Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-11
AN ARCTIC RESCUE.

The FINDING OF the Survivors of the
Greedy Expedition.
In his story of the rescue Of the rem
nants of the i'll fated Greedy expedi-
ton at Cape Sabine in 1884 Frank 3.
Copley In the American Magazine
gives a dramatic description of the ac-
tual finding Of the starving survivors.
On June 81 furious gale blew down
the tent, which the despairtng men
had not the strength to raise again.
On the 22d the gale continued, and the
men felt that the end of their long
struggle had come.
In the evening all the men were in
their bags. waiting for death. Greedy.
Frederick. Biederick, Ellison and Con
nell were under the fallen canvas OF
the tent. Brainard and Long were
under the fallen canvas of the adjoin-
ing shelter. It remained light, of
course, the sun at this season being
continuously above the horizon. Con
nell passed into the unconscious state
which was the prelude of death. The
other six men, supremacy Indifferent
to everything, lay idly doing.
But the evening still was young
when, seemingly from distance, there
came a sound that forced itself upon
their attention. Once came the soundl
Twice came the sound! Three times
came the soundi Each time it was a
long, insistent screech.
At first 1t was annoying, as any
sound is that gradually forces one to
leave ones pleasant dreams and awake.
But with the second repetition OF the
screech Brainard and Long sat up and
looked at each other.
From under the canvas of the tent
came the complaining voice Of Greedy,
"Brainard, did you hear it?"
Yes, sir"
what was itT'
81 think-I am pretty sure-that It
was the whistle of a steamer"
There was something of a stir under
the fallen canvas of the tent. Bieder-
bick had aroused himself and seized |
the bag containing their last bit of |
brandy. Two spoonfuls were left. |
Biederbick forced one down the throat |
Of the dying Connell. If they actually |
were going to be rescued Connell /
should have a chance to live. The |
other spoonful of brandy Biederbick .
offered to his commander. When Gree
ly declined it Biederbick sent 1t to fol
low the other spoonful down the throat
Of Connell.
Greedy now asked Brainard and Long
II they could get out from under their
canvas and report If anything was to
be seen. They said they felt able to
climb to the high, rocky point on the
ridge where Brainard had set a signal
dag.
do your best" said Greedy.
Slowly and painfully Brainard and
Long crawled up the narrow path in
he snow to the point which command
I'd a broad view of the sea. There
was much open water. but nothing
vas to be seen on it save thu old
foes and bergs.
Long said they must have been mis-
AIKEN in the nature of the sound they
lad heard. Brainard agreed. After a
ew minutes Brainard, chilled through,
aid he would go back and report to
freely. Long, who was more warmly
lad, said he would stay up there
While longer.
When Brainard, in reporting to Gree
y, again expressed the opinion that
hey had been deceived the opinion
eemed to be accepted by all the men
lnder the tent Brainard era wled back
nto his bag. fully believing that he
lever would leave 1t again and fully
esigned to the prospect.
Presently Biederbick began to argue
hat the fact that no ship was to be
cen from the point above them did
lot necessarily indicate that they had
'een deceived in believing that the
ounds they heard were those of a
hips whistle He suggested that the
hip might be in Payer harbor, which
ould not be seen from their ridge
Greedy aroused himself sufficiently
o say that he did not consider this
Biederbick. however. went
n arguing in his persistent German
ray that help was near. At length
freely. whose nerves were a wreck
nd whose mind was fast giving way. |