Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-09-21
lNOZHEA ARczIc DLsAsTER

loss or TIM STEAMER rBorrus oN Irs WAY TO
THE RELIEF Oh LIEUT.. aEEElY-How TN
DISASTER occumrp- nErBEAr no urEE.
NAyu
Sr JouNH. NJ j, Sept. l3 The steamer
proteus carrying the expedition seut out last
summer for the relief of Lieutenant Greedy
and bis felow. colonlsts at Fort Conger. La
dy Franklin Bay was crushed IN the ice on
the evening 90 July Dob, between Cape Sabine
md Cape Albert IN Smith Sound, and her
crew and the members of the relief party
have returned TO this port on the companion
steamer lauuc. of the United States navy.
The escape from the wrecked vessel and re-
treat southwark were accomplished without
loss of life.
THE nIsasTEE
While endeavoring TO force her way through
20 clear water the Proteus WAS caught be-
tween two immense foes. These, pressing
on at both sides, quickly crushed in her stout
walls Her hold filled with water. and 1t was
soon evident that no efforts would avail to
keep her from sinking. The matches were
then broken open, and all hands set to work
throwing clothing, provisions and other stores
out Of the doomed ship upon the ice. The
greater part of the cargo which was thus un-
loaded fell into the water and was lost but
enough was saved to insure the comfort Of
the party during their retreat southwark. and
also to make not uncomfortable cache for
the Greedy party should 1t, as 1t now seems
inevitable, be forced to mako It's own way
southwark Lieutenant Colwen L.. S. H..
also succeeded, aud most fortunately. IN say
ing three boats from the wreck
REACHING rHE sHoRE
As quickly as possible Lieutenant Colwell
loaded one OF the boats with stores and
with a crew Of four men set out for the shore
The trip was made with great difficulty on
account of the ice but 10y perseverance, aud
unspariug eXertlOns be forced "a passage
through. Several successive trips were thus
made. and a large quantity OF clothing and
provisions safely landed and placed IN a caclc
The last tr pwas made on the morning Of July
a. and, as the ice had closed IN rapidly. the
boat and is load had 10 be dragged across
the ice two miles before 1t could be launched
Ia clear water Even then the floating masses
of ice closed In SO rapidly and so angrily that
the boat escaped being stove IN only 10y the
nsrrowcst possible chance
Inc goods placed in the cache we're render
ed as secure Rs possible, and the spot marked
so a. to be readily discovered by the party
from Fort Conger
WORKING DOWN TIL GREENLAND COAST.
Having thus done all IN their power to car
~ out the design Of the expedition, the par
~. on the afternoon Of July 3D. set out to
cross Smith Sound. and after spending a wea-
~ night amid the ice landed safely on the
morning Of the 10Th at cove near Life Boat
Cove
The crew of the Proteus had gone on to
Life Boat Cove IN their own boats III advance
OF the smaller relief party aud now. On the
latters safe landing on the east shore OF the
the sound all started forward again for Pan
dora HarJur, which they reached on the fol-
lowing morning. The journey during the
night was a most unpleasant one a hard rain
storm raging nearly all the time. Thinking
that either the lRntlc or the Swedish steamer
Sophia might be at Cape York, the party
next directed It's way thither. The coast was
Rugged as closely A. possible all the way. the
boats being too heavily laden TO venture far
from shore Every night landing was made
for the sake of safety and further delay was
caused 10y several days Of bad weather, dur
ing which It was impossible TO make any
progress
The ice was troublesome and on August g.
as the party was passing couical rock, the
boats had TO be hauled up on foe TO avoid
total destruction. After waiting an hour the
ice opened sufficiently to allow the boats 10 hr
/ launched again but It continued 90 block the
! way so much that the boats had most OF the
time to be pushed and dragged along 10y the
crews vino found footing on the ice along
side
rICEEu UT AT UTEBNAyIE
Cape YORK was at last reached without -e-