The International Polar Expedition: The History of Adolphus Greely’s Harrowing Journey to Reach the Farthest North

*Includes pictures *Includes accounts of the expedition written by members *Includes a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents “No matter how much forethought may be exercised these thoughts have never so strongly suggested themselves as at this time when we find ourselves in the broad Atlantic with our ship's trial pointed at the North star and every revolution of our propeller speeding us nearer our inhospitable destination and further from home and friends. We retire at a late hour to be lulled to sleep by the motion of the ship, which has not yet become unpleasant, and dream of icebergs and polar bears.” – Sergeant George Rice It is the dreamland of most children in Europe and the Americas, and the mysterious home of the mythical Santa Claus, his devoted wife Mrs. Claus, the reindeer and the many elves who make Christmas toys each year. In many ways, the North Pole is the first geographical location many kids learn, if only because children over the age of 3 can manage to tell any interested adult that Santa Claus lives there. In reality, of course, the North Pole proved to be as elusive for many brave explorers as jolly old Santa has been for children who wait up at night by the chimney. The biggest problem, of course, is the North Pole’s unforgiving location, far from sunshine or any sort of natural warmth. Another problem, one that would only became obvious in the 20th Century, was that it is located not on any piece of stable land but in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, usually covered by ever shifting ice floes. Finally, without modern technological advances, it was nearly impossible to tell when one had actually reached the planet’s northernmost spot. Nonetheless, explorers were undeterred from traveling north, including the expedition led by Adolphus Greely in the 1880s. Greely’s team was sent north to conduct all sorts of scientific research, including gathering astronomical data and measure the pole’s magnetic data. As it turned out, the expedition would partially accomplish certain feats over several years, including reaching the farthest point north up to that time, it would go down in history for the problems the team experienced. Like many who had headed toward the Arctic in the past, Greely’s expedition had to contend not just with the elements but the tough navigation that went with it, and as fate would have it, they would have to deal with limited supplies. Once the team was all but marooned, they had to hope for rescue attempts that were made difficult if not impossible by the climate and changing seasons. As a result, an expedition that started in 1881 was only saved by a comprehensive rescue effort in 1884, and by then, most of the team had succumbed. Rumors flew that the survivors had resorted to cannibalism, and while the team always denied that, they certainly resorted to desperate measures, including Greely shooting one man who tried to steal rations. The International Polar Expedition chronicles the ill-fated voyage that became one of the most harrowing sea stories of the 19th century. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Greely expedition like never before, in no time at all.