50 GREBLY BELIEF EXPEDITION. 



for transportation in alcohol to St. Johns, Newfoundland. "We 

 were driven from Payer Harbor by the ice from Kane Sea setting 

 down outside the harbor. 



The tanks having been prepared by June 25, the bodies of the dead 

 were transferred to them. Dr. Green, Chief Engineer Melville, and 

 Ensign Harlow, of the Thetis; Dr. Ames, Lieutenant Crosby, and 

 Lieutenant Colwell, of the Bear, prepared the bodies in the following 

 manner: From each body the clothing was removed. It was then 

 wrapped in strips of cotton cloth from head to foot, backward^ and 

 forwards several times. Cotton sheeting was then used to cover the 

 whole, cut to fit the form of the body. Wrapped in this way, the 

 body was placed in the tanks and secured against movement when 

 ramming ice or when rolling in the passage after leaving the ice. 

 This arrangement was temporary, and would not answer when mak- 

 ing the passage beyond St. John's, Newfoundland. 



In preparing the bodies of the dead for transportation in alcohol 

 to St. John's, Newfoundland, it was found that six of them (Lieu- 

 tenant Kislingbury, Sergeants Jewell and Ealston, Privates Whist- 

 ler, Henry, and Ellis) had been cut and the fleshy parts removed to 

 a greater or less extent with a view no doubt to use as shrimp bait. 

 All other bodies were found intact. 



When the bodies of the dead were exposed in preparing them their 

 identification was found to be complete. Some of them could be 

 recognized by aid of a picture taken with us from home. Others, 

 whose features had decayed, were identified by other characteristics. 

 I am, therefore, satisfied that no mistake was made in this impor- 

 tant matter, which so impressed us from the beginning. 



Both ships remained at Littleton Island until 5.65 a. m., June 24, 

 to deposit a record in the Nares cairn for Commander Coffin, inform- 

 ing him of the result of the expedition, and ordering him to Uper- 

 navik or Disco, where the Thetis and Bear were to await his arrival. 

 This concluded, and the wind having hauled to the northward, send- 

 ing the ice down upon the ships, we steamed to Foulke Fiord, until 

 the ice, moving down Smith's Sound, obliged us to move southward, 

 to avoid being caught in the pack. 



At 2.35 p. m. both ships started southward towards Northumber- 

 land Island, and meeting very heavy ice we attempted to reach a 

 position on its northern side, but to do so we were obliged to pass 

 through a field of icebergs for twenty-four miles, packed closely to- 

 gether. The difficulties of navigating in this mass of ice were much 

 increased by dense fog and snow. Continuing onward, however, 

 we arrived about 11.25 p. m., but were beset for the remainder of 

 that night in the heavy pack between Northumberland and Hakluyt 

 Islands. 



The following morning, June 25, at 10 a. m., the ice opened some- 

 what, with water spaces here and there. Both ships then succeeded 



