Evening star., 1935-10-21
Creely

NSOlltllluCQ IIOAll T II Aob d6c)
Gibbs and Maj. Gen. Irving J. Carr,
former chief signal officers; Maj. Gen.
Leon B. KRONER, chief of Calvary;
Brig. Gen. William Mitchell, U. S. A.,
retired, formerly with Gen. Greely in
the Signal Corps; Col. Charles DEF.
Chandler. Signal Corps. retired; DR..
Gilbert GroSvenor, president OF the
National Geographic Society, and r.
M. Kaufman, close friend OF Gen.
Greely.
On learning of the death of Gen.
Greely, Gen. Malin Craig, chief of staff
of the United States Army, said:
II am deeply distressed to learn OF
Gen. Greely's death. He was one OF
the most distinguished officers OF the
Army. His long and brilliant career
was packed with outstanding achieve
ments for civilization. He was pio-
neer not only in polar exploration, for
which he is probably best known, but
also in the field of communication.
Many of the early telegraph lines in
the United States were constructed
under his supervision and q third OF
a century later he established wireless
stations in Alaska that were amorg
the first to be placed in successful op-
Grafton. His contributions to science
can scarcely be exaggerated. In his
later years he devoted considerable
time to literary work of great merit.
In his death humanity has lost great
benefactor."
Rewarded by Congress.
On his last birthday anniversary,
March q, Gen. Greely received from
his Government the Congressional
Medal belated reward for q life
time Of distinguished public service,
marked by bravery on the battlefield.
grim adventure and achievement in
the Arctic, rescue work during the
San Francisco earthquake and out
standing services in the fields of COM
munications and aviation.
The kindly, philosophical nom
ogenarian-descendant of long line
of sturdy New England sea coast
dwellers-was the last survivor, but
one of the tragic Greely expedition Of
1881-l884, an epic of achievement.
heroism and death In the then un-
explored wastes near the North Pole
Greely's death leaves Gen. Brainard
the only living member of the original
band of 25 spirited young men whom
Greely-then lieutenant-took with
him for circumpolar weather studies.
Crushing of relief ship in the ice
left the band marooned on the ice
with meager supplies, and hunger and
cold claimed 18 of the men before a
rescue ship reached them at Cape
Sabine.
Penetrated "Farthest North"
Greely ana his adventurous COM
pany sailed in holiday mood from st.
Johns, Newfoundland, on July 4,
1881, to represent the United States
in a joint international meteorological
survey around the polar cap. The
party not only accomplished its mis-
sion in this respect, but penetrated to
the then "farthest North"-latitude
80 degrees, "a minutes, in Grinnell
Land.
The expedition established itself in
latitude 81 degrees A minutes for two
years of weather observations. There
was plenty of food and shelter during
this period. At the end Of the two
year research the party piled its pos
sessions into small boats and navi-
gated them through dangerous Arctic
waters to Cape Sabine, 200 miles to
the south.
At Cape Sabine they were to meet,
by prearrangement, a relief ship, the
Proteus. The men camped on the ice
and waited. Weeks and then months
passed, but the ship did not appear.
The men did not know that the Pro-
teus had been caught between icebergs
and smashed so that she could not
continue the journey.
Provisions began to run low. Re-
naming food supplies were rationed.
Finally they were completely ex-
hausted. Desperate, the men gnawed
at seal thongs on their equipment,
devoured insects, ate grasses and
strove to catch fish to ward OF the
horrors of starvation.
Men Drop OF, One by One.
"I tried to keep the men In good
spirits" Gen. Greely said in a BIRTH
day interview last March. II re-.
cited incidents of American history
concerning each of the States. I held
birthday celebrations for each Of the
men-giving the guest of honor a gift
of an extra portion of what food or
makeshifts we had. But the men con-
tinued to drop OF, one by one"
When Capt w. S. Schley COM
manding the rescue ship, finally sighted
the gruesome camp on the shores Of
Cape Sabine on June %, 1884, only
Greely and six Of his men were alive.
All seemed more dead than alive. but
careful nursing brought all but one of
them back to health.
On his return to the United States
he received a blow which he never
forgot. Instead Of being promoted In
recognition of his accomplishments on
the expedition, he found himself re-
duced several files in rank. Like q
good, soldier, however, he carried on
and succeeded in winning high rank
in the Army before retirement.
Last March, by unanimous consent,
Congress made . special award Of