounds on the scent. the two ships quartered this expanse of Ice and sea two months before any other vessel had ever before considered its navigation safe and on June 2 they made fast to the ice foe of Cape Sabine and sent as was their custom. One of thesS found a record, conveyed 1t to the Bear and both ships started for the place indicated,
 The steam whistle blown to recall the men from their futile search awoke the slumbering echoes and electrified the de- spairing little group under the overturned cue as impossible and to whom this noise was as sweet as angels chorus, for 1t seemed to call them back from the grave Brainard and Long staggered out to the cliff where, to their inexpressible joy, they saw a boat making toward them, paisie9I paE % limbs, to T tell his companions the glad news. while Long directed the boat to safe landing place.
 On jumping ashore, the first question was ''How are they all?' The answer was: "There arc seven Of us yet Sad news and a sudden reverse to the cheer ful spirits of a quarter of an hour before, but 1t was no time to reflect. It was necessary to save the living. They took from the launch some food and started for the camp.
 prop on one end. and the poor fellows had not strength to put it up. The firgt words heard were those of Greedy, weakly say ing Cut the tent" The front and vest ern sides had been blown down aud the poies were swept across three of the par ty who were lying in their sleeping bags. too weak to lift of the burder. They had heen in this condition more than sixty hours Elleson and Cornell were believed to be dying and Greedy was reading the prayers for the dying. The rescuars cut feeding them. giving q little all around, hut not as much as they wanted
 In the meantime the launch was sent off to report and bring assistance. Com Ames came on shore with crew, and a fire was kindled and the sufferers were attended to with plenty of warm milk and other nourishment. Some of them were soon able to stand up and stagger about l Commander hley now began to super | intend the removal of the party to the | shins on stretchers. two only being able | fo staggpr along assisted by g man on l each side The dead bodies were then ex- | huncd wrapped in blankets and carried | off part to each Shlp . bodies of six others having been swept ofY with the foe on which they were | hurried Rice died near Cape Isabella and Edward N3skimo) was drowned while out hunting The survivors were Lieutenant ] Greeiv' Rraiaard, Fredericks, Long Bic dayhfck Connell and Ellison.
 The poor wTetches were in pltiable | 'rIilbt especially Ellison, who, as pre- 1 yionslv stated, had been severely frost | couId describe. Both feet dropped off and | hjs fingers dried up. He could not move | and had to be fed many time getting | an extra morsel from stronger com