The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-29
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Oficial Report of Captain Wildes, of
the Steamer Yantic.
The Influence of Oil Upon Rough Sea-
REIMBURSEMENT of POstmasters' Salaries
Vandervoort Seeking Reinstatement.
THE GREEDY RELIEF.
The Official Report of the Cruise of the
Steamer Yantic.

The Official Report of the Cruise of the
Steamer Yantic.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28.-The Secretary OF the
Navy has just received from Commander Frank
Wildes, United States steamship Yantic, full
report of the cruise of that vessel up the western
coast of Greenland, last summer, while serving
in the capacity of a reserve ship for the Greedy
relief expedition under the command of Lieu
tenant Darlington. The first part of the report,
which described the voyage up Bafin's bay is
comparatively unimportant. On the I'd of Au-
gust the Yantic arrived at the Carey islands.
Here was found cairn containing a record left
by Lieutenant Darlington, stating that
the Proteus had passed the Carey
islands July 81, twelve days in adj
vance of the Yantic. After leaving
another record in the cairn, Commander Wildes
pushed on northwar1 through the loose streams
Of Ice, and on the Sd of August beached Little
ton island, where cairn was discovered In
which was found a record left July 70, by Lieu
tenant Darlington, announcing the wreck ana
total loss of tue Pr0teus on the %, and giving
brief account of his own immediate party. The
Yantlc then ran down to Pandora harbor, Where
Commander Wildes discovered another calrn,
containing letters from both Capt2ln PIKE ana
Lieutenant Darlington, stating that the whole
expeditionary force of the shipwrecked Proteus
had started southwark in small
coming up or to find the Swedish steamer
Sophia at Cape York Commander Wildes, on
ward in the track of the retreatlng boats,
searching the coast carefully for any trace OF the
men. Finally, on Sept 20, Commander Wildes
found Lieutenant Darlington and the Greedy
relief party and Captain Pike and crew of tho
Proteus at Upernavik, and upon the same day
sailed for St. John. In concluding his report
Commander Wildes says 81 earnestly present
to the department the 1nadvisabllity OF again
sending vessel north of Newfoundland unless
built and equipped to encounter heavy ice and
provisioned and clothed to spend an arctic win
ter. Had the Yantic been of this description,
there was nothing TO prevent my forcing
York and remaining there or maintaining
a position until the Ice opened or moved OIL
shore. | purpoSely put this vessel, on several
occasions, IN the edge of the pack TO get some
idea of how she would behave, and the result
was not encouraging, as damage to the screw
and rudder was greatly to be feared All vessels
which are in these waters carry heavy iron two
bladed lifting screws as we'll as spare screw
and rudder."
Attached to the reportare copies of the record
left by Lieutenant Darlington at Pandora har-
Dor and Littleton island, giving al account of
the wreck OF the Proteus and the subse
quent movements of e/party. The first
record found indicates that Darlington was
acting upon the original instructions given
him when he left Washington, to force
his way north as faF-As possible, and in case he
failed TO reach the Greedy party 10 leave provis-
ions at Jittleton island on the way back for he
says under date of July %, the day before the
PrOteus was wrecked, weather perfect if 1t
continues 1 will go directly north and not stop
a6 Ltttleton island to leave record, for 1t takes
but very short time to change tile aspect in
these regions" and his only object in landing, it
seems, would have beento leave record and
not provisions, and this was in accordance with
ais original orders. Other records show Gar
lngtOn's extreme anxiety to communicate with
the Yantic at the earliest possible moment, OBJ
tain anothership and start north again to res
cue the Greedy party.