Polar Survival: The Lady Franklin Bay Expedition of 1881- 1884
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- In 1881, the United States joined an international effort to study the earth’s polar regions. The Lady Franklin Bay Expedition of 1881 to 1884 would become a dramatic fight for survival. It is history that deserves to be remembered.
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
You can purchase the bow tie worn in this episode at The Tie Bar:
www.thetiebar....
All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
Find The History Guy at:
Facebook: / thehistoryguyyt
Patreon: / thehistoryguy
Please send suggestions for future episodes: Suggestions@TheHistoryGuy.net
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. If you like history too, this is the channel for you.
Subscribe for more forgotten history: / @thehistoryguychannel .
Awesome The History Guy merchandise is available at:
teespring.com/...
Script by THG
#history #thehistoryguy #ushistory
I was stationed at Ft. Greely Alaska for four years and never heard this story. Thank you very much for telling it, my life just became a little richer.
I was up the road at Eielson AFB, I’ve been to Ft. Greely several times, also having grown up in Fairbanks !
You both are lucky. I tried getting assigned to an Airborne unit in Alaska but spent most of my career at Ft. Bragg. I've been dying to visit Alaska most of my life but have never had the opportunity.
@@e.b.1728 I believe in exercise “ BRIM FROST 81” a unit w/ the 82nd flew a “ 141” non-stop from Pope and dropped over Fort Greely, the mean temperature was about - 20F at the drop zone!!
I wish history class in school had been even a fraction as interesting as what you make it. I'd probably have ended up a historian myself.
It was. No you wouldn't have.
Excellent history teachers are, unfortunately, few and far between. That said, I'm sure one contributing factor is school teaches only specific things in certain ways. THG, thankfully, has complete freedom to teach what he wants, when he's ready, how he desires.
Most history classes were indeed wretched in public American schools. There are a wide array of educators and methods by which they choose to teach their students. I chanced upon an educator, a Mr. Anderson, that taught history at Benjamin Franklin Junior High School in Fargo ND and he was equally passionate about history to the gentleman that runs this channel. That was during my first year of middle school all the way back in 1990.
Despite his passion, his unorthodox lesson plan and plentiful historical anecdotes, my fellow students found his classes bothersome as they didn't fit the mold of other classes which relied entirely on teaching quite literally by the book. It's the only class within which to my recollection I might've been viewed as something of a teacher's pet. Early on I came into the possession of a permanent pass to enter the school early or to remain after hours to stay in his classroom, study and submit extra credit reports on a myriad of topics related to history.
As history was something I was already passionate about, as a result of my upbringing, I flourished in that environment and under his tutelage. I made the top of his class that year while most of my other grades were the finest example of mediocrity one could imagine.
After his class there was one singular history course available to me in the small town high school I attended a few short years later. The educator in charge was of very different character as he taught by the book but supplemented it with his own natural charisma and animated personality. This seemed to help the broader student body to better relate broader and generalized chapters in history to their own personal experiences or at least to imagine it to a certain degree.
In closing passion and anecdotal episodes of history often aren't suitable for the mass consumption of the contemporary American student body. Most of us are conditioned from a young age to follow a rigid lesson plan. It's only if a student is already passionate about learning from the past that an educator, such as the gentleman in charge of this channel, can successfully impart knowledge or wisdom in a meaningful and enjoyable way.
@@athelwulfgalland I salute your intense desire to learn, and to teach, History. Indeed, The History Guy is the MOST genuinely interesting history teacher that I have come across to date. I also noticed that you are an inspirational writer. Kudo's to that, too.
Now, here's the rub.
History is now being so perverted in the U.S. Public Education system that it no longer is "History".
It has become "Propaganda". True history, especially American history, is being perverted by the guidance of the Federal Government and the teachers' unions. Some universities can actually give a bachelors' degree in history without even taking any course in AMERICAN history. There is a reason for this. If you cannot figure that out, and what the purpose is, then you haven't studied history. I suggest you keep learning, and keep teaching. And "Political Correctness" is NOT the Language of a Free People.
@@otpyrcralphpierre1742 History that is taught in school is always propaganda; in all countries and at all times.
Geez , I complain about shoveling the driveway .
