The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-22
The Cause of the Yantic's Failure.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21.-Secretary Chandler
has written letter to Commander Wildes of
the steamship Yantic, with respect to the
failure of the expedition for the relief of
Greedy and his party, in which, after compli-
menting Commander Wildes and his men for
their zeal and energy displayed, he says
Had the Yantc been at Lttleton island July
% instead of being twelve days behind the Pro-
teus, Lieutenant Garlington's relief party would
have remained at that point with ample sup
plies, keeping their telescopes on Cape Sabine
and the land to the northward and waiting for
Lieutenant Greedy, whose orders required him
to eudeavor to reach that vicinity not later than
'septemoer, 1883 and VINO would not then have
found awaiting him, as is now the case, ii he has
successfully obeyed his orders, neither house
nor provisions, but only record of the COM
plete failure of the mission of the Proteus and
Yantic. 1t does not, therefore, in the present
ment that the Yantic properly fuliIed
With Wft Which she 9nf had been HS ordered
proceed in company, while keeping twelve days
behind her, and thereby defeating the object of
the expedition. You will make such full ex-
planation on this point as you are able.
Your attention is also called to another
point You had been furnished with copies of
instructions TO Lieutenant Darlington and were
aware that he was ordered, in the event of the
failure of the Proteus to reach Lady Franklin
and, and that Lieutenant Greedy would endeavor
to reach that point in September, expecting
there to find a relief party, house, food and
provisions. You were at LittletOn island
Proteus had been crushed and that
Lieutenant Darlington aud his whole party had
gone south, leaving nothing for Greedy at Little
ton island You could have readily landed
there provisions and supplies, but omitted to 90
so. You will please explain this omission.
InclOsed you Will also find copy of the memo
randum marked enclosure a." containing in
structions for the guidance of the naval tender
and Proteus and you Will Inform the depart
,aV,f1 hat fhnra
such instructions were by you, or were
orally communicated to you.
To this Commander Wildes replies, saying:
The boilers of the Yantic were in unreliable
condition when ordered TO fit for the northern
cruise. Repairs were pushed night and day to
hasten the departure, but not being finished on
sailing day, material for completing the work
was put on board and repairs were continued
from time to time until the arrival at GodhaVen.
Knowing that from thence nOrthward the main
dependence would ne on the engine, | deter
mined to get the boilers in fair condition before
leaving. This took six days. One day then
taken to get coal from the brig Peru, which had
lust arrived. Then thick, stormy weather set in,
which delayed departure two days. We arrived
at Godhaven with but 40 tons of coal, and more
time was lost, so that it was July % before we
could leave. Six more days were lost by a dense
fog. No time was lost and no unnecessary delay
made at any point Had we sailed from God.
haven at the same time as the Proteus besides
being unable to keep up with her,we would have
arrived at Littleton island with the coal supply
reduced to seVenty-hve tons and the boilers IN q
leaky, preearieus condition.
The memorandum marked enclosure d." with
no date or signature, which presume are the
supplementary instructions, so often spoken Of
was never heard of by me until our arrival in
St. Johns, nor until now. | am prepared
to shoulder all responsibility which properly be-
longs to me- and il this statement is not salts
factory, and there still remain doubts in the de
partment that I have not done my duty an
officer of the United States navy, respectfully
request thai court Of inquiry may be ordered
on my conduct, do not wish to rest under
., l,oi, 1tatf hot nd II n
necessarily left Lieutenant Greedy and party tC
the possibility of perishing by starvation.