Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-10-22

THE YANTIc AND PROTEUs.
Letter from Secretary Chandler 10 Com
nander Wild.s.
WAsH1xeTox. Oct. 20.

On the 10th inst the secretary Of the navy
addressed an official letter to Commander
Wildes of the L. 5. steamer Yantie. asking
further explanation of the failure of the
Yantic to cooperate with the Proteus during
the expo dirion for the relief of Lieut.. Greedy
and party at Lady Franklin Bay. The Sec
Rotary says:
The zeal, energy and general good con-
duct of yourself as commanding officer, aud
all naval officers connected with the relief
exped are not doubtful, and call for the
sincere commentator of the department;
but the failure of the expedition to accom-
pish anything for Lieut.. Grrels and party.
who are Their, fore forced. if nov living. to
contend with the hardships and perils Of
third arctic winter. arouses the reasonable
inquiry: Did every member of the relief
expedition, whether officer. seaman. soldier
or civilian. do his utmost II accomplish sue
cess and rescue the unfortunate explorers
for whom he went in search. Probably that
Greedy and his party will be saved in spite of
the failure you have recorded. Ii is posi-
BILE they may have been lost, Notwithstanding
the wisest and most energetically conducted
efforts for their relief. But those to whom was
committed the recent expedition must today
be judged upon hypothesis, as their success
would have saved the ice-bound band, and
their failure will lead to its DISTINCTION
nothing which good judgment, fidelity, per-
sistance and courage on the par, of any naval
officer might have accomplished can have
been omitted without condemnation to the
navy department
Your instructions under the date of June
9th were to proceed to the northw I'd through
Davis Straits in company with the steamer
Proteus, if practicable, but not to go beyond
Littleton Island" 1t appear that the Yautic
Il L.. ~. IL I
on July 18th. when the Proteus sailed NORTH
but that the Yantic did not finally leave the
island until July Goth; the Proteus reached
Garry Island July 26th, the Yantic not until
August ID; the Proteus passed Littleton
Island July 22d and was crushed in the ice
July 23d. The Yantic did not reach Little
ton Island until August 81. Between July
23d and August 3, namely on July 26ih and
2Sth, Lieut. Darlington came to LiItleton
Island and Pandora Harbor and not finding
the Yantic continued south in both boats in
search of her, notwithstanding the orders of
the war department, given for such contin-
gencies, to land with the stores at or near
Life Boat Cove in Littleton Island and pre-
pare for remaining until next year. Had the
Yantic, however, been at Littleton Island
July 2Sth, instead of being IL DAYS behind
the Proteus, Lieut.. Garlington's relief party
would have remained there with ample sup
plies keeping ''their telescopes on Cape
Sabine and the land to the northward" wait
ing for Lieut., Greedy, whose orders required
him to endeavOr to reach that vicinity not
later than Sept, 1888, and who would not
then have found awaiting him, as is now the
case if he has successfully obeyed orders,
neither house nor provisions, but only
record of the complete failure of the mission
of the Proteus and the Yantic.
ions and supplies, but you will please ex-
plain the omission and furnish the depart
ment schedule in detail of the provisions
of all kinds you had on board the Yantic and
a schedule of those you had on hand when
you arrived at St. Johns, Sept. 18th. In the
instructions of the war department to Lieut.
Darlington, dated June 4th, 1888, is the fol-
lowing clause:
"a ship of the United States navy, Yantic,
will accompany you as far as Lttleton
Island, rendering YOU such aid as may be
necessary and as may be determined upon
by the captain of that ship and yourself.
When on the spot you will inform the de-
partment whether or not you had knowledge
of this clause. Enclosed you will also find
copy Of the memorandum marked Enclosure
t., containing the instructions for guidance
of the navy tender and Proteus and will in
form the department whether during the
voyage these or any such instructions were
seen by you, or whether orally communicated
to you
Commander Wildes in his reply to the secre-
tary's letter, says:
beg to state that am prepared to shout
der all the responsibility that properly be-
longs to ME, and if my statement is not salts
factory and it still remains in doubt that l
have not done my duty as an officer of the
United States navy, respectfully request
court of inquiry ordered on my conduct, as
do not wish to rest under the imputation that
have heedlessly and unnecessarily left
Lieut.. Greedy and party to the possibility of
perishing by starvation.