Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-14
LAMENTABLs TIDINGs.
Return Of the Greely Relief Expedition
-Noihing Heard of Greedy and
His Party THE PfOteus
Crushed In the Ice.

ST. JOHNS. N. F Sept. Is.
The United States Greedy relief steamship
Yantic is just at anchorage. Her tidings are
lamentabIe No word from Greedy or the
party. The Pruteus was crushed in the foe
ice at the entrance of Smith Sound. July %.
The first intimation of the Protrus disaster
was found Aug. 3rd at Litileton Island by
the Yantic. Lieut. Darlington left a record
there, coming south, describing the ship
wreck and indicating the general movement
of Capt. Pike and the ships company. On
the fourth a search was instituted along
Greenland coast from Cape Alexander to Cape
Robertson. Every point likely to bring the re-
treating party was searched till Sept. End when
Upernavik was reached and the whole Pro-
tus party were found in good health and
tolerable spirits, They had been exposed
during thirty-one days and nights in their
boats. making some stoppages at intermediate
harbors. The Proteus was crushed in the
foe at three o'clock on the evening of
July 23d and sank within four hours. As
soon AS nip ceased the foes parted the com
pany and the stately sealer went down plumb
IN the Attic sea. Fortunately a sufficient
time was given to save clothing, provisions
compass and other necessaries to meet what
might prove dangerous voyage. On the
18th the boats being equipped, prOvisioned
and manned start was made. The scene
of the disaster was eight miles north north
west of Cape Sabine in latitude 1851 north.
Over six hundred miles of ice and frigid sea
were passed before friendly Upernavk was
reached. The worst feature of the unfortu-
nate Protues expedition is that no provisions
were landed. and all the stores intended for
Arctic colony relief went down in the steamer
while at anchor the Danish harbor. On Aug.
18th Governor Elburg came On board the
Iantic and reported the Danish steamer
Sophia had arrived there from a harbor 80
miles north Cape York. and the captain
stated that native had told him that two
natives of the Greeley expedition had arrived
there on sledges last winter and reported the
party all well except Doctor Pavy, who died.
These natives went back to Lady Franklin
Bay. An Esquimaux arrived from Greeley
camp and reported all the officers murdered
by the men. Neither these reports are re.
liable as the Esquimaux are well know for
their lying
The Proteus was retreating some when the
ice overwhelmed her. She got barely fifteen
miles north of the scene of the shipwreck
The prospects of the Greedy colony encoun-
terng the rigOrs of fourth winter beneath
the Arctic circle are mournful TO contem-
plate. The crews Of both the Yantic and
PrOteus are in excellent health Capt Pike
says that as far north as Cape Sabine there
was no trace of Greedy or his party, and his
failure to come south to Littleton island to
meet the relief steamers this summer evokes
grave apprehensions as to their probable fate.
The first officer of the Proteus briefly sum
marizes the Inflated Proteus expedition as
follows:
The Yantic and Proteus left St Johns at
four o'clock June 18th The Protues ar
rived at Godhaven, Disco island, July 9th,
and the iantic at the same place July r.
Necessary preparations were made and the
Proteus sailed for Cory island, arriving the
10th. She left the 2lst and two DAYS after
wards was crushed by ice, sinking at seven
o'clock on the evening OF the 23d of july
Twenty nine days were spent in the ooats and
several storms were encountered the boats
taking refuge under the lee OF icebergs
Lieut.. Crowell and six of the crew parted
company with the others at Cape York and
found the Iantic July 3lst and reported that
Capt. Pike and the remainder of the crew
were moving southwards. The Yantic
reached Cory island Aug. I'd. and on the same
night proceeded to Pandora harbor, where
the records from Pike and Darlington were
found. They next proceeded south along the
Greenland coast, sending boats around all
the islands in search of the missing crew.
A storm and heavy pack of ice on Aug 9th
forced the Yantic to anchor to the leeward of
Northumberland island Next day she bore
away for Opernavik, arriving there Aug.
22d. On the 9th she started for Waigatt
coal mines and returned to Upernavik on
Sept. I'd, when Capt. Pike and his crew were
found and taken on board the Yantic.