😆
😅🤣😂
Rich, if you are in the US northeast now, that is a valid complaint! 24" of freshly fallen snow here in NJ. Point still well made!
eat your seal blubber and mush on !
" we've miles to go before sleep . "
" miles to go before sleep . "
@@oceanexploration and still going at least over by me
I've always been fascinated by the race for the poles. I know all about Cook, Perry, Shackleton, Amundsen, Scott, and know the name "Greely," I did not know about the Lady Franklin Bay.
Thanks for bringing us more history that deserves to be remembered.
I enjoy hearing about such tragedies and thinking that such a thing could never happen in our modern age again.
And then I remember space exists.
Sgt. Brainard would go on to eventually become a general in the US Army and directed the rescue of survivors of the San Francisco earthquake. He started out as a private during the Civil War and is one of only a few men to start out as a private and end up as a general. The Grelly expedition's data has been recently used for climate change research.
aaalllllleeeeee aaaaaallllllleeeeeeee aaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyeeeee 😄hhhhhhhoooooooooooooo
Another good story is Capt. Bob Bartlet of Brigus, Newfoundland who was the captain on Perry's Arctic expedition and the ill fated Karluk expedition where he saved the lives of the crew and those who decided to listen to him rather then wandering on open ice between Wrangel Island Siberia and Alaska in 1914.
Appreciate the posting of the expedition names. A tribute to their daring to explore.
Good to hear more about the history of Arctic exploration. Here in the UK, the Antarctic tends to dominate. The heroic failure of Captain Scott (but rich in scientific achievements) and the heroic leadership of Ernest Shackleton (with no loss of life). Norway's Roald Amundsen simply got the job done.
I hope some of the survivors later found and beat the tar out of the captain of the S.S. Neptune for not leaving all the supplies he was supposed to.
From what I have been able to learn, after a cursory search, is that Canada must have approved this temporary American station ( and a German one on Baffin Island) although I didn't find anything specifically saying so. But what blows my mind is that, to my knowledge, no one in Canada ever protested the American attempt to establish a permanent American colony in the region.
Jeannette Expedition and Shackleton's 1914-1917 expeditions are also worth checking out. Both are similar survival stories in horrendous conditions. There are some good books written about all three of these; Labyrinth of Ice by Buddy Levy, In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides and Endurance by Alfred Lansing.
Thanks for the book suggestions.
@@stevedietrich8936 I've real all of them since. Kingdom of Ice is the most depressing but also one of the slightly more hopeful ones because they actually managed to salvage much of the documentation needed to know the final fates of the expedition party and leader.
As a younger man, I also explored the Arctic. It's true! If you have a moment, allow me to regale you with my tale.
Twenty years ago, after graduating from university, I accompanied my family on a two week trip around Alaska. When in Fairbanks, I borrowed a car and, with my trusty aunt in the passengers seat, set off on the Dalton Highway, north to the Arctic Circle. After a spell, we arrived at the Arctic Circle; it was easy to find as it was the only pull-off for many miles. After pictures in front of a large sign proclaiming our presence at the Circle and a leisurely lunch of sandwiches and Coke, we returned to the iron steed (a Saturn wagon) and turned for the exit.
But instead of south, I turned north. My copilot inquired as to this change of plans, and after a moment, I filled her in. "We are now north of the Arctic Circle as according to the official sign. We are now officially in the Arctic. I don't know what's on this road, which makes this a trip into the unknown Arctic, and as I drive I see the unknown and explore it as we head further north. As I have never seen this before, this makes me an Arctic explorer. And you are now one too."
We turned the car around after a mile and a half, having explored scenery I had never seen, all above the Arctic Circle. Pictures were taken, lunch was eaten, and a short jaunt into lands unknown north of the Circle meant that I and my travelling companion were true Explorers of the Arctic, adventurers for as long as we live. And that, dear reader, is my story and I'm sticking to it.
If you aren't one then you should become a writer. You seem to have a gift for the written word.
A
As a child I was very interested in arctic exploration and read books on all the Arctic and Antarctica explorers.
As an adult I have been above the arctic circle and have gone to Antarctica achieving my dream to see both. Antarctica is one of the most beautiful places on earth.
