Lieut. Kislingbury's Diary Given to Inspection

The diary of Lieut. Kislingbury of the Lady Franklin Bay Arctic station party, copied at the signal office at Washington and now open to inspection, covers 180 pages of foolscap and begins August 9, 1883, after the abandonment of Fort Conger, where the party had spent two winters. It appears from the diary that Lieut. Kislingbury was suspended from duty by Lieut. Greely on the 26th of August, 1881, just two weeks after the arrival of the expedition at its destination. He was virtually under arrest from that time until April 1884, when he was restored to duty and notified by Lieut. Greely that he was next in rank and should take command in the event of the latter's death. Under date of the 1st of May, 1884, Lieut. Kislingbury writes that he asked Lieut. Greely to come to terms and grant his pardon.

Only a few days later, however, the commanding officer, according to Lieut. Kislingbury's account, insulted him by calling him a liar, and their personal relations again became hostile. The greater part of Lieut. Kislingbury's diary is taken up with criticisms and complaints of Lieut. Greely, toward whom the writer seems to have entertained a feeling of bitter resentment. Among the acts of the commanding officer which are unfavorably commented upon are the using up of the coal on the retreat in futile attempts to force the steam launch through the ice, instead of waiting for favorable winds and openings; the putting under arrest during the retreat of Dr. Pavy, whom Kislingbury characterizes as "the most sensible and hardest working man we have along;" the carrying of a pistol to intimidate the men; swearing at him; and the threatening to shoot one of them (Cross) without any reason whatever.

The Kislingbury diary, in fact, is a record of suffering, ill feeling and dissension. The following extract, under date of Oct. 9, shows the writer's feelings and hopes upon hearing of the loss of the Proteus and reading Lieut. Garlington's last record left at Cape Sabine, in which he stated his intention to cross to Littleton Island in search of the Yantic: "I hope and pray the poor fellows get across all right. It is my belief that Garlington will have gotten the naval ship to leave all his supplies at Littleton Island [...] and that he is now there, and their running out into the pack in a whale boat will be to no purpose, for the ice will not permit it [...]. The crew of the Proteus probably returned to the United States [...] in closing he showed such indifference for their own critical condition and misfortunes, and said that he would do everything that man could do for us. I was affected nearly to tears and my voice nearly failed me when reading aloud of the poor fellow. His suffering and anguish must have been great, indeed, and I felt for him the disappointment I knew he must have at his failure, through the loss of his ship; but I firmly believe he is now at Littleton Island." Lieut. Kislingbury's account of the winter spent at Cape Sabine does not materially differ from that given by the survivors and contained in the journals of the other men.

Lieut. Greely, speaking Tuesday night of the statements contained in Lieut. Kislingbury's diary, said: "I do not think the criticism of Lieut. Kislingbury becoming. The tone of his diary regarding me speaks for itself. The criticisms on the arrangement of the retreat are met by the stubborn fact that with the records and baggage intact, the whole party landed safe and sound near Cape Sabine, after a journey pronounced impossible by many. Lieut. Lockwood's pistol was worn by me as a favor to that officer. I am not a profane man, but I certainly did use emphatic language several times when the launch grounded by falling tide. I regret the fact shown by my diary of June, lately published. In connection with Lieut. Kislingbury's, it should be said, as a matter of justice to him and me, that during the last six weeks he was actually out of his head, excitable and could not remember. In consequence several unpleasant discussions resulted, and at a misstatement which placed me in a false position, I in a moment of anger called him a liar, but later apologized. What he said was not so, but I think his mind and memory failed him. We were fully reconciled, however, before his death."