The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-07
.SUFFER|NGS IN POLAR
LANDS FINALLY BRING
DEATH TO FREDERICK
Member of Inflated Greely Ex-
petition Succumbs to Disease,
Result of PrivationS.
UNCONSCIOUS FOR DAYS
One of the Most Romantic and Ad-
venturous Careers in History
of Army or Navy Closed.
MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY
1t Is Expected Fellow-Survivors
VIII Attend Funeral of Their
Companion in Suffering.
IESSAGES OF SYMPATHY

julius R. Frederick. hero of the Inflated
Greely north pole expedition. died at his
home. 1Oi Middle drive, Woodruff Place,
at 2:3O o'clock yesterday afternoon. He had
been )nfined to his bed since the 10th OF
las August. and for the last week and a
haf was unconscious. His illness was due
to the many hardships and sufferings which
he was forced to endure while in the far
north, and since his return TO this country
he had always beer troubled with his
stomach more or less. His death was
caused by a cancerous growth which closed
up completely his digestive organs.
Sergeant Frederick had one of the most
romantic and adventurous careers in the
history of the army or navy, and for a good
many years he had been one of the notable
characters in Indianapolis. 1t was only
year or so ago that his heroism was recog-
nized by the government. In company with
three others of the Greely expedition he
was raised TO the rank of lieutenant and
placed on the retired list of the army, with
all the pay and allowances of such an
official
Immediately after the death of Sergeant
Frederick yesterday afternoon the family
telegraphed the news TO General Greedy,
who commanded the north pole expedition
that proved so ill fated; to Gen. Nelson A.
Miles, under whom, as a cavalryman, Fred
erick served through several Indian wars:
to Admiral schley. who commanded the
government naval expedition that so hero
ically rescued the Greely party. and to all
the other surviving members of the Greely
expedition. 1t is expected that some of the
xx-f1 70 TrIf fn af-
tend the funeral of their old comrade.
LIFE FULL OF THRILLS.
Sergeant Frederick whose life was so
filled with thrilling events. was born in
Dayton, o., on July q, 1852 For thirteen
years he passed an uneventful life in the
city of his birth and in the little town of
st. Mary's in the same State. AT that time
his mother died, and the home was broken
up Without a dollar in his pockets, young
Frederick started for Chicago. AT that
early period of his life the excitement
loving disposition. was already manifest.
When he reached Chicago the lad entered
service as a messenger boy. After about
six years in Chicago he joined the forces
of the Pennsylvania Railroad and for two
years worked as brakeman, fireman and en-
gineer. He in the thick of the great
strike of 1874. going out with the army of
employees who were discontented with the
wage scale. Notwithstanding that he was
other inducements, he refused to remain in
its employ.
In 1876. after having wandered over the
country for several years. he went to Cleve-
land and enlisted in the United States army.
From there he was transferred To Jefferson
barracks at st. Louis, and from this post
assigned TO Company L, Second Cavalry:
stationed at Fort Ellis Mo-, about 500 miles
from any railroad. He served through both
the Sioux and Nez Perc6s wars, in both of
which Cob Nelson A. Miles commanded the
l.4e fnA g fIn tfc
life is repIete with blood-curdling expert
ences with the red men of the Western
plains. Many times was he poised under the
dreaded scalping knife, and many times did
he escape i'm a most miraculous manner
many times did he encounter, hand to hand,
and in general conflict, those wild, unprin-
cipled warriors, only to escape in the end
with a whole body and clean record for
bravery and valiant service
1t was following this bloody campaign
that for three long, dreary frozen years,
years in which all the hardships, both mem
tai and physical were embodied. that Fred
erick SOjOurned with Greely In the far
north From 1885 until he was retired on
the full pay of a lieutenant. Sergeant Fred
erick quietly served his country, most of the
time in Indianapolis, in the capacity of an
observer in the corps of the weather bureau.
1t was while serving under General Miles
in the cavalry in the Sioux and Nez Perces
wars that two exceptionally interesting in
cidents occurred showing the cunning and
treachery of the Indian. which were later
graphically described by Sergeant Frederick
himself. One was the most important bat
tie of the Sioux war. known as the battle of
Muddy Creek, which was fought on May Z,
1878 The band of Sioux, which the army
had been following for a long time, was
part of the division commanded by Sitting
Bull, which had annihilated General Custer
and his brave band four years before. This
fact, being known to all in the ranks of the
whites, the thirst for revenge burned fierce
ly. Several times when there was knowl-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2, COL. 81