National Republican., 1883-11-23
THE PROTEUS INQUIRY.
Secretary Chandler Tells How He Came to
Send the YantiG
Gen. Hazen's Response to the Letter
Of the Court,
His Sarcastic Remarks on the Judgment Of Young
Regular Officers
What He Proposes 90 show by the wit
ncsses He Has Asked For.

Lieutenant Commander McCalla, being ro-
called by the Proteus court of inquiry, testi-
fed yesterday that he had seen the momoran-
dunn Enclosure No. 4") at the navy depart
ment on the fourth or fifth of June, 1883. 1t
was handed TO him by Capt. Walker, chief Of
the bureau of navigation, and was headed
instructions or memoranda for naval tender.
He did not know what became of it.
Secretary Chandler was called to the stand
Mt 1915. The oath having boon admins
tered, he was asked to state in his own way
his knowledge of the application for q naval
ship to accompany the Arctic relief expedition
of 1883 and the interviews and negotiations
that led to granting tho request. Ho said
that sometime prior to the fourteenth of May
the request was made that q naval vessel
should bo sont with the Proteus. Tho re-
quest came from Secretary Lincoln. Wit
ness informed Secretary Lincoln that tho
navy department would be very glad TO send
q vessel, and suggested that q written request
be made, in consequence of which suggestion
the letter of May Id was received. No formal
reply was made to it, Secretary Lincoln hav-
ing previously been verbally informed that
the vessel would be sent. Shortly after the
fourteenth of May the navy department de-
cided to send the Yantic, and Commodore
Walker was requested by witness to give at
tention to the subject of instructions to her
commander. The chief signal officer was
also requested to see witness in respect to the
instructions Capt. Powell, acting chief sig
nal officer, called upon witness, Gen. Hazen
being absent Witness said to Capt. Powell
that in joint expeditions of tho kind
contemplated differences frequently arose
rs to the measure of responsibility, and that
as the naval vessel was to assist in
an expedition that belonged to the war de-
partment, he desired that request for the
specific instructions to be given the COM
manding officer of the naval vessel should be
furnished by him (Powell) to the navy de-
partment. Witness remembered also asking
whether 1t was desired that the naval vessel
should carry anything in the way of extra
provisions OF outfit for parties who might
travel upon the ice, or for Lieut. Garlington's
party in case anything should happen to the
Proteus Capt Powell, as witness under
stood at the time, replied in the negative.
Shortly afterward Commodore Walker sub
mitted to witness draft of instructions.
Witness asked if they were satisfactory to the
chief signal officer, and received an
affirmative reply. Witness remem-
bered seeing no written memorandum
from the chief signal officer either at that or
any other time. Witness left Washington
Thursday, June z, and that was the reason
the instructions were signed by Admiral
Nichols as acting secretary of the navy. They
were signed on the Saturday following.
Previous to witnesses departure some time
between June and Z, Gen. Hazen visited the
navy department and conversed with witness.
Witness said he hoped the instructions given
were satisfactory, and was told by Gen. Hazen
that they were. Reference being made by
witness in that conversation to the suggestion
that the Yantic carry some additional outfit
or supplies Gen. Hazen said that nothing of
the kind would be required, except that the
Yantic go well fitted to take care of herself
and be at hand in case of emergency.
Admiral Cooper was instructed by letter of
May 81 to have the Yantic prepared for the
cruise as soon as possible The Yantic had
been in the West Indies, but arrived at New
York on tho twenty-second of May, and an
chored off the Battery. Tho Yantic went
alongside the dock on the second of June,
into the dry dock on the seventh of juno,
and out of it on the thirteenth of June, dur
ing which time the sheathing was put upon
her bows
Witness gave oral instructions to Commo-
dore Walker, Notwithstanding no request was
made from the signal office, to take the heavy
weights from the ship and fill her up with
coal, but also especially to have large sup
ply of provisions on board. On the fourth
of June. Commodore Walker being in New
York with Commodore Upshur, visited
the Yantic and gave instructions for
taking oil the ordnance stores, and made
oral suggestions to Lieut.. Gibson, who was
TO Commander Wildes-his sailing orders
were not signed until June 8, for the reason
that it Is not the practice to issue sailing
orders until o few days before the ship leaves.
They are purposely held back. Commander
Wildes know where the ship was going about
as we'll Us anybody connected with the naval
establishment Witness had caused to be
prepared an estimate of the number of days
rations on the Yantic for her crew. and found
that when she left Littleton Island she had
about four months supply for l29 men, and
about three months supply when she reached
st. Johns.
BY the court. "Did the instructions to Com
mander Wildes contemplate his furnishing any
stores e for the Greely party? ,
answer that question. II calls for an opinion, and
would prefer not at this time to give an opinion
unless the court thinks II important. OF course
may say for myself that one object in increasing
the provisions was to be prepared for any emer-
gency which might happen to either vessel but
there there was no suggestion Ihat the Proteus party
the part OF the chief signal officer"
Gen. Hazen, being recalled, read the fol-
lowing letter in reply to one addressed him
by the court:
= WASHINGTON, D. g.. Nov %, 1ss3.-MAJ. HENRY
COURT OF INQUIRY: In reply TO your letter of the
twentieth instant, requesting that prepare q
statement, showing what expect each of tho
witnesses named In my request OF the twentieth
may prove, and how such expected testimony
Woulu De material 10 the case now under cOnsid-
Grafton, would respectfully state that there Is
now testimony before the court that the
Proteus was not suitably manned, equipped. and
oticered that her crew were not sailors but Wero
mutinous beachcombers and 'longshOremen that
her captain was not efficient nor acquainted with
ice navigation, and that he other officers were
without experience in the ice; that the organizers
OF the eXpedition--meanng myself and the other
officers Of tho signal service having charge of these
matters-had not studied the subject. and that the
means employed for the expedition were inade-
quaie, In short, that my duties In connection
incompetently performed. All this tends to show
o cupable and almost criminal neglect uof duty
There has been in this testimony radical error Of
facts, which II is very necessary to correct.
i recognize in IL the familiar custom seen when
regular forces come in contact with citizen or
irregular forces, Judging from certain standards
of their own the citizen force Is jeered at and ma
ligned by the other. At the beginning of the late
war the volunteer force In It's dirty coats, baggy
brooches, and greasy equipment was with young
and contempt, and, judging from the standpoint
of a regular inspector In those particulars they
would have had no standing, But We all know
that under that equipment there was the best
Same spirit IN this case. The young officers
of the navy did not find In the equipment,
clothing, discipline, and general appearance what
would pass their regular navy standards, But
propose 20 show from the witnesses from st.
Johns, What know to be true, that the Proteus
was not only the best ship available but was an
admirable ship in all respects including her
equipment tfor the'purposes required Of her. That
her captain was not only thoroughly proficient
but an ohiJer of long service and experience In
Ice naYiga.I on and was superior TO any other cap
tain that J could have employed, aud that her
other ofle9rs were not only experienced, but very
competenV ana l believe will prove that her
crew was fomposed OF good and experienced ice