unfortunate Greely expedition which went to the Arctic regions in 1881,
to establish an observation station for our Government. Owing to the
non-arrival of expected supplies, the Greely party suffered the most
terrible hardships, and was eventually rescued at Cape Sabine in Grinnel
Land in 1883, after eighteen of the party had perished from cold and
hunger.

Greely established the station, and, after his rescue, was raised to the
rank of general, and was given a special government appointment for his
services.

When Lieutenant Peary arrived in New York, he was asked whether he
thought that Andrée had been able to reach the Pole in his balloon.

He said that he feared it had not been possible for him to do so.
According to all he could hear, the winds had been unfavorable all
summer, and the chances were that the adventurer had been carried in an
opposite direction to the one he had intended to take.

In regard to his being rescued and ever reaching the land of the living
again, Lieutenant Peary said he feared the chances were very slight. It
all depended on the place where the balloon had descended.

If it had fallen north of Spitzbergen, it seemed unlikely that he would
ever be heard of again; if, however, the winds had carried it southward,
he might have taken refuge on an ice-pack, and would be floated
southward with it, and eventually rescued.

Dr. Nansen, in his recent famous voyage, proved that there is a strong
current flowing across the Polar Sea. By following this, a ship could be