THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 623 



" The Thetis and the Bear reached Cape York June 18th, after 

 a passage of twenty-one days in Melville Bay, with two advance 

 ships of a Dundee whaling fleet, and continued to Cape Sabinc. 

 Returning seven days later, we fell in with seven others of this 

 fleet off Wostenholme Island, and announced Greely's rescue to 

 them, that they might not be delayed from their fishing grounds 

 nor be tempted into the dangerous Smith's Sound in view of the 

 reward of $25,000 offered by Congress. Returning across Mel- 

 ville Bay we fell in with the Alert and Loch Garry off Devil's 

 Thumb, struggling through the ice. Commander Coffin did ad- 

 mirably to get along so far with the transport so early in the 

 season before the opening had occurred. Lieut. Emory, with the 

 Bear, has supported me throughout with great skillfulness and 

 unflinching readiness in accomplishing the great duty of relieving 

 Lieut. Greely. The Greely party are very much improved since 

 the rescue, but were critical in the extreme wlien found and for 

 several days after. Forty-eight hours' delay in reaching them 

 would have been fatal to all now living. The season north is 

 late and the coolest for years. Smith's Sound was not open 

 when I left Cape Sabine. The winter about Melville Bay was 

 the most severe for twenty years. This great result is entirely 

 due to the unwearied energy of yourself and the Secretary of 

 War in fitting out this expedition for the work it has the honor 

 of accomplishing. 



'* W. S. SCHLEY, Commander.' 



TERRIBLE SUFFERING. 



ON the 17th of July Lieutenant Greely sent another dispatch 

 to Gen. Hazen, in which he says : *' Learning by scouting parties 

 of the Proteus disaster, and that no provisions had been left for 

 us from Cape Isabella to Sabine, moved and established winter 

 quarters at Camp Clay, half-way between Sabine and Cocked 

 Hat. An inventory showed that by daily ration of four-and-a 

 half ounces of meat, seven ounces of bread and dog biscuits 

 and four ounces miscellaneous, the party would have ten day^' 

 full rations left for crossing Smith Sound to Littleton Island. 

 Unfortunately, Smith Sound remained open the entire winter t 



