The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-25
DARLINGTON AND GREEDY
The Former Gives His Reasons for
Not Aiding the Latter.
General Pope Wanting to Remain at Fort
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of a Mission
ary-General Washington News.
The Rea sons for the Lieutenant's Actioni
While Trying to Aid Greedy.


The Reasons for the Lieutenant's Actions
While Trying to Aid Greedy.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24-The Secretary Of
War received to-day, through the acting Chief
Signal Officer, Lieut.. Garlington's answers
to the questions asked him by General Hazen
after the receipt of his (Garlington's) official
report of the expedition to Smiths sound
To the question, why did you not en-
deavor to make depot at Littleton island
18th what stores you could gather during
the remaining time you might have re-
manned in that region%' Lieutenant CARING
ton replies that if anything was to be done
this season for the relief of Greedy it was of
the greatest importance to communicate
reason to believe that the Yantc
would not cross the bay. If he had
remained a fortnight at Lttleton island
to chance the Yantic's arrival, his supplies
would have been reduced to dangerously
small margin, and if she did not arrive he
would have had to commence & retreat dur
ing rapidly-closing season with inadequate
provisions. If he had remained in that re-
gion until it was too late to reach the Danish
settlements, it would have been necessary to
draw on the supplies already deposited for
Greedy, and if he should arrive he would find
his own supplies diminished, and in addition
to his party another body of men no better
off than his own party If he had concluded
to take the risk of waiting at Lttleton
island for the Yantic he would not have
taken the supplies at Cape Sabine and the
west coast of Smith sound to form the de-
pot at Littleton island for the reason that these
stores were much more available to Greedy
where they are than if they were on Little
ton island.
In response to the question why a large
portion of Greely's stores were abandoned on
the ice fee. Darlington shows that his men
worked in a most heroic manner in the
presence of great danger saving the stores
from the ship, and were completely ex-
hansted Only such stores were abandoned
as foated away on the ice beyond possible
recovery, and consisted of but two barrels of
canned goods, some scattered clothing, and
few old newspapers.
The next question is, "Why out of six
boats were none left for Greedy and his par
typ
Garlington's reply is to the effect that he
had but two boats and dingey, the latter for
use only in perfectly smooth water. The
three boats of the Proteus we're old and al
most useless and had neither spars, sails nor
rudders To secure even these worthless
crafts he would have been obliged to resort
to force Besides Greedy has eight boats
available on the west coast, and another on
Carey island.
In answer to the question why he started
south with forty days supplies instead of
leaving a large portion for Greedy, CARING
ton says the quantity of food taken by him
was smaller than that ever taken by party
retreating from that region, and as it was his
men suffered from want of food by the time
they reached Upernavik.
The last question, why did you come
south of Cape York at all, it being friend
ly Eskemo country and fairly supplied
with necessities" is answered by Darlington
with the assertion that the friendly Eskemos
in the vicinity of Cape York number
starvation every winter, and to have quar-
tered his party on these people with the
chance of Greedy reaching there would have
seriously endangered the lives of the whole
community
Darlington says if these answers are not
satisfactory he desires a court OF inquiry.