Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-10-08
TRAGIC RELICS
IN ARCTIC SEAS,
Mementos Of Greedy Expedition
Found by Peary Aid.
FOOD PERFECTLY. PRESERVED.

pIorer's Provisions ard Wore HIS
Abandoned coat-Rasina Dope Sheet
and Hymn Book Among Remnants
of 90 Fated Expedition.
Professor Donald Mcmillan OF
Worcester, Mass. topographer Win
the Peary expedition. although he did
not 20 To the north pole, had, AFTER
Peary himself, the most Interesting ex-
periences of any OF those In the party
Remains of the expedition under
Greedy during his III fated attempt TO
find the pole IN 1881 10 1881 were dis-
covered by the scientists at Fort Con
ger, ON LADY Franklin hay. In latitude
LA. Canned vegetables, Including po
tatoes. hominy and rhubarb: some penn
mican and tea and coffee were diseov-
cred In great quantities
''They were still good too" said Pro
lessor Mcmillan II know, for ] ate
some of them myself. Sergeant David
r. Brainerd's trunk was found intact.
! used Il as a shelter IN taking my OBJ
servations to protect me from storms
In May, 1852, the Greedy party had
reached 1924 In north Greenland.
They were on their return when the
winter set ill., and they camped at Fort
Conger Here the party became des-
perate aud split. Seventeen OF the
twenty five members, under Lieuten-
ant Kislingbury, started off alone In
an effort to reach civilization. Limited
to nine pounds of baggage and food
each they were overcome by the eie-
ments, and all persisted The remain
der of the party who remained at Fort
Conger were rescued by Admiral then
LieutenanD W. s. Schley, U. S. n, In
1884.
Boys Gift to Explorer Found.
Among the relics found at Fort Con
ger were many documents relating to
the expedition. including records In the
handwriting of Greedy. which had been
left behind on the arrival OF the res
cuing party One Of the finds was n
text book. ard another was temper.
auce hymn book. Both had belonged to
Lieutenant Kislingbury. The fiyleaf Of
the first bore Kislngbury's name and
was inscribed:
To my dear father. from his affection
ate son. Harry Kislingbury. May God be
with you and return you safely to US.
Lieutenent Kislingbury never return
ed to his son. who is still living I'm the
west This book. which. with the
hymn book, was shown by Professor
Mcmillan, seemed to have been used
by students of Assumption college,
Sandwich. Ont, bearing the names Of
several, with the dates at which they
had used 1t. The words Harry kis-
lingbury, Fort Custer, Montana" were
also written on the 6yleaf. Lieuten-
ant Kislingbury was stationed at Fort
Custer when he received leave of abb
sence to take part IN the Greedy eXpe
ditiOn.
The song book bore the dedication:
| To Lieutenant Frederick Kislingbury
from his old friend and wellwisher, the
author, George w Clarke. Detroit. Mich
May Is, 1881.
Wore Coat Gree!v Left.
I'VE found Grpely's coat on the
ground near The camp" said Professor
Mcmillan. Here is one of the but
tons" And he produced a gilt button
cut from the uniform worn by the eX-
plorer. THE coat was in such good
state of preservation" the professor
went on, that wore it. 1t served TO
ha h.,
pages of an old magazine bearing the
date 1880 | found, too, several photo,
graphic plates which had been made
by George B. Rice. official photogra-
pher of the expedition. The plates, of
course, were spoiled by their long ex-
posture to the elements"
A bit Of grim humor was contained
In the discovery Of a batch Of dope
sheets" Of the trotting races held in
the United States in 1881 These were
decipherabie. and one might still see
the marks where the member of the
party whose interest in racing was
carried into the arctic had marked his
selections. Yet further insight into
the life Of the party during the long
winter night was furnished by a note
book which contained the draft of a
speech which was evidently delivered
at banquet held during the long peri
cd Of inactivity. The speech began,
chairman and gentlemen thank
God there are no ladies'" and was fill
ed with semi-humorous illusions to va
rious members of the party and their
peculiarities and hobbies. The speaker
said he was sorry to see so few faces
but added that stress of weather had
prevented many from oeing present or
this most "auspicious OCCASION"
Strange Musical instrument Found,
That the dreary period Of waiting
was not without other bits of bright
ness was indicated by the finding OF
an ocarina. persisted musical instru
ment once favorite with those who's,
ear for music was stronger than theil
desire for harmony. On this instru
ment was inscribed the latitude, 49,
and the date, May e. 1882.
Other evidences of the haste will
which the party had abandoned it.
headquarters were articles of wearins
apparel scattered about. bits of golt
braid. fur garments which had beer
worn out sewing outfits, buttons, etc
Professor Mcmillan also brough
back souvenirs from camps of polal
expeditions led by Commander G. FL
Hall, U. s. NJ; Admiral Sir Georg,