The New York Times
Sunday, August 10, 1884

LIEUT. KISLINGBURY

REMINISCENCES OF HIS LAST DAYS OF LIFE IN THE ARCTIC
Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 9--At 10 o'clock this evening the remains of Lieut. Klislingbury, of the Greely expedition, arrived in this city by the West Shore Road. They were met at the station by the Citizen's Corps, and taken to the rotunda of the Court House, where they will lie in state until to-morrow afternoon at 2 o'clock, when the funeral will take place. The following honorary bearers have been selected: H. S. Greenleaf, C. S. Baker, Charles R. Pratt, C. R. Parsons, D. T. Hunt, S. B. Williams, J. W. Rosenthal, and George F. Loder. The active bearers will be Byron G. Wilson, W. T. Russell, James B. Williams, Charles A. Parry, Henry Shelter, George W. Parshall, George H. Harris, and Henry Howard.

Some facts about the death of the deceased have come to the knowledge of his brothers which have not as yet been published. About 23 days before the survivors were rescued, word came to the dying men from the watchers that a polar bear was seen. Kislingbury rallied his fast failing strength and led the way, with two others following. The bear was shot, and it furnished food enough for the remnant of the party to pull through. They had been living on strips of clothing. When Kislingbury had brought the bear in he said to Greely: "That bear was sent by Providence." Kislingbury had before this--last Fall--sustained a rupture by the falling of an iceberg. He now failed fast and said: "Boys, it's all up with me. When I am dead bury me with my comrades in
the arctic regions." A few days before he died he would crawl out of the hut and lie with his face to the sun. He died singing the solomn words of the Doxology. While sinking into a peaceful slumber he whispered these last words: "Aggie! Aggie! Aggie!" meaning his first wife.

J. P. Kislingbury states that from all inquiries made he believes his brother did not leave a will, and that the only document left probably was the letter he left here, before going North, with Mr. Clark, naming him the guardian of two of his children. J. P. Kislingbury desires to express his gratitude to Gen. Hancock and staff and Lieut. Emory, who showed his regard by placing a flag which had lain on his father's remains on the casket of Lieut. Kislingbury yesterday. The funeral to-morrow afternoon will be a very large one, nearly all the military and civic organizations having expressed an intention of taking part in the procession.


This Article was contributed By: James Urness
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