Q2 GREELY RELIEF EXPEDITION. 



days on ice floe in Smith's Sound. His permanent camp was established October 

 21, 1883, at point where he was found. 



During nine months this party had to live upon a scant allowance of food brought 

 from Fort Conger ; that cached at Payer Harbor and Cape Isabella by Sir George 

 Nares in 1875, but found much damaged by lapse of time ; that cached by Beebe at 

 Cape Sabine in 1883, and the small amount saved from the wreck of Proteus in 

 1883, and landed by Lieutenants Garlington and Colwell on beach where Greely's 

 party was found camped. When these provisions were consumed the party was 

 forced to live upon boiled seal-skin strips cut from their seal-skin clothing, Uchens 

 and shrimps procured in good weather when they were strong enough to make exer- 

 tion. As 1,300 shrimps were required to fill a gill measure, the labor was too ex- 

 hausting to depend upon them to sustain life entirely. 



Channel between Cape Sabine and Littleton Island did not close, on account of 

 violent gales, all winter, so that 340 rations at latter i^oint could not be reached. 

 All Greely's records and all instruments brought by him from Fort Conger are re- 

 covered and on board. 



From Hare Island to Smith's Sound I had a constant and furious struggle with 

 ice. Impassable floes and soUd barriers were overcome by watchfulness and pa- 

 tience, no opportunity to advance a mile escaped me, and for several hundred miles 

 the ships were forced to ram their way from lead to lead through ice ranging in 

 thiokne s from three to seven feet, and where rafted much greater. 



Thetis and Bear reached Cape York June 18, after passage of twenty-one days 

 n Melville Bay, with two advance ships of the Dundee whaling fleet, and continued 

 to Cape Sabine. Returning seven days later fell in with seven others of the fleet 

 off Wolstenholm Island and announced Greely's rescue to them, that they might 

 not be delayed from their fishing grounds nor be tempted into the dangers of Smith's 

 Sound in view of the reward of $35,000 ofl'ered by Congress. 



Returning across Melville Bay fell in with the Alert and Loch Oarry off Devil's 

 Thumb, struggling through heavy ice. Commander Coffin did admii-ably to get 

 along so far with transport in the season before an opening had occurred. Lieuten- 

 ant Emory, with the Bear, has supported me thi-oughout with great skillfulness and 

 unflinching readiness in accomplishing the great duty of relieving Greely. I would 

 ask instructions about Locli Oarry, as the charter-party held by her master differs 

 in several important particulars fi-om mine. 



Greely party are much improved in health since rescue, but was critical in ex- 

 treme when found and for several days after. Forty-eight hours delay in reaching 

 them would have been fatal to all now living. Season north is late and closest for 

 years. Smith's Sound was not open when I left Cape Sabine. Winter about Mel- 

 vUle Bay most severe for thirty years. 



This great result is Entirely due to the prompt action and unwearied energy of 

 yourself and Secretary of War in fitting this expedition for the work it has had 

 the honor to accomplish. - 



W. S. SCHLEY, Commander. 



Your reply with that of the Acting Secretary, Rear Admiral 

 Nichols, as follows, were received and read to the officers and crew 

 at muster ; 



[Telegram.] 



West Point, N. Y., July 17, 1884. 

 Commander W. S. Schley: 



Receive my congratulations and thanks for yourself and your whole command 

 for your prudence, perseverance, and courage in reaching our dead and dying coun- 

 trymen. The hearts of the American people go out with great affection to Lieuten- 



