The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-01

ODthlntu was lusuIlCltft. ~ Wdr away
with the greatest difficulty that we managed
to keep alive. Still no relief expedition
appeared.
we went into a rudely constructed camp
on Cape Sabine. Although IL was the best
place we could find, still it was exposed to
the full sweep Of the Arctic winds. We had
a piece Of boat hat we used as wood; an
old sail afforded us shelter, Some OF the
men were i'll; others were losing their
strength and abandoning hope.
.The dark days slowly passed: the relief
still failed TO appear. AZ last, In the des-
p~eration OF our situation. Lieut.. Greedy.
realizing that extreme measures were
necessary, called for volunteers to go To
Baird Inlet In search of the last remaining
cache OF provisions Sergt. Rice and
myself were selected. As for myself, l
made the trip on the scanty ration OF SIX
ounces OF meat doled out to me before
my departure.
"The whole trip TO me was a horrible
nightmare. I see the ~rockbound coast
yet, the dark, lowering sky and the undu-
lating ice foe, ! am kneeling by the side
Of my comrade. Rice, TO rub his hands and
call him by his name. He cannot speak;
his tongue Is paralyzed with the cold, but
his eyes look into mine with such a beseech-
ing agonized expression that / turn tear
blinded on the storm and curse il. The
form becomes rigid; the breath leaves
the body and Rice passes away | bury
him rs best / can and push on again on my
way, dragging the double load to reach the
men l have left in the camp on Cape Sabine.
Supplies grew scarcer day by day
All a. IAna had haap sanriEppd nil nllr
cached provisions exhausted. We were
subsisting on the meagre mtriment that
could be obtained from a broth made Of
the dry skins that formed our garments
and our bedding. Sometimes we found
lichens and bird eggs. All hope OF rescue
was gone. Several of the men died, and
we who had a little strength remaining
buried them "a best WI could. All Of us.
in truth, were III. and It was obvious that
it was but a question Of days before the last
member of the famous Greedy Expedition
would pass way OF starvation and cold.
People have accused us OF being can
nibals, of eating the flesh Of our comrades
1t is a horrible thought. Yet such things
have been done in the history Of Arctic
exploration. and. in every case, where such
measures were found necessary TO keep
life sustained, the action was justifable.
Il was away from camp most of the
time. i did not see human flesh eaten,
and II il was / cannot say that | know IL
personally We were driven To desperation,
and in the nature of things, 10 men in our
situation II was not fraught with the horror
that such a suggestion would bring to me
to-day.
IF ] were to 90 on another Arctic eNpe-
dition I would write two letters, both iden-
teal. One ! would leave behind with my
family; the other l would carry with me
always. ! would say In these: In case OF
my death and in the advent Of such neces-
sity, my comrades are authorized to do
az they wish with my body. Rather than
feed the fishes Of the sea or the fowls Of the
air | place my body at the disposal Of my
comrades, to be used, IL necessary. in pro-
longing their lives
What suffering we endured during the
twenty-one days Of that last June We spent
In the midst Of the fastness of the Arctic
night! We were all delirious. Ellison's
fingers and toes were frozen of and we were
Obliged TO feed him like a baby. Each
with his tiny bit Of dry skin and his cup OF
warm water did all that was possible IN the
face Of fast approaching death to cheer
the dropping spirits of his comrades.
-On the morning Of June - the scene
changed. We felt as We lay there regard
lees Of the passing Of the hours, that 1t wa
only a question Of another day before the
end would come for all Of us. That morn
ing, Long, stronge han the rest OF US
cravled TO the shore. Although II was but
a short distance away, II took HIM houi'
TO make the trip. When he had been gone
a long time. suddenly we were aroused from
our stupor by the sound Of a boats " histle
Another M another time II sounded
Then men came running round the pile OF
rocks and gathered US in their strong arms
II war the rescue al laht.
The slN men from the death camp OF
Cape Sabine lived To reach their homes
Even now. a. ! revie~ the tragic EVENT.
Of the expedition. | say again that II human
flesh Wac eaten while the men With Greel,
lay -taI wing on the rooks the act wAs just
habie. After eighteen years, | can looi
back and declare that " II were all 10 be
done over again. there " nothing that
would not do a --ond time we're / once NOR
placed Ia -dch a posiuun az ] found my-el
on the fret day of that memorable jun
When hupe wa lost and death stared M
In the face