THE WHITE WORLD 



Then his voice stopped, and he collapsed in utter exhaus- 

 tion. 



Besides Greely, there were in the tent two Sergeants, 

 Elison and Fredericks; Biederbick, the hospital steward; 

 and Private Connell, who with Brainard and Long were all 

 who remained of the original expedition. 



The whole scene, as Colwell surveyed it, was one of 

 misery and squalor. How could it have been otherwise? 

 Suffering unparalleled had been undergone. Almost noth- 

 ing to sustain life was left. A few teaspoonfuls of brandy, 

 that was all, and they were dividing this when Colwell came 

 upon the scene. It was very plain that relief had only 

 arrived in the nick of time. Not one of the survivors could 

 probably have lived forty-eight hours longer. 



The journey home was more or less uneventful. We 

 stopped at St. John's, where we were greeted most enthusi- 

 astically. The Alert joined us there. Finally, we reached 

 New York, where we were received by a most distinguished 

 company, including the Secretary of War, General Sheridan, 

 General Hancock, Commodore Fillebrown, and other offi- 

 cers of high rank. 



Our mission was finished, the task that had been entrusted 

 to us was completed. We had met with success, but with 

 what a loss among those connected with the original Greely 

 Expedition! Nineteen had perished, and but six remained 

 to be brought home. Once more I say: Is the game of 

 Arctic exploration worth the candle? 



Well, that is for others to determine, not for me. 



But what no one can question is this: Officers and men, 

 both on the Greely and on the relief expedition, displayed 

 the utmost gallantry and devotion to duty. Their loyalty 

 to the purposes in view is beyond praise. All America 

 honored them at the time, and all America honors them 

 to-day. 



M 



