David Spilman Fine Books

Outpost of the Lost; An Arctic Adventure [Salutation by A,W, Greely, Major General, former 1st lieutenant commanding the International Arctic Expedition]

Brainard, David L. [Bessie James, Ed.]

Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1929. Near Fine. First Edition. [8.5x6in]; 317 pp.; Dark green cloth covers with muted yellow lettering on cover and spine. maps on front and back end papers; Minimal shelf wear to edges and corners, two small chips and scraped mark on front end paper, bookplates of William Herbert Hobbs, geologist, Arctic explorer, historian and writer and Dan Laursen, Arctic explorer and polar research scientist. [Arctic Biblio 2071, Howgego III G18]. Item #11728

David L. Brainard (1856-1946) was an US Army Brigadier General and Arctic explorer. He was involved in the Indian wars during the 1870's. In 1881 he was detailed to the Lady Franklin Bay expedition (1881-1884) led by Lt. Adolphus Greely in connection with the first international polar year 1882-83. This expedition was to establish a base on Ellesmere Is. off the Robeson channel and explore the west coast of Greenland over a two year period. In addition to scientific observations, Greely wanted to beat the British farthest north record. Brainard, Lockwood and Christiansen set out on a 1,000 mile sledge journey along the Greenland coast and achieved the farthest north 83'. Brainard was also part of the farthest west journey across Grinnell land to the Western Ocean.

This book is about the last 10 months of that expedition and the retreat south. After supply and relief ships failed to break through the ice choked channels for two years, in September 1883 they abandoned Ft. Conger for Cape Sabine, where they spent the third winter on meager supplies. They were rescued by the Thetis crew in June 1884. Of the 26 expedition members only 6 survived. In 1940, Brainard wrote Six Came Back, which covers the entire expedition period.

Price: $475.00