The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-21

COMMANDER wn.DEs's TESTIMONY coSTIS
UED--GESERAL HAzES TELLS WHAT HI
KNOWR.


uyp--GESERAL HAzES TELLS WHAT HI
KNOWS.
[By telegraph to the Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON, November D.-Command-
err Wildes's examination before the Pro-
teus court OF inquiry was resumed to-day.
General Hazen was present, and asked
leave to put some questions to witness.
Witness asked the court n IL was permissi-
bic for any person outside OF the court to
ask him any questions they might choose.
He was informed that questions might be
proposed 10 The court and would become
questions OF the court.
General Hazen asked what positive
knowledge witness had that the crew Of
the Proteus was made up OF "beach-
combers." 'loDgshoremen, and not seamen.
The contract was made With the owners
OF the Proteus, firm Of long Standing and
high responsibility, and he believed every
possible means had been taken to secure a
good crew.
Witness said the Proteus was engaged
too late to secure q good crew. He had
also received Information on the subject
from Lieutenant Colwell, and had, more
over, caused the crew Of the Proteus to be
mustered every morning while they were
OH Tit Iulliit. dlu litt- ORPpi
been Afforded him to form an opinion by
personal observation. The majority were
not such men as would have been enlisted
on the Yantic IS seamen. General Hazcn
asked what evidence Captain Wilder had
that the crew 81 the Proteus were mutt
n0usly inclined. Witness said his in
formation was all derived from Lieutenant
Colwell. General Hazen asked whether
witness Yesterday intended to include the
chief signal officer and officers OF the sig
nal service in stating that the authorities
OF the expedition had not. to his know
ledge. studied authorities in regard to Are
tic navigation before Lieutenant CARING
ton was sent ont.
Witness: Il have nothing to add 10 the
answer then, SIR"
General Hazen: "Then would like to
ask what he (witness) knows about the
study or experience Of the chief signal OFF,
Ger and officers OF the bureau in regard to
that expedition ?"
Witness: 81 said that / didn't know
that any reference was made to former eX-
perience-that is, not to my knowledge.
only judged by what is patent to every
| body-what everybody can see for them.
selycs-oi the progress and results OF last
year and this year. That is the only rea'
son."
| General Hazen "Then would like tC
ask wherein the expedition either last yeal
or this year failed to get as far north or dc
az much as any ships could do up to tho
time that the ship last year came to the
solid pack which no ships could pass, and
| this year until she by false seamanship OF
the acts OF God was nipped and sunk?"
Witness: Probably they did as mucl
as they could do last year and this year
fitted and equipped as they WERE"
The Lieutenant was recalled. and in re
ply to inquiries said that Captain PIKE
was without experience in the Arctic ice
Witness was also without experience
Looking back at the events Of yeriage HI
thought the Proteus should have beer
taken out Of the pack and returned Il
Pager harbor, where it was stopped thu
night previous TO the disaster. The Off
GERS OF the Proteus had no control over thu
crew. At the time of the disaster witnes
heard one OF the crew defy one OF the Off
GERS, telling him that the Proteus was los
and they were no more officers. Severa
times he heard Captain Pike give orders
which were not obeyed by his crew. Wit
ness had received private information
from member OF the crew tina
led him to keep an armed watcl
over the Darlington boats, the crew
having formed 4 plot OF seizin!
them as being better than the Proteus boat
and making their way to the West coast
The witness being relieved General Ha
zen asked leave to make statement. Per
mission being given, General HaZen SAT-
that the ProtetIs and captain were hire
after very deliberate and careful cOnslde
ration. Captain Pike brought to the own
ers OF the ship from Lieutenant Greedy II
1881 letter highly endorsing him. Tn
owners OF the Proteus were firm OF very
long standing lover q hundred years.. an
of the highest respectfully. who con
sidered their property in business a
high as 1t was possible for an,
firm to do. They made contract to fuI
nish the ships thoroughly equipped
manned, and provisioned in the best poss
BILE way. They now claim that they di
so. II they did not, they were very niue
at fault. 1t was in evidence that they didn'
do it. lie would therefore ask that Captai
Pike, Mr.. Symes, the agent OF the owner
Of the Proteus. and United States Consr
Mallory, OF st. Johns, through whom IN
, contract was made, ne called rs Wlinesse'
Without wishing to east any reflectio
upon the gentlemen who had testified
it would seem that the other side shoul
be heard. These gentlemen had eA
] pressed desire to be heard.
had also been said that the originators {
the expedition did not give the subject tn
proper study, did not properly plan it. an
that the means were inadequate. He woul
like to have Captain Clapp, OF the Six
teenth infantry, who knew more OF it tina
anybody else except himself, brought b.
fore the court to testify to the character {
the study. He would, Furthermore, like {
have General John Il. Hawkins, wh
bought the stores, called to testify with r,
gard to their quality.
Without passing upon Hazen's last r
quest the court adjourned.