The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-17

ing to eat unless he did.
Too Weak for Eating.
The condition Of the men went from
bad 10 worse. Ellison, lame for a long
time. became so weak that he could not
sit up Ralston had so little strength
that he spilled his stew as he was trying
10 lift the bowl. and another man let his
tea drop from sheer inability TO hold Il.
Greedy comments that the other men
forthwith contributed their mites OF nour-
ishment to make uD for the losses suf-
/ fered by their comrades.
DIT. Pavy persisted in issuing supplies
contrary to orders. when Greedy was alb
sent from the hut. and the commander
had 20 establish a continuous watch 20
guard his treasure, so rapidly vanish
ing. Bad hunting luck did not improve.
and Jens, the best hunter. was drowned
on April %. leaving behind him a record
Of three years OF cheerful work
Nay 3 saw the last piece Of bread eat
en-. The last meat went about the same
time That day Long killed a seal. but
IL sank within ten feet for him before
he could seize 1t. Greedy fen III again.
but once more managed to recover suf-
hciently to run the camp. Whistler broke
open the stOrerOom and stole bacon, then
confessed. and said he had been so hun
cry that he could not resist temptation.
The doctor was caught making false
statements about handling supplies, and.
when some of the men took his part, a
mutiny was imminent. Greely's diary
for the week closes with the words, I
fear for the future
The temperature was very low for May
sometimes dropping TO 20 below zero.
Frederick tried hard TO XIII game. but
] 81
get shrimps. The last OF the rations were
divided among the men. There were
just enough to last TO the 18th, II con-
sumed sDaringly. A little game. brought
down by the hunters, served 10 extend
/ the lease on life however Says Greedy.
writing on April 70.
Long and Frederick dressed for the
hunt, and started after a bear they had
/ sighted. but returned about 1870 r. m.
/ having been unable even 10 get a shot al
him. Their weakened condition was such
that the bear easily outstripped them.
( Our agony OF hope and fear while the
hunters were absent cannot be adequate
/ y expressed by language"
/ PiIfcring by the Cook
Ellis died OF starvation. then Ralston.
then Whistler This is an extract from
/ Greely's diary:
The sick men complain OF Schneider's
/ unfairness IN dividing the food, which Is
/ undoubtedly true. Frederick. ordered to
watch him, reports that he IS unfairly
Z dividing our wretched shrimps. giving
( equal soup. but keeping too great a por-
/ ton Of shrimps. and l ordered MIN re-
/ lieved as cook. II is wretched. or the
party. at present seven ere helpless.
Z Brainard is breaking himself down get
I ting our shrimps. How we live
I do not know. unless it is because we
are determined to We all passed an ex-
ceedingly wTetched night The stronger
OF the party succeeded in burying Whis-
Ter very early this morning"
Israel was the next 10 die Early IN
June Lieut. Kislingbury's end came, as
he sang the doxology and begged for
water, Greedy has this to say OF Kisling-
bury in the diary:
TT should be said, as a matter Of JUS
tice to him and 10 me. that during the
past six weeks he has been al times out
Of his head, excitable, and unable to re-
member. In consequence, several IN
pleasant discussions have occurred be-
+ tween US and Al q misstatement which
placed me in a false position I I'm a
moment Of anger and excitement. called
him a liar. but later apologized publicly
10 him and the party. What he said was
not so, but I now think his mind and
memory must have failed him al that
time. We were fully reconciled before
his death"
SAILOR died on June 3. Greely's narra-
tice continues
"Our condition grows more horrible
every day. No man knows when death
is coming, and each has long since faced
It unmoved."
On June > arose the trouble that re-
suited I'm the most dramatic incident OF
the expedition. Private Henry had been
caught stealing provisions. Greedy re-
monstrated with him, remarking that X
he had no conscience, he ought to have
common sense.
A Sentence of Death.
The man promised to reform. but
Greedy. not believing in his sincerity. IS
sued a written order TO Sergts Brairard.
Frederick, and Long. es follows.
Private Henry having been repeatedly
guilty Of stealing the provisions Of this
party. which IS now perishing slowly by
starvation. has so far been condoned and
pardoned. It is. however. imperatively
ordered that. II this man be detected
either eating food Of any kind not issued
him regularly. or making caches. or ap-
propriating any article Of provisions. YOU
viii at once shoot him and report the
matter TO me. Any other course would
be fatal leniency, the man being able
to overpower any two OF our present
force"
On the next day Henry admitted an
other theft. Greedy ordered him shot.
This order" he wrote to the three SER
/ geants, rs imperative and absolutely
necessary for any chance of life" Two
| shots were heard not long afterward.
! Then the order was read to the remain
der OF the party. Subsequently. the War
Department at Washington fully APPROX
ed Greely's action.
Bender and Dr. Payy were the next
victims Of starvation. Greedy. in his
diary. praises the doctors energy and
talents, referring 70 his misconduct as
due to the effects Of an unrestrained lifa
prior to the arctic journey.
On June y Gardiner died According
! to Greedy, the man had lived for two
months on viii power" An extract from
schneiders diary at this period is as
/ follows;
Lots Of seal skin and thongs were
| found on the doctor and Bender both,
which showed how dishonest they was.
| Although Henry has told before his death
| that had eaten lot OF seal skins vet
although I am dying man, deny tho
| assertion; I only ate my own boots and
an old pair or pants. feel myself going
fast, but ] wish that It would so yet
( faster"
/ When Lieut.. Schley arrived on the
Thetls he found Greedy, Brainard.
! Schneider, Ellison. Connen. Bierderblcs,
and Frederick Ellison died on the way
/ home Council who appeared TO be diving
after Schley landed. was brought back
/ to health by a narrow margin