National Republican., 1883-10-20

TO force her way through the leo
in Melville bay. Tho commander of the
Nautic, as far as | was informed had specific
orders not to so into the ice or 70 place his
ship in any position, which would risk hav-
ing to remain in those regions during the
winter. When tho ice, through which the
Protous had passed off Labrador, was described
to Commander Wildcs, when l met him in
Godhaveu in July, he had said ho would not
have put tho Yantic in 1t If he had encount-
cred Il. Aud while ] was confident that he
would go to Littleton island IL he deemed
it prudent and consistent with tho safety Of
his vessel and crew, / did not be-
lievo no would succeed in getting
through Melville bay, where we had met
SO much ice. But also thought If the con-
dition had changed in Melville bay in the
meantime, and if the Yantic should cross
and reaching Iiittleton island, she would
find my record know of the disaster, and
easily follow us along tho coast and pick us
up very soon, if sho did not sight us on her
way north. 1t was my honest opinion that
the Yantic would not cross Melville bay.
therefore decided TO cross Smith sound at the
first favorable opportunity, and TO proceed to
the southwark as rapidly as possible for
tho purpose of opening communication.
There was no possibility of meeting
relief at Capo York in tho Swedish
steamer Sofia, / considered the chances of
her crossing Melville bay moro favorable
than those of tho Yantic, as she was smaller
properly equipped, and commanded by o
master of extensive Arctic experience.
| The remainder of Lieut.. Garlington's re-
| port is mainly devoted to detailed account
of the retreat from the mouth of Smiths
sound down the Greenland coast to Uper-
navik.
In reviewing the situation of Lieut.. Greely
and his party Lieut. Darlington says: 81 am
of the opinion that if Lieut. Greedy should
/ 10
vide his people among the different Eskimo
settlements, and the stores he will find on his
line of retreat, supplemented by the game of
that region, will be sufficient food for his
party during the coming winter. Unless the
| conditions of the ice permit Lieut.. Grcely to
leave Discovery harbor in his boats, do not
think he will attempt the journey to Little
ton island this season. Previous experience
shows that slodgo journey in tho fall of the
year in that latitude is attended with so
many difficulties as TO make it almost impos-
| sible. He has ut Discovery harbor good
house, plenty of fuel and provisions, with
what game the country Affords to carry him
to next spring. He could then start south as
early as tho state of the season permitted
and reach Cape Sabine without much COM
parative difficulty. This will, in my opinion,
DO the course adopted by Lieut.. Greoly, un-
less he has found Lady Franklin sound and
Kennedy channel free of ice, which is inn
probable"
In regard to tho supplemental instructions
he says: THE only instructions ever re-
ceived are the original instructions published
ut the time. An unsigned written paper
| with appendix A. marked iive) was inclosed
in tho envelope with my instructions. This
paper is simply an unauthenticated copy of a
memorandum prepared by an officer in
your office. / was informed that this
memorandum was to have been fur
nished the secretary of the navy to form
the basis of instructions to be given tho
commander of tho vessel ordered to accom-
pany the Protous. When found it among the
papers furnished me, | at once carried it to
you, and called your attention specially to
that clause relating to landing supplies on
Littleton island You said, in substance, you
did not know how that had gotten in there,
and impressed upon me tho necessity of car
rying out rs far as possible tho in
structions | had received. These in
structions were based upon tho letter of
Lieut.. Greedy first enclosure of APPENDIX
AZ and you called my attention to the fact.
| Lieut.. Greedy strongly urged that the officer
commanding the relief party should have mo
latitude of action The paper was not adj
dressed nor signed, indeed boro no official
marks whatever. | did not then, nor have |
| at any time since, regarded it as an order, and
was surprised to find the statement published
that this paper was tho supplementary in
structions.'" ...,
In transmitting Lieut.. Garlington's report
| to Secretary Lincoln, Geu. w. b. Ha2en
| chief signal officer, remarks that the failure
to find stores and dogs ready in Greenland is
not understood, las the same arrangements had
been made for them with the Dan
ish government as in previous years
| Lieut.. Garlington's statement concern
ing the supplementary orders is correct,
says Gen. Hazen, in substance. In 1881
Lieut. Greedy sent full directions from Lady
Franklin bay for the party which might be
sent out to relieve him. He said that these
directions ought not to be departed from.
Congress afterward, however, decided that
the party should be brought away this sum-
mcr and this at first caused the in
at Littloton island before going north
of that point Afterward il was
decided to send Il convoy, and this made ii
unnecessary to land stores at tho island aud
thereupon Lieut.. Darlington was left with
Lieut. Greely's directions for u guide, and
merely suggestion that he land stores at the
island. All structures upon Lieut.. Darlington
for disobedience of orders are unwarrantcd.
Lieut.. Greely's position is considered serious,
but not desperate, and Gen. Hazen expects
| that he will he rescued next season.
Lieut.. darlington has been asked to explain
more fully why he did not endeavor to make
a depot at Littleton island, why large por-
tion of stores were abandoned on an ice foe
as long as the season still permitted work
with boats, why ho loft none of his six boats
| for Lieut.. Greedy, why he started south with
forty days supply, when he might have left
much of it for Lieut.. Greedy, his own party
| being prepared to capture game and fish,
which were abundant, and, lastly, why he
came south of Cape York at all, that being
tho country of friendly EsquimauX, and we'll
supplied with the necessaries of life.