Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-19
THE GREEGX RELIEF EXPEDy
TE@N.
Report Of Lieut.. Darlington.
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LEGGED BAD CONDUCT OF THE CREW,
Tie chief signal officer has submitted to the
Secretary OF War Lieut.. GaTlingtOns report Of the
Greey relief expedition, with some additional re-
marks OF his own. Lieut.. Darlington in his report
gives detailed account OF the voyage of the Pro-
teus. On the asd OF July the Proteus entered
Pandora harbor. The weather was waAn, and no
ice could be seen from the 'crow's nest," and
Lieut.. Darlington determined, If the conditions re-
nlained the same. not TO leave record at LtIeton
Island. but to take advantage of open water and
press as far as north as Cape Prescott, where he
would leave the first cache OF provisions and a
Whale boat. Lit1eton Island was therefore passed.
but at 11:30 an unbroken front OF ice was encOnn-
tered and it was determined to go to Cape Sabine.
Payer HarbOr was reached at 330 and while on
shore Lieut.. Darlington saw that the pack had
broken and open lanes Of water were seen as far as
Cape Hawks. Cape Sabine was rounded and Lieut..
Darlington gives graphic description OF
THE ICE CLOSING IN UPON THEM,
Notwithstanding their efforts to retreat and the ult
mate loss of the vessel On giving the account Of
the voyage Lieut.. Darlington speaks of the careless
manner in which the ship was navfgated. When
teus Lieut.. Darlington ordered the men to throw
overheard the stores Many OF the boxes went un-
der the ship and about 80 per cent. of the stores
Lieut. Colwell for courage and presence OF mind in
securing the boats, and also Dr. Harrison for zeal In
saving provisions, &c The men OF Lieut.. CARING
tons detachment were cool and collected.
ALLEGED BAD CONDUCT OF THE CREW.
With the exception of the chief engineer Of the
Proteus, Mr.. Carmichael, and the boatswain, Nj.
Taylor. none OF the crew lent any assistance in
saving property. At the first alarm those on duty
their own property and did nothing towards saving
provisions until after their bags had been packed
and safely put on the ice. AS soon stores began
10 go overheard they broke open the boxes and ap-
propriated anything that suited their fancy. Lieut.
GolWell lost all OF his clothing after it had been
thrown on the ice. He afterward recovered a
the ship. The crew seemed bent on robbng from
the start and appeared to think they had right to
Take what they wanted. Lieut. Darlington thinks
however. that il their own officers had taken the
proper steps there would have been no difficulty in
preventing the stealing He protested to Capt Pike
but he said he was powerleSS, adding "they the
crew. are the
WORST LOT OF scoUNDRELs EVER SAW"
They were shipped under the English law for an
English Ship and claimed that, their pay stopped
When the ship went down, their shipping articles
crew and enforce discipline would have required
more force than Lieut.. Darlington had at his COM
mand. He therefore determined to keep his men
and stores separate, and to avoid any unnecessary
collision it was agreed that the crew should take
their three boats and the rest the two whale boats
About l2 pm. the chances looked favorable for
making land 1t was decided that Colwell should
take the whale boat and make the attempt. AS
the Darlington men We're exhausted and the crew
1rpSn. Capt. Pike was asked for for the whale
boat, but only four signified their willingness to CO.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RETREAT
then follows At Breyoort Island, on the 25th July,
record was LETT The prime object OF the expedi-
ton was defeated, and the best course to follow
looking to the relief OF Greely was the problem to
boats II the 1antic should reach LittletOn island
or Pandora harbOr. clothing stores. coal and canvas
could could be secured, and station established at Life
Boat cove, remain there with three men, and the
rest sent to St Johns. Lieut.. Darlington says that,
taking ta into consideration the condition Of
mander Wilkes not 1T to '',s enter es'D It. " there
was no chance OF the Yantfc's getting there. When
the s Ice through which the Proteus had passed of
july, he said he would not have put the Yantic in
ig If he had encountered it. While he thought the
with the safety OF the vessel he did not think she
would would get through Melville Straits But il she
record know OF the disaster and pick them up soon.
1t was therefore, decided to cross Smith sound at
the first favorable opportunity and proceed south.
recovered from the crew Of the Proteus, but they
surrendered it with bad grace, although it was
explained that it was necessary to leave every thing
possible Tor the Greely party.
THE DANGERS ENCOUNTERED,
and the narrow escapes made in the retreat are
recornted in full until the Yantic found them on
the I'd of September
REPORTED KILLING OF MEMBERS OF THE GREELY
PARTY NOT CREDITED.
The reports Of the killing OF one or two members
Of the Greely party, which have been published,
were examined, and Lieut.. Darlington states that
no credence should be attached to them. The
amount OF stores left at different points are given
and Lieut. Darlington is OF tile opinion that Ii Lieut..
Greely should reach ittleton Island this season he
Will divide his people among the different Eskimo
settlements and the stores he will find on his line of
retreat, supplemented by the game of that region,
Will be Sufficient food for his party. Unless the
condition OF the ice permits him Qieut. GreelJ) to
leave Discovery harbOr in his boats. he does not
think he will attempt the journey to Littleton
island tS season. as the experience OF two winters
VIII have shown Greely the futility of making an
effort to retreat to Lttleton island by sledges in
the fall
GREELy's HARBoR OF REFuGE.
At Discovery Harbor he has good house, plenty
OF fuel and provisions with what game the country
affords, to last till spring. He can then start south
as early as the state Of the season permits, and
reach Cape sabine without much comparative diff
Guilty. In calling attention to the valuable services
OF Lieut.. j. c. COlwel, his knowledge, energy and
determination, Lieut. Darlington recommends that
his services be secured to command the relief vessel
OF the next expedition. He commends the willing
ness and cheerfulness Of the men OF the detach-
ment, and recommends that they he granted such
Indulgence as they may ask
ABOUT THE SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS.
Lieut.. Darlington concludes his report as follows:
81 desire to call your attention to the manifest in
jury done me in the publication of certain state
ments Immediately after the news of the disaster
re Rafe here eeen Ine
BEEN furnished npp,emensary eat as instruct,ons mag
instructions had positively disObeyed. The only
instructions ever received are the original fnstruc
t1OnS. published at the time. An unsigned written
paper was enclosed in the envelope with my In
st stInetions This paper Is simply an unauthenti,
in your Office. was informed that
this memorandum was to have been furnished the
Secretary OF the Navy to form the basis Of fnstruc
t1Ons to be given the commander OF the vessel Or
dered to accompany the Proteus When found it
among my Instructions l at once carried it
to you, and called your attention especially
to that clause relating to landing supplies
at Lfttleton Island. You said in substance
you did not know how that had gotten in there and
impressed upon me the necessity OF carrying out as
tar as possible the instructions / had re-
ceived. These instructions We're based upon the
letter OF Lieut.. Greely, and you called my atten-
ton to the fact that Lieut. Greedy strongly urged
that the officer commanding the relief party
should have "nO latitude Of actiOn.n
The paper was not addressed or signed; indeed,
bore no official marks whatever. did not then.
nor have at any time since, regarded II as an
order, and was surprised to find the statement
published that this paper was the supplementary
Instructions"
ann, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
=. A. DARLINGTON,
First 1t 7th Cav, A. S. O., Commanding.
Remarks Of Gen. HaZen.
Gen. w B. Hazen, chief signal officer q. s. A., In
transmitting the report OF Lieut.. Darlington to
Secretary Lincoln, makes the following remarks