The big mystery to me in this fantastic tale is, did you eat two lunches? Three even?
@@Al-jt3dw Only a single sandwich and bottle of Coke each. Any more than this risked contaminating the pristine environment with certain excursions behind roadside trees. And with said trees being of rather small stature, those activities would scarcely remain hidden from view. Eww.
Signal Soldiers are typically taught a cursory overview of "the Greely Expedition" as a part of US Army Signal Corps history. It's nice to hear "the rest of the story." Paul Harvey would be proud. :-)
You have to be very brave to go to the Arctic. I wouldn’t be willing to go to a place that was not just miserable because it was so cold, but deadly. Such a sad tale.
@John Barber there is always a thin line between the two.
Actually you have to be prepared properly and have some knowledge of what you are getting yourself into.
Inuit have been living in the high Arctic for Ages without ships or any other modern equipment.
You just have to know what you're doing. The arctic is full of dead idiots who weren't half as smart as they thought they were.
Its an unforgiving environment for those who know their way around...fatal for those who don't.
Oldham's a cold place too!!
This piece of history DESERVES to be remembered!
Thanks for recognizing the team.
I NEVER miss any of your stories but this one was possibly the most powerful one yet. Keep up the great work!
As usual, well-researched and brilliantly delivered! I had heard of this debacle (or should I say farce?), but nothing I read had your deft emphasis on some very glaring failures in planning. No research to support assumptions? Apparently, the mild Summer of their arrival in Franklin Bay was more fluke, than common. Contingencies inadequately executed-- not just the usual "design by committee" failure, it was a "design by political committee" failure: Harding's death put paid to to any organized hope for those guys. Much more shameful than I had known. Thank you, History Guy!
...A suggested topic...as a retired meteorologist, I'm always interested in how the weather played a part in many decisive points in history.
Many of your fascinating stories include weather issues. It might be cool to put on your list..”weather's role in historical events” or some such wording. From the time before ww2 when it was mostly a guessing game, to the war itself which initiated major scientific and observing and communication systems, to today when the need for a meteorologist skills and knowledge is mostly gone because the numerical weather prediction models are so powerful. I was privileged to have seen the transformation from analogue to digital, from the earliest pc's and automated weather stations to the first supercomputer weather models. It was a blast.
Thanks Mr & Mrs Guy. Never a dull story.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Not only is the effort you make here to educate entertain and remember the deeds of others appreciated it’s becoming necessary for at least a piece of my sanity during these trying times.
Wow. Another stunning piece of history that was unknown to me before this. What heroic men to have gone on such an expedition back in that era, much less to have struggled through the unimaginable challenges that they faced to have survived. Thank you so much for sharing their incredible story with us all so well. Please keep the outstanding videos coming and God bless you and your family, my friend!
Thank you for that summary. I have original copies of Greeley’s two volume record of that expedition and have read numerous other second hand accounts in an attempt to understand the complete story of their hardships at Cape Sabine and the decisions that led to their situation. It is altogether too easy to retroactively second guess decisions made by others but it is also very valuable to learn from others who have gone before us. Your presentation was very well done.
I enjoy watching the longer episodes you put together. If they were to go longer than 20 minutes, I wouldn't mind. Thanks.
The history of the button hole would be interesting to me. Rather mundane I suppose, but it be history that deserves to be remembered.
I can always count on you to bring me History That was not remembered to now, Remember! Thanks HG for information on this expedition I had never heard of and the men who survived the ordeal are now able to be remebered by a much wider audience.
You need to Remember John Rae who Discovered the North west passage found the in fated Franklin expedition Walked and mapped More of the polar areas than ANY other man but was deleted from maps and history by Miss Franklin and her friend Charles Dickens et al He also had many other interesting points to his life some have called him the greatest polar explorer to date
I second, third, and infinity this. Dr. Rae got such a raw deal from them.
@pado joe biden I had no problem reading it. Perhaps you're just a little dull?
@@dimesonhiseyes9134
It _was indeed_ a rough read. And since _you're_ being nasty, maybe learn to spell.
Jeesh. That read like all one sentence.😆
@@trishthehomesteader9873
They're called "run-on sentences".
