New-York tribune., 1883-12-21
THE LOSS OF THE PROTEUS.
CAPTAIN CLApp GIVES TESTIMONY.

GENERAL HAZEN's MISTAKE IN FOLLOWING "Hhr-
LY's INSTRUCTIONS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-At the Proteus Court
NJ Inoniry to-day Captain william IL Capp, l6th III
faptry late Chief of the Division OF Arctic "
the signal Bureau examined He stated lna' uni
instructions from the Chief Signal officer he made sVy
of the literature of Arctic navigation and sought by COZ"
yersation with persons Of experience In Arctic uaVe W
familiaze himself with the subject in all Its deta' o
the nupose of giving advice the Chief Signal Ohcer re-
earding the fitting OF relief expeditions TO the No'n
Upou the arrival of Lieutenant Darlington IN
TO take command Of the expedition of last summer "i'e
was instructed to him all matters conneeteu
with that expedition but frequently consulted upon
the subject thereafter. By instructions OF tne Cei
Signal officer he had prepared the rst draft OF the IN
instructions to Lieutenant Darlington
In feouent conversations General Hazen had expressed
N witness his determination not to approve any de-
partre from the plans sketched 10y Lieutenant HreeV
for the relief expedition OF 1888 III stuuy
ing the subject witness became convinced that
in the event that Lieutenant Greely had to
retreat sohwar he could only do so by the west COAST
TO the neghborhood Of Cape Sabine that coast line Deg
more practicable than the east coast II had occurred 10
him that the party II required TO winter coud 90 so just
s well upon the western coast upon the eastern ana
that by establishing winter quarters and depot Of supplies
at or above Cape Sabine the west coast there would
have been an increased of safety for Lieutenant
Greelys party At lest in that case he wouiu not DC
renulred 10 cross thirty miles Of broken grinding Ice
lying between Cape Sabine and Life Boat Cove or Little
ton Island 1t also occurred to witness that as mOs'
vessels visiting those waters had been at times In Toii
from the ice and that the Neptune the RELIEF vessel
Of 1882, had been seriously ana danger
ousIy npped in Smiths Sound, 1t would
be measure OF safety to establish depot OF PROVISIONS
while the vessel her upward trip witness RECON-
mened this General Hazcn, and urged II as sohgH
as he thought proper The latter replied that Lieutenant
oroIlt- hala
to be encountered and that with evident care and Thought
had made out plan for his relief Conversations on hs
subject with like results had occurred several times the
frat being some time during last winter or early last
spring. before Lieutenant Darlington reported i0r duy
General Hazen impressed witness at all times IA being
anxious follow out very closely the plan OF Lieutenant
Groey, and gave that reason for refusing TO ADOPT
the suggestion.
Witness pointed out to the Chief Signal Ohicer that
there could he objection to deviation from Lieutenant
Greeys plan I'm the direction Of greater SAFETY such
deviation involving disappointment to Lieutenant
Greey in his rereat-hat having additional precautions
for his safety could not nurously affect him. and called
attention to fact that Lieutenant Greey must retreat
by way OF the coast and Cape Sabine in order 10
reach the proposed winter haven
"What did he think OF thatr'
~ aln unable say what he thought of IT, can only
his determination to adopt any views which were In
conflict with Lieutenant GreeIy's plan .-,.. .,
Witness never the supplementary INSTRUCTIONS
Enclosure No ~ heard of until after the disaster
II embodied views far related TO establishing
depot norhward but not with respect 10
the point the depot should be made Witness be-
lieved he had informally cOnvcrsed with Lieutenant
Caziaro in to the establishment OF winter sta
ton at Cane Sabine but could not say whether they dts
cussed the advsby OF landing stores on the n0rthwad
voyage Witness could not recall having heard any dts
cussiOn of plan OF operations TO be followed In case OF
disaster TO the expedition. - .
Witness asked II he thought that In the nsrncuOns
to Lieutenant Darlington every possible contingency had
been provided for He replied that he did not because
of the desire OF the Chief Signal Officer 10 adhere to
Lieutenant Greelys plan and because that plan
did in the light Of the facts as they now appear
apticipated lust what occurred. Those nslfuc-
did not then did they now seem To me 10 nave
covered al that might prudeutly have been said -,
the COuTtThercfOre, do you not tlnk that III inc
instructions those contingencies ought 10 have been pro
yided for as whether the ships should be caught III the
ice and kept there indefinite tme, might have
been nipped in the ice and sunk. actually hhppecdi
Wness-rO answer the question: SIR involves q cllu-
cisn upon he manner in which the expedition was CON
ducted and upon General HaZons views on the subject
should prefer not to answer especially as my oplihoh
the subject could do no one any good
The opinion of the Court expressed tat an hNoWcf
TO the question would involve no impToprciy Wbtrcn
on witness said: From the fact, then "a matter Oi
greater security and with the recollection that ships were
often npped those aud sometimes dangerously
so te very fact that advocated depot Of provisions to
be r while gOngup would be an answer 10 tnat quCs-
ton"
"And therefore In your opinion taking that contingen
cy into consideration the cache Of PROVISIONS should nave
"The events as they occurred clearly establish that
think" 80
The Court ad Ourncd 10 meet tomorrow. Captain Pike,
OF the PrOtcs whose arrival looked Tor yesterday
has not yet made his appearance.