Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-18
Hailp 4ennebtf Jnnrnal.
Augusta. Tuesday Morning. Sept. 10.
The Greedy Relief Expedition.

HAS uttU SeLiitu. ltL the time Is SUM :
cient to place in extreme peril another
Arctic exploring expedition, on the fate
of which the public will be kept in ankle
ty and suspense for an indefinite period in
the future. No dangers, suffering. or dis
aster can repress the eager desire to adj
vance into the frozen regions around the
north pole. Every catastrophe seems to
give new stimulus to seek adventure in
that locality.
The return of the Greedy Relief expe-
dition to St. Johns " F. without accom-
plishing the purpose tor which it was in
tended, leaves Lieut.. Greedy and his men
exposed to almost certain death in the
Arctic zone. Greedy began in 1881 the
expedition Of which he was commander
Before setting out on his adventure it was
arranged that another expedition should
set out from this country in 1882, to carry
supplies to be left at points south of his
probable location at that time, to which
he could fall back in case of necessity.
Foreseeing, it is said, that those who
should attempt to reach him in the follow
ing summer might be unsuccessful, he
asked that the expedition Of 1888 should
not leave Smith Sound before Sept. -.
and should establish additional depots Of
provisions. 50 that there might be at least
seven of these on the coast OF Grinnell
Land within a course Of 800 miles. He
also asked that the party should establish
winter station at Life-boat Cove, and
remain there, keeping their telescopes on
Cape Sabine and the land to the north
ward In the course of the winter sledge.
parties should leave this station for the
north, going As far as possible along the
line of provision depots, to assist him and
his companion who might be perishing on
their way southwark. mo deviation
from these Instructions" said he. should
he permitted.
The expedition of 1882 was failure
and now we have the unwelcOme inteli-
gence that the expedition of 1883 IS like
wise failure. and with it fails almost GER
tainly the last hope OF the rescue of Gree
ly and his companions from the terrible
death which awaits them. The relief
party of 1882 went northward in the Nep-
tune. whose commander recently com
mitted suicide. II accomplished nothing
Of any service to Greedy In June last
the Proteus. commanded by Lieut.. Carl
ington. with the Yantic as tender, left
st. Johns, n. F., and proceeded north
ward for the relief of the adventures then
in the Arctic regions. The expedition
hoped to reach Disco about July sth.
The plan then was to take Esquimaux
dogs for the sledges and sail thence north
ward to Smiths Sound Then the Pro
teus would push forward 10 Lady Frank lin
Bay. if the ice permitted. II the passage
could be made the Greedy Company would
be rescued promptly but if the ice barrier
prevented. party would 20 into winter
quarters at Life Boat Cove about Septem-
Der II. and the Proteus would return to
st. Johns preceded by the Yantc. Lieu
tenant Darlington. with two or three other
men, leaving the rest of the party at the
winter station. would then push on by
sledge northward along the coast to Lady
Franklin Bay to meet Lieutenant Greelv
and party. who were expected to retreat
southwark when they found that the relief
vessel was not be looked for.
Then vessel would be sent out next
summer and bring both parties home to
the United States
The carrying out OF the plan has total
ly miscarried. The Proteus is under the
ice. no additional stores have been de-
posted at Ltteton Island. Lie boat Cove.
or elsewhere, and the men whom Lieut.
Greedy, if he be still living. expects to
meet on the east side of Grinnell Land.
coming in sledges TO his relief
are now in the temperate zone.
There appears to be disagreement or
misunderstanding about the orders which
Lieut.. Darlington received from General
HaAen. 1t is said that the original instruc.
tons To Darlington were that the Proteus
should first try to push through Smiths
Sound, and that stores should not be land
ed and a winter station established until
failure to get through the ice to the north
ward had demonstrated the impossbilty
of forcing a passage. Then Darlington
was to retreat to Life-boat Cove and take
to the shore. 1t has been said. therefore.
that in going northward without having
first deposited his stores he was obeving
his orders. But it is also said that supple
mentary instructions. hitherto unpub-
lished. directed Darlington to land his
stores Eat Littleton Island on his way
morrill," Another passage in these addi-
tional instructions provided that if the
Proteus should be crushed in the ice. all
except her officers and crew should re.
main on Littleton Island. OF course if
such instructions were given
they were disobeyed. If instructions like
these were given, aud had been fol-
lowed. base of supplies would have ex
r-tasa Il - l..