Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-09-20
THE GREELEY EXPEDITION.

nation that the search has been fruitless
and the expedition failure. Under date o.
st. Johns, New Foundland, September 18th
Lieut.. Darlington telegraphs to the Secre'
tary of the Navy as follows
1t is my painful duty to report the total
failure of the expedition. The Proteus was
crushed in a pack in latitude IS degrees, 5:
minutes, longitude II degrees, 25 minutes
and sunk on the afternoon of the 23d OF
July. My party and the crew of the ship
are all saved. l made my way across Smith
Sound and along the eastern shore of Cape
York, thence across Melville Bay to Uper.
navick, arriving there on the oath Of Au'
gust. The Ytntic reached Upernavick on
the I'd of September and left the same day,
bringing the entire party here to-day. All
well.
Under the same date the following, also,
was received from Commander WildeS, OF
the expedition:
The United States steamer Yantic has
arrived, bringing Captain Pike and the
crew of the PrOteus. Lieutenant Garling-
ton and the Greeley relief party are all we'll.
The steamer P'Oteus was crushed in the ice
six miles north of Cape Sabine on July 23d.
The crew and the relief party, after deposit
| ing records at Littleton Island and Pandora
Harbor, retreated south in six boats to Up
ernavck, suffering much hardship in Mel
vile Bay. The YCntic reached LittletOn
Island August 3D., without much difficulty,
found the records and Immediately proceed
edsouthward. Searched the coast and island
thoroughly down to Saunders Island. The
ice pack then closed in and we could neither
get around nor through, and were obliged to
retreat under the lea of Northumberland
Island. On August 9th, southWard gale
having loosened the pack, were able to get
through and continue the search. The coast
about Cape York was filled with ice packed
close; could not get within twenty miles OF
land. August 10th, having ice in all direc-
tions but southeast, proceeded to Uperna-
wick. Sent fifteen days rations to Lesin-
sake and whale boat to Cape Shackleton.
[Note-Probably intended for Tessuissak,
small settlement between Cape Shackle-
ton and Upernavik and about four miles
North of the lattcr.] On the 22d sailed for
Coal Mine and thence to Good Haven. On
the 31st Lieutenat Caldwell arrived in a
launch from Upernavik, having been thirty
nine days in open boat. Had separated
under orders at Cape York. Sailed same
day for Upernavik. On September I'd pro-
ceeded homeward. Had rough passage.
Permission is asked to coal here.
On Saturday Lieutenant Darlington tele-
graphed as follows:
Stores were not left at Littleton Island be-
cause it was not in my programme to dO so.
1t was my intention to establish a depot ut
or near Cape Prescott and to the northWard,
as recommended by Lieutenant Greeley,
and to fill the gap caused by the Nept,ne's
failure to get above Cape Sabine. Five
hundred and fifty-five rations were left at
Upernavik by the Naltic for my party.
Part of these met me at 4 point forty miles
north Of Tissusak, all of which has since
been returned to the Y0,atic. The ultimate
result of any undertaking to go north at
this time is extremely problematical. The
chances are against its success, owing to the
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 Winter quarters of
Saunders. However, there is bare chance
of success, and if my recommendations are
approved, / am ready and anxious to make
the effort. My plan is to buy a suitable
sealer, take crew from volunteers from the
Ydntic and POUhdtdn, now in this harbor,
paying them extra compensation, Lleuten-
ant J. c. Colwell to command the ship, two
ensigns and one engineer to be taken from
those who may volunteer from the same
ship; also, to employ competent ice pilot
here. The ship must be under United States
laws and subject to military discipline. l
believe nothing can be done with forei ign
civilian officers and crew. In the event OF
there not being enough seamen volunteer
ing, the remainder to be enlisted here.
Commander Wildes will communicate with
the Navy Department. Ifanythingis to be
done it must be done at once.
+. A. DARLINGTON.
Lieutenant Darlington has been advised
that the Secretary of War will not authorize
the proposed expedition this Fall, but will
order one next year.
AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM MIR. DA-
VIS.-NIr. Jefferson Davis has written