The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-17
Was 1t Committed by the Officials at Wash
iDgton, or Did Lieutenant Darlington
Fail to Obey Orders?
Why the Latter Did Not Land Sup
plies at Littleton Island.
A Charge that the PrOteus Was Unsliilfully
Handled-An Interesting Interview
with Captain Clapp.
LIEUTENANT DARLINGTON.
His Friends Confident He Has Strictly
Obeyed Orders.

His Friends Confident He Has strictly
Obeyed Orders.
WASHINGTON, Sept 15.-Friends of Lieu
tenant Darlington refuse to believe that he
ever received supplementary orders from
General Hazen directing the Proteus to land
her stores, except supplies for more norther-
ly depots, at Littleton island on her way
north. They say they are confident if he
had received such orders he would be the
last man to disobey them. 1t is generally
recognized that if ne had such orders he will
be court-martialed and dismissed from the
army. His army friends say it is somewhat
remarkable that the supplementary orders
were not made public until after the loss of
the Proteus, and that these orders were not
made public.
Signal officers, on the other hand, assert
Lieutenant Darlington not only received the
orders. but that he himself, in conversation
with Secretary Lincoln, was the first to sug
gest that the supplies should be landed at
Littleton island on the way north.
Dispatches from Dr. Harrison, medical Of
fcer of the expedition indicate that some
body has blundered badly. Both the War
and Navy Department officials are unmis-
takeably uneasy over the developments, and
there is growing suspicion that everything
was not all right at this end of the line.
LETTER FROM THE LIEUTENANT.
The following dispatch from Lieut.. Car
lington, was received at the signal Office to-
day:
ST. JOHNS, N. F., Sept. 15.
Chief Signal officer U. s. A:
Stores were not left ut Littleton island be-
cause it was not in my programme to do so. 1t
was my intention to establish a depot at or near
Cape Prescott and to the northward, as recon-
mended BY Lient Greedy, and to fill the gaps
caused by the Neptunes failure to get above
Cape Sabine. See Greelv's letter, Beebes report
and my Instructions Five hundred and fifty
five rations were left at Upernavik 10y the Yantio
for my party. Pare of these met me at a point
forty miles north of Tessusak; all since returned
TO the Yantic.
The ultimate result OF any undertaking to go
north at this time is extremely problematical.
The chances are against its success, owing to
dark nights now beginning in those regions,
making ice navigation extremely critical work.
There is no safe winter anchorage on the west
shore of Greenland between Disco and Pandora
harbor except perhaps North Star bay, the win
ter quarters Of the sound
However, there is a bare chance of success,
and if my recommendations are approved am
ready and anxious to make an effort. NY plan
is TO buy suitable sealer, take crew from vol
untners from the crews of the YantiC and Pow
haitian, now in this harbOr, paying them extra
cOmpensatiOn Lieut.. j. c. Calwell to command
the ship; two ensigns and one engineer 10 be
taken from those who may volunteer from the
same ship; also employ q competent ice pilot
here The shin must be under the United States
laws and subject to military discipline. l be.
lieVe nothing can be done with foreign civilian
officers and crew. In the event of not enough
seamen volunteering the remainder to be en-
listed here: Commander White will communi-
cate with The Navy Department If anything is
to be done il must be done at once.
L, A. DARLINGTON.
1t appears from the above that if supple
mental instructions were sent Darlington he
never received them.
Lieut. Darlington has been advised that
the Secretary of War will not authorize the
proposed expedition this fall but will order
one next wear,