The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1883-09-20
THE WRECK OF the PRoTgUs.

The following story Of the wreck Of
the Arctic relief steamer, PrOteus, her
iOurneyings. and afterwards OF the
crew, Is by the special correspondent
OF the New York Tribune 4.
While endeavOiing to force her way
through 10 clear water the PrOteus
was caught between Immense foes.
These pressing on at both sides quick
~ crushed ia her stout wales her
hold filed with water, and It was
s0On evident no efforts would avail 10
keep her from sinking. The matches
were broken open and all hands set TO
work throwing clothing, provisions
and other stores out Of the doomed
ship on the ice. The greater part OF
the cargo thus unloaded fell in the
water and was lost, but enough was
saved 10 insure the comfort of the
party during their retreat southwark,
and also to make a not inconsiderable
cache for the Greeley party should Il
a. now seem inevitable be forced tO
make its own way sOuthward. Lieu
tenant Caldwell, United States navy.
also succeeded, and most fortunately
In saving the boats from the wreck
as quickly as possible Lieutenant
Caldwell loaded one of the boats with
stores and with crew Of four men
set out for shore. The trip was made
with great difficulty on account OF ice,
but by perseverance and unspaFing
eXertinn, lac forced passage through
several successive tiers. A large uuan-
tity Of clothing and provisions were
saved and placed in a cache. The last
trip was made on the morning Of July
"a and as the ice had closed In rapidly
the boat and It's load had 70 be dragged
across the ice two miles before it
GUILD BE LAUNCHED
i'm clear water. Even then the float
ing masses OF ice closed in so rapidly
aud 50 angrily that they escaped BY
the narrowest possible chance. The
goods placed in the cache were rem
dered as secure as possible aud 80
marked a. to be discovered by the
party from TT. COnger. Having thus
done all in their power % carry out
the design Of the expedition the party
on the afternoon Of July 3 set out 10
cross Smith sound, and spending a
weary night amidst the ice, landed
safely on the morning Of the 18th AZ a
cove near Life boat cove In their own
boats in advance OF the smaller party
and now ON the latteF's landing on
the east shore Of the sound all started
forward again for Pandora harbOr
which they reached the following
morning. The Journey during the
night was a most unpleasant one. A
hard rain storm was raging nearly all
the time. Thinking either the Yantie
or swedish steamer Sophia might be
&C Cape York the party next directed !
It's way thitheF. The coast was Rugged |
close as possible all the way; the boats |
were too heavily laden % venture far |
from shore. Every nights landing was |
made for the sake Of safety and q
further delay was caused BY several /
days Of bad weather during which Il /
was impossible 70 make any progress. |
The ice was troublesome and on Au- /
gust as the party was passing COnical /
rock the boats had 10 be hauled up on |
3 foe 10 avoid total destruction. Amer |
waiting an hour the ice opened suili- |
GENTLY 10 allow the boats to be 4
launched aEain, but continued 10
block the way so much the boats most /
lf the time were taken cut and drag i
ged along by the crews who found 1
footing on the ice along side. Cape /
York was az last reached without Sc
riOns accident. There was no sign /
.here Of any vessel. 81 August 10 the
weary v0yagers set out for the South,
making Upernavik their next object
We point. Lieutenant Caldwell with
lne blat set out boldly across Melville
Ray, intending 20 keep on a direct
,uurse South until he could find the
antic, but Lieutenant Darlington
with the other boat and crew Of the
'roteus chose the more circuitOus
iut safe route along the shore. A
leevy snow storm set In August IL,
rhlch was ridden out By the boats a.
Iuchor 10 the Ice. The storm was
evere. and many Of the iceberga
numbered - the party had 20 change
is anchorage several times Uperna-
~ vac reached August "a, and there
he fantic picked up the shIpwrecked
hen and brought them on 70 st. johns.