Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-09

ular army as second lieutenant Of the
Thirty-sixth infantry in 1867 and was trans
terred to the Fifth United States cavalry
In 1869. In 1870 he was transferred TO the
signal corps and was stationed. at Omaha
IN the present army building as signal Of
hcer and is consequently we'll known 10
many old Omaha residents of that period
IL was while he was member of the sig
nal corps that he was assigned to duty in
command Of party of twenty-five men.
some OF them from his old regiment. the
Fifth cavalry, to undertake an expeditIon
TO the frozen seas of the north. with the
ostensible purpose of establishing a supply
depot at the farthest point accessible for
future Arctic explorers. The party set sail
from ST. Johns Newfoundland, July 7.
1881. After incredible hardships the party
finally established depot at Lady Frank
lin bay and began exploring the frozen
seas from that point, rendering incalcula-
BILE service In their varied meteorological
observations to the science OF polar re-
search. While at Lady Franklin bay two
Of his party. Lieutenant Lockwood and
Sergeant Bralnard, Travelled to within Sa6
miles of the geographical pole the farthest
point then reached by any Arctic explorer
and since only exceeded by Dr. Nansen by
less than a degree. The supplies OF the
Greedy party becoming low and the ex-
pected relief expeditions failing them. the
party started on its return to Cane Sa-
bine, 200 miles southwark. where arrange
ments had been made to meet them with
| a relief expedition fitted out by the United
| States government.
One of Most Thrilling stories.
The march of the little party OF intrepid
] nMnlOraFg II ETV-au ha
Sabine comprise one OF the most thrilling
stories Of human endurance and travel
Most OF the party perished on the march
and had TO be abandoned. Finally after
the most incredible hardships, the ema-
/ ciated remnant of the party reached Cape
/ Sabine. They built a sort Of shelter from
! the fragments OF an old tent and managed
| TO live In II, suffering untold prlvations
| from hunger. scurvy and cold for several
| months. Their food supplies, meager as
/ they were, had become exhausted and they
We're reduced to the extremity Of eating
| their skin clothing and boots; and finally
! this preCarious sustenance was exhausted
and the men gave themselves up for lost
| and reconciled themselves TO a miserable
/ death Occasionally one or two Of the
stronger members OF the party crawIed out
OF their miserable hovel and found a few
| shrimp. which gave them a little longer
lease OF life. However with but six OF the
party now surviving. all hope was not COM
pletely abandoned and from the highest
point at their refuge at Cape Sabine a
| fragment Of the tent was unfurled from
a makeshift pole torn from one Of the
sleds A short while prior to the final res
cue NJ the party a United States vessel
! approached in sight OF Cape Sabine, but
seeing no sign Of life there sailed away
/ again.
SchIeY To the Rescue.
However, on July p. 1854. Captain Win,
neld Scott Schley, commanding an Ameri
can naval vessel, appeared OF Cape sabin,
in search Of the Greely party and saw the
hutering piece OF tent cloth The result
was the rescue OF the party Of survivors
six in number. Had Captain Schley DELAYED
his visit twelve hours longer the entir,
party would have perished As II was the,
were In the most pitiable condition. Can
tain Greely was temporarily blind and de
hrious and the others were 50 emaciates
from their privations and sunerings as I,
be unable 70 move OF speak.
OF that party General Greely and Ser