New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-21
THE pRoTEUs COURT OF INQUIRY.
COMMANDER wTLDEs, LIEUTENANT CoLwELL, GE!
ERAL HAzEN AND COMMODORE WALKER TEi

| COMMANDER wILDEs, LIEUTENANT COLwELL, GEN.
FRAL HAzEN AND COMMODORE WALKER TEs-
THY.
| WASHINGTON Nov. 20.-The examination OF
Commander Wildes before the PrOeus Court Of Inquiry
was resumed to-day and the witness was questioned by
| General Hazen who asked what positive knowledge he
had that the crew Proteus made OF beach
combers longshoremen, and not seamen The contract
was made with the owners OF the PrOteusa firm OF long
standing and high respectablityand he believed every
possible had been taken to secure good crew.
Witness said the Proeus engaged too late to secure
good crew. He had also received information on the sub
ject from Lieutenant Cowel and had, moreover caused
the crew Of to be mustered every morning
while they were on the Yantc, and thus opportunity
had been afforded form opinion by personal obser-
vatiOn Most Of them not such meRds would have
been enlisted on the Yantic "a seamen.
General Hazen asked what evidence Captain Wildes
had that the OF the Protcus mutinOusy In
cined and the witness said his information was all DC
rived from Lieutenant Cowcll.
General Hazen asked whether witness yesterday
intended to include the chief signal officer and the officers
Of the Signal Service I'm stating that the authors OF the
expedition had not TO his knowledge, studied the
authorities In regard Arctic navigation before Leuten-
ant Darlington was sent out.
wimess-I have nothin gto adj to the answer there,
sir.
General Hazen-Thcn would like to ask what he
ytness) knows about the study experience OF the
chief signal officer and the officers Of the bureau in
regard to that expedition.
Witness-I said that didn't know that any reference
was made 20 former experience. That H. not 20 my
knowledge only Judged by what IA patent TO every
body what everybody can see for themselves Of the
progress and results last year and this year That Is the
only reason.
General Hazcn-Then I would like to ask wherein the
expedition either last year this year failed. To get
far north or do as much as any ship could do up
tho plfn 1aaf
solid pack which ship could pass and this year until
She by false seamanshpo the acts OF God npped
and slnkl
Internationally they dill as much a they could do
last year and this year lifted aud equipped a. they were
Lieutenant COwcll recalled, and said that Captain
Pike conned" his ship from the bridge under direction
Of OF his mates In the nest Captain Pike
without experience I'm Arctic Ice Witness also with
previous experience Looking back nj the events OF
the voyage he Thought the Prote should have been taken
Of pack and returned to Payer HarbOr when Il
stopped the night previous to the disaster. The officers
OF the Proteus hal the At the time
OF the disaster witness heard OF the crew defy OF
the officers telling him that the Protous lost and they
officers. Several times no had heard Cap
tain Pike give orders which obeycd by his
Witness had received private information from member
Of the that led him keep armed watch the
boats the having formed plot Of selling
them being better than the Proteas boats and making
their way to tho West Coast
General Hazcn here obtained leave 10 make a state
nent and said the Proteus and the Captain hired
after deliberate and careful consideration Captain Pike
brought 10 the owners Of the ship from Lieutenant
Greedy, I'm ISL, a letter highly indor-ing him. The
OWNERS Of the PrOtcus firm Of long sauding-Oyer
hundred years-and Of the highest rcspcctIhnity who
considered their probity in business ~ high 1t was
possible for any firm 10 do They made tie contract 10
urnish the ship thoroughly equipped, manned and pro-
1sioncd IN the be. possible way They claim that
hey dd II they did not, they were very much No
anti II was I'm evidence that they didn't DO IT, lie
would, therefore ask that Captain Pike, Mr. symrs. the
gent Of tho OF the Proteus and United states
onsu Maloy, Of ~ Johns through whom the contract
,as made be called Witnesses. without wishing 10
a.t any reflection upon the yeutlru "a who hal testified
would seem that tAe other side should De-
card T7lc.c gentlemen had expressed q desire 10 b,
1pcdon did give the subject proper studyid not
IS would Ike 10 have Capain CaPp. ofTe iG IHfTfry
Tho knew more Of that man body else except him
( the study lie would Furthermore like 10 hlv" Gen
raj John y. Hawkins who bought the stores, called 10
'sify with regard 10 Their quality General inzcn -li
~ had members of the crew and they created
favorable impression bis mind. with regard 90 Cap
aptan FOR that service AZ the ships, both the Pro
eu- and the Neptune were nputed IN that nceh6orhood
among the best and IN many respects the very best Tor
lc service. That fleet was made cN- |
more than two hundred years experience m seal ,
X work 1t was composed Of more than
lc best -hp-y1ri- Of Scotland there. and the tc-
iony Of Tho entire community WAS that these the
ct ships Obanahle for thc purpose. He had yet bo
formed wherein they failed % meet the emergency, I'M
D they met an impossible barrier. IIc informed
hat Captain Pike had a his life been Ia that fee
Balins Bay, and that hls experience everything
bat wa, ssary The boats " the rrutcs seemed 10
i'm QIazcn To Do fair boats. The equipment. these
callers would not come up 90 the standard the naval
rrvicc OF the United States.
Commodore John @. Walker, chief II the Bureau % 4
aygdtiOu, sworn His examination WAS bucf. lilo "
anic. he said. the small ~ and haudirs u the
eHscls available for the expedition. IL not Doe
spcctcd that the two vessels would keep together. Wit
believed that the Nautic would be- able make her ~
ay rs far ~ I1tilcOn Island during the season, .
nd In this respect she had done better than was expected
having reached that point earlier than it was supposed
lc would do The chief purpose 10 De served IN sending
r 10 anOid means Of rescue of disaster 10
lc PrOtcus-to do, IN fact what she had done Nothing
said before sending her about her leaving stores at
IIilctnn Islhnd nnNM hrrt e-e. U