The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-29


REPORT OF COMMANDER wILDEs, OF THE YAM
TIIE POLAR REGIONS.
IBy telegraph to the Dispatch.I
WASHINGTON, September 2S.-The Sec
rotary Of the Navy has Just received from
Commander Frank Wildes, Of the United
States ship Yantic, full report Of the
cruise OF that vessel up to the western
coast OF Greenland. last summer, while
serving in the capacity Of a reserve shir
for fhe Greedy relief expedition, under
the command Of Lieutenant Darlington.
The report Is dated 81. Johns, y. f., Sep.
TENDER 18th, and covers, with great full
ness OF detail the movements Of the Yantic
from the Doth OF June, when she sailed
with the Proteus for Godhaven, 10 the 18Th
OF September, when she returned alone 70
st. Johns.
The main points Of the report have been
anticipated by telegraph. but Commander
I Wildes's concluding observations are worth
recording. They are as follows: Sir Al
| len Young. one OF the highest living au-
thOrities on Arctic matters, says : "All
I projects connected with Arctic navigation
must necessarily be very speculative. and
/ IL is out Of all human foresight to antici-
/ pate events in those regions" The truth
/ q this we have experienced 10 IT. fullest
extent. and | earnestly represent to The
/ department the individuality Of again send
/ ing vessel north OF New FOundland unless
/ built and equipped 10 encounter heavy ice
and proyiSioncd and clothed to spend an
/ Arctic winter. From the latitude Of Cape
Farewell nOrthward it i impossibl, to ,ay
whore ice viii be met. and thick weather
/ prevails 10 such IN extent that with the
/ utmost care vessel may become involved.
! Had the lantic been OF this description
there was nothing to prevent my forcing q
/ passage into the fast lee about Cape York,
and remaining there. or OF maintaining ON
/ position until The ice opened or moved OF
shore. | purpOsely put this vessel on
several occasions into the edge Of the
/ pack to get some idea Of how she would
/ behave, and the result was not encouraS.
/ ing. The damage 20 the screw, rudder, and
ruddcr-po,t was greatly 10 be feared. Al
vessels which cruise in these waters carry
heavy iron tWO-bladcd lfting-screws q.
well a. spare ones and spare rudder. Com
mander Wldcs forwards with hi- report
! the ori~ina' record, LEFT by Lieutenant Gar.
/ ingtOn in the two cairns on his way nOrIh
! itlJit ana on lis way NoNlu dii'I iut
wreck Of the Proteus. These records indi.
cate that Darlington 0as acting under the
/ instructions originally furnished him bJ
I the Signal Bureau. and that he could not
have received the supplemental nstruc'
/ tiOns which have been given 10 the public
since the news OF the loss oi the Proteu>.
/ by his first instructions Darlington was re-
/ Quired to proceed north as fast as possible
and not TO stop 10 deposit his stores or the
framed house which he carried, II the way
was clear for HIM; hut 10 land these arti-
| clc> on his return should his expedition
prove q failure The supplemental in
struction, directed him 10 land the hOuS,
and stores at Littleton Island on hi, way
north rs "a measure OF prccauiion. NJ
matter what the conditions We're. Mr.
Darlington doesn't appear 20 have ever re-
ceiyed these supplemental Instructions
! because he passed by Liltlcton lslant
without stopping. and shortly afterwards
lost his vessel, with I'll the reserve store
and his Slelter-hOusc.