RESCUE OF THE GREELY PARTY, JUNE 23, 1884 



Three years after the start of his expedition Greely and his men, encamped 

 near Cape Sabine, Grinnell Land, had been reduced to the direst extremities. 

 By June 21, 1884, death had decimated their numbers, and the commander 

 himself was so weak that he discontinued his journal. The next day Fred- 

 erick and Brainard obtained some water, and this with a few square inches 

 of soaked seal skin was all the food the men had for the ensuing forty-two 

 hours. When vitality was at its lowest ebb, and hope was nearly gone, 

 Greely heard the whistle of the "Thetis" blown by order of Captain Winfleld 

 S. Schley, who had been sent to search for Greely and the Lady Franklin Bay 

 Expedition. 