Inspirational story. To have the slow realization that help is not coming but yet to persevere.
Un-freakin'-real, man. That's some crazy Man vs. Nature _and_ himself _and_ I'm sure his crew mates at times but the fact that they made it through losing that many men and dogs and were down to literally scraps just goes to show the resilience of the human spirit. You never know how strong you really until life comes at you like that and nobody immune. It doesn't matter how rich or successful you are, you could lose it all in the blink of an eye. I'm glad I stumbled across your channel while scrolling through all the stupid "shorts." You just got yourselves one more satisfied subscriber. 😀 Thanks for all your hard work, guys and gals, you _really_ have an awesome thing going here.
Great presentation! I also love history and I've never known about this expedition. More on polar exploration, pretty please?
There are a few in here: ruclips.net/p/PLSnt4mJGJfGgjh2UqFMz1VJmaeYGj3Vm5
I will definitely check that out. Thank you! By the way, I love the bowtie! Very classy on you!
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel thanks
Always the most informative and interesting videos as usual. Keep up the good work my friend. History can't be forgotten.
Thank you Lance. I'd never heard of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition before but now I have, it just makes me very glad that I wasn't there! These were more than just brave, dedicated men: they were absolutely heroic. They were also, to a degree, scandalously abandoned by their home country. That anyone survived at all is quite remarkable, especially as some went on to make it to very advanced years. Perhaps all the mens' names should be recorded for posterity, as whether they survived or not, their sacrifice deserves to be honoured and remembered.
No radio, no means to communicate back home to call for help, these were truly heroic men, risking their lives to advance our knowledge of this Earth. IT is hard to understand what their motivation was, my had is off to all of them.
American Experience did a great documentary on this expedition. Thank you for the refresher.
"Baby, it's cold outside!"
BRRRRR
As an interesting sidenote:
PVT Roderick H. Schneider was a german immigrant from my hometown. His german name was Roderich Robert Schneider and in everything I read about the expedition he was either the actual last, or second to last man to die. He passed only four days before the rescue ships arrived and was originally abandoned at the camp. The U.S. later went on a recovery expedition to retrieve the bodies and on demand of Schneiders Family his remains were transported back to his hometown of Chemnitz in Saxony. His gravesite still stands to this day, marking his death on the 18th June 1884 at Cape Sabine.
Thanks for posting this!
It's not just the cold. It can be dark for nine months of the year. I suspect that has to add a bit of gloom to a tough situation.
Because history deserves to be remembered. 🥂
I suspect the name at the end should be Edward Israel, not "Edwrad." The death of President Garfield is worth a History Guy segment of its own, as would the International Geophysical Year (1957-58).
Excellent video, as always informative and entertaining.
I love your intro's and that tagline gets me juiced. Very choice.
I see Kirk and the Gorn from Star Trek "Arena" episode 18 season 1, Now that's history that deservers to be remembered. Thanks H.G. "you have more toy's than I do"
And the B-9 Robot and Robbie the Robot.
@@silvereagle2061 I'm just glad the bugle is back on the wall.....
These men were the best of the best. Risking their lives for simple exploration, wanting to know the unknown. True human beings.
A heroic age of polar exploration, indeed. Hard men!
This story seemed familiar to me. Then I recalled that I recently read a book about this from my local public library. Searching around it was: "Labyrinth Of Ice The Triumphant And Tragic Greely Polar Expedition" by Buddy Levy.
Man, they all look like Edgar A. Poe.
Another interesting episode.
Did anyone else see Kirk fighting the Gorn?
The Franklin Expedition has fascinated me since I was a kid.
Appreciate your channel
Thank you for this wonderful look at the bravery of these men who went out and explored the world.They gave there lives for knowlage and understanding broading the scope of understanding and the endurance of man, they endured much for the hope of bringing better understanding to the world and the world around us thank you again for this awesome video.
Brave men all. Illuminating video on exploration and tough bastards, thanks.
I find this story one of the best episodes I have watched. Thank you for your efforts.
