The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-23
Lieuteuan. GreeIy,s PERIL.

prrr1IAk MAKEUP OF, THE BOARD whiCs IL
TO TIT OUT NEW EXPEDITION 1900
Washington telegram says: While the
proteus court OF inquiry 10 still trying 10
roach q satisfactory reason to give Tor the
failure Of the GreeIy relief expedition,
President Arthur has appointed comiils-
sion to take charge OF. the preparatory si
a second eudeayor to find and rescue Gree
Iv and his party. The commission consists
NJ two army and two naval officers, VINO
we're selected by the secretary OF War ana
the Secretary OF the Navy. Those named
Inv Secretary Lincoln were Chief Signat-
Officer William b. Hazen and Captain u.
". Davis: Secretary Chambers selec'
tjons were Lieut.. Commander Ii. II. NC
Gala and Captain James Greer. Cons!dera-
blc comment on the makeup OF the eommis-
zion IL heard In certain circles here. Gen.
oral Uazen,s well-known connection win
the disastrous Proteus expedition was surh
that he Is deeply concerned In the proceed
inos of the court OF inquiry, which may
have TO find that his advice and instructions
In relation 10 that expedition were not such
ne IN inspire confidence In his ability 10
make a success OF new expedition. captain
navls ,s the assistant engineer OF the wash
inoton monument, the work on which mas
been largely under his direction. Some
of the naval officers in Washington
are unable to understand In just what
way experience in building q monument
10 Supposed to lit a man 10 decide Vexa-
lions questions relating to navigation in
polar seas " II may be-" said an officer
to-day. % because the monument resembles
the nonuiar notion OF the north pole
Tieufenaut- Commander McCal!a Is at
tached 10 the Bureau OF Navigation In the
Navy Department as assistant 10 tne cniei
OF the bureau. He, like General Hazen, Is
deeply interested in the result OF tne FRO,
teus Inquiry, as 1t was be who inspected
the good ship Proteus and was unable 10
find that she was In anything bul q hrst-
class condition. The remaining meinoer
of the commission, Captain Greer, Is tue
only one Of the four who has had any pr ,ns
tical experience OF the dangers and dill
culties which beset the mariner In tne
frozen seas. He WAS in command OF the
Tigress, which rescued part OF the com.
pany OF the lost Polaris In the spring OF
1873, aud bis experience on that voyage Is
expected TO be of great value IN the WORK
OF the present commission.
II Is regarded as little remarkable that
the details OF so important an undertaking
as that proposed should be referred 10 four
gentlemen, of whom only one knows any.
hing Of Arctic navigation from personal
experience, aud Of whom two are virtually
rss;er investigation for the failure OF the
! ls4t expedition. The new commission has
! already cot to work. Its first meeting was
/ held Yesterday, when some preliminary
matters were disposed OF, and the general
line OF procedure discussed. General Hs'
zen said to-day that the commission intend
ed to use all possible diligence, as they
realized that no time was 10 be lost
II was hoped TO have the relief party ready
to start in May and have the vessel or YES
sells composing 1t of the coast OF Green
land 20 June. Everything connected witt
the expedition in any way, he said, had
been referred to the commission who were
20 decide when it was to start. how 1t was
to be fitted out, and where II was to go. Il
was proposed to seek the advice OF skilled
Arctic explorers and navigators. and sug
gestions were expected from various valla'
bic sources. Lieutenant Schwatka, who
made n trip TO the Arctic regions in the
Eothen, had already been communicated
with and had agreed to furnish the com
mission with his views on the matter ir
detail.