Labyrinth of Ice by Buddy Levy

Author:Buddy Levy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

With this news Greely now knew that De Long had perished. And at least he knew, with some consolation, that he had a strong supporter back home in Henry Clay. In appreciation Greely named their winter quarters Camp Clay. The news from home caused everyone to think about their loved ones, who would now at the very least be worried beyond measure and at worst think them lost. Greely thought of the long-suffering Emma De Long, whose letter to her husband he still had packed among his possessions, to be delivered by hand had Greely found him. What grief she must have endured during that long, silent absence. Then the commander reflected on Henrietta and the girls. He knew in his heart that his “Rettie” would not give up on him, and that gave him solace as he closed his eyes and dreamed of home.

Lieutenant Lockwood was particularly struck by Henry Clay’s letter, and—trying to at least retain a sense of humor under the circumstances—wrote in his journal: “We all think Clay’s letter is most prophetic, except, of course, our lying down under the quiet stars to die.”

Thereafter, anything wrapped in newspaper was treated as a kind of treasure, and men took turns reading by the dim lamplight. One night, while reading the Army Register once more, someone blurted out that 2nd Lt. James Lockwood had been promoted to first lieutenant! Given his stalwart service during the expedition, he certainly deserved it. He would soon have an opportunity to sign his name with his new rank. On Rice’s return from the wreck cache the previous day, he had observed firm ice consolidating on the shore as a result of the consistently low temperature. He thought it might allow safe travel, and perhaps they could make it as far as the Nares cache. Greely deemed it sensible, and he sent Lockwood and eleven men to go after as much of it as they could carry. They were already on reduced rations, but Greely estimated that even with the limitations, the food would hold out only until March 10 of the following year.

Before they left, Greely took Lockwood aside and entrusted him with a special mission. Lockwood nodded, and led eleven men out of the hut and toward Payer Harbor. Once there, at the south side of the harbor, Lockwood ordered some of the men to begin packing up the contents of the cache, while he and a few others, burdened by heavy crates and a sextant box, ascended to a high promontory at the summit of Stalknecht Island. They built a large cairn at the island’s summit, piling rocks high and erecting the tall Peirce pendulum at its apex, thrust skyward like a flagpole, so that it stood sentinel over the harbor below. Greely had ordered it positioned “so that no one visiting the harbor can miss seeing it.” Buried within the cairn, Lockwood left the following message:

October 23, 1883. This cairn contains the original records of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, the private journal of Lieutenant Lockwood, and a set of photographic negatives.

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