You know what awesome fact about human nature and life on Earth that this historical documentation proves and points out?? It points out that competition and the desire to be number one advances human culture and our scientific, mathematic, sports, language and anything you could name of, drives it forward at an astronomical pace and if it wasn't for competition We would be in the stone age. The reason why I point this out is because in schools nowadays if your last you still get a f****** award. Is that not scary?? Kids are taught now that competition is bad and mean and hurtful to people who try a little bit not hard enough to do anything or make a substantial Mark in there endeavors against their Pierce. Sad man
Great episode, thank you. Have always been interested in polar exploration, but barely knew of this one.
Thanks for the good show.
A not-for-the-squeamish comment about cannibalism: "In the Heart of the Sea", about the ill-fated whaling ship Essex (the origin event for Moby Dick), notes that cannibalism doesn't provide sufficient nutrition for long-term survival, because starving human bodies devoid of fat aren't easily digestible by the human gut ---- the protein stresses the kidneys but provides few usable calories.
It would be, ultimately, an act of desperation.
I remember the cannibalism bit but I do not remember the source stated that human meat is rather indigestible
@@dimesonhiseyes9134 , without fat in the meat or in one's diet, meat is difficult for humans to digest. This was detailed in the book. Starving humans would have little or no body fat left.
@@goodun2974 Same thing with a diet of only rabbits. A human can't survive long only eating rabbits. It's called 'rabbit starvation' (protein poisoning).
@@Johnny_Tambourine, interesting, I didn't know that. BTW, I read somewhere the reason Inuit and other indigenous peoples of the Arctic don't suffer from scurvy is because they get Vitamin C from raw seal meat and salmon and whale blubber, which would be destroyed if cooked.
I found a mint 1st edition signed copy of the book written by Josephine Peary, the daughter of Admiral Robert E. Peary, called 'The Snow Baby' at a yard sale.
She was the first "white" child born above the Arctic Circle. The exploration era is fascinating.
Interesting as always. However my attention was distracted by the struggle between Capt Kirk and the Gorn up on the bookshelf.
Lol
For those interested, to fully grasp how poorly this expedition was planned and lead, I suggest Ghosts of Cape Sabine, by Leonard Guttridge. If the Shackleton expedition is often praised as one of the best exemple of leadership and bravery, the Greely expedition is the exact opposite, one of the most disastrous failure of all polar expeditions.
The failure was in resupply.
To be fair, Greely and his team lived for two years at the most northerly research station in the world, and not only successfully managed thousands of scientific measurements, explored significant unexplored areas, and broke the record for exploring the farthest north, but also did so without losing a single person. When they traveled south, they did so professionally, and following the expedition plan. It is difficult to say the expedition was poorly led. Rather, it was poorly supported by an apathetic administration.
All I can say is read the book. Seriously. Among just about all arctic/antarctic expeditions, this one sets the mark as the best example not to follow, for planning and leadership.
@@carlveilleux5744 For poor planning and leadership, I nominate the Stefansson's Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-1916. There are several good books about it but I happen to like The Ice Master by Jennifer Niven. For runner-up I would nominate the utter failure to colonize Wrangel Island in 1921. Kenn Harper wrote an excellent book about it but an easier book to find is Jennifer Niven's Ada Blackjack: A True Story Of Survival In The Arctic.
Thank you for listing the members who died.
Resolute by Martin Sandler is a great read on this topic.
Ft Greely, Alaska was named after Adolphus Greely.
It is, and Fort Greely has an interesting history of its own.
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel , are those Greely's related to newspaperman Horace Greely of "Go west, young man!" fame?
@@goodun2974 Adolphus was a third cousin of Horace Greeley (with the extra "e"), according to Wikipedia--which, of course, is never wrong. ;)
I am listening to this. And we are hitting a cold snap this week in my city. -40°C predicted for the weekend.
These men face way harsher conditions
I wish you would do a segment on the USS Jeanette exposition. It is a fascinating true story the “deserves to be remembered”.
I would love to more about Frederick Shwatka. His expedition was integral in the later expeditions that eventually found the wrecks of the two ships Terror and Erebus.
This story brought me to tears; usually only reserved for the retelling of heroism in battle.
Idea for future episode!!!
Post WWII reconstruction in Europe and or Asia. Most history text books that I find shift from WW2 to Berlin airlift/Cold War or from WW2 to Korean War depending on which theater of conflict you look at. I’d also love to see a history guy episode on the war crimes trials after WW2.
Thanks for history. ..
I didn't know this but Fort Greeley, Alaska (100 miles south of where I am at in Fairbanks) is named after Adolphus. The base is used for cold-weather testing and ballistic missile defense.
I have never understood the stigma attached to cannibalism in a survival situation. I’ve always been of the mind that extreme circumstances require extreme measures.
I’ve discussed this at length with friends & colleagues. Some understand & others were repulsed by the mere idea.
Those who are repulsed by the mere idea might feel differently if they were actually starving to death. If not, they might provide sustenance for the rest of their group.
Liked the presentation. Noticed that in number of the presentations there were discussions of folks that have died of TB. Infections of one sort or another have always marked history. The current set of problems with C-19 is one such example.
Thank you 🤩
Coldest I’ve ever been was at Ft. Greeley back in the 90s. It was -65 ambient temperature.
As usual, a very good dissertation, thanks !
Two things God told me. Don’t ride a bull and don’t go somewhere that should not be explored, just yet. None of these egos will give you success
Today in Alaska, Fort Greely is the Army and Air forces cold weather survival training center.
Kirk vs the Lizard creature. Hahaha. Now regarding this Expedition, wow! How the human mind can be affected by circumstances. Thank you for sharing. Love the Star Trek figurines.
Just read Ghosts of Cape Sabine. Crazy story, a lot of blame to be spread around in Washington, the relief parties, and Greely.
Wow. Thanks again.
How have I never noticed Cpt Kirk fighting the Gorn figures before?
Absoultely excellent! Thank you!
Very brave men
I saw Franklin and I never clicked faster I love the history of the expedition I have a small collection of books on the event.
This was a great topic, and rather sad. Please do more videos on the Polar exploration.
Wow, reminds me of the Shackleton expedition
Omg! That’s awful!!! Why would they not leave supplies as planned!?
I expected a different expedition based on the name Lady Franklin, but having not known of this expedition I'm grateful for the video :-)
The Heroic Age of Polar Exploration might be better called The Age of Incompetent Polar Exploration
thanks
Read “in the Kingdom of Ice” by Hampton Side about the USS Jeannette
THG enjoy your channel, learn something new every time.
Great
I love this stuff
Gotta risk it for the biscuit. THE LAST BISCUIT 😳
I fear alot of folks that live in warmer climes may not be able to appreciate the severity of truly cold weather. Ten to thirty below is life threatening. Add in a wind of 15 to 30 miles an hour and the misery is quadrupled. At that temperature falling into water is a death sentence if you cant get to shelter in a hurry.
That's why I wasn't terribly surprised that David Brainard was one of the survivors. I live a few miles downhill from where he was born and raised and the people who live up there are tough cookies. I am happy to live in the valley.
This would be a nicer release if it premiered in the middle of a hot summer! R.I.P. to the men who passed away.
Got my fan on right now here down under.
Lockwood was one of my ancestors. 🙏
Cuppa Joe and THG. Great way to start the morning!
Yeah. Those guys were really let down by their support people.
Still, the big problem, as with several other such expeditions - was that they had they technology to get themselves into trouble - but not to get them out of it. When things turned out to be different than they had planned ... they were in real trouble.
Part of the problem was that you had people who had a lot more ambitious goals than they did experience.
.
Right. Among so many ways these folks were unprepared, the emergency caches should have been created before the expedition rather than being planned to be used only as part of a failed resupply mission.
@@bethhentges Yes.
.
I've been in -40F with wind chill, but only for an hour at a time. Overland travel on minimum rations in that environment would be torture.
Tropical islands are where it's at. I'd find any reason to explore those after surviving an arctic expedition, and I'd never go back to the ice. On a palm tree covered island, there are no polar bears.
Wow I just noticed the B-9 Robot and Robbie the Robot behind you.
Great episode!
Can you do one during the era where Canada was still known as The Dominion of Canada, except maybe focusing more on what was happening in what would later become Western Canada? I am sure there are good stories there and then.
I’d love to hear more about Western Canada in earlier exploration times too. The stories of the Headless Valley are particularly fascinating