Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-14
The Proseus Disaster.

The Pr0seus Disaster.
OFFICIAL REPORTS OF THE CRUSHING OF Tue YES.
sgL-sUPP-IEs FOR THE GREELY PARTY LOST
THEIR SITUATION LIKELY TO BE CRITICAL IN CON-
sEQUENCE.
The Acting Secretary OF the Navy last night re-
ceived a report from Commander Wiides OF the
United States steamer Yantic, giving particulars
OF the loss Of the Proteus and the return OF the
Yantic
The first officer OF the Proteus brieaysummarzes
the expedition as follows: The Yantic and Pro
| teus left St Johns at p. m. On June 29th. The
Proteus arrived at Godhaven bay, Disco island,
July 6th and the Yantic arrived there on the 12th.
The. necessary preparations were made and the
proteus sailed for Cory island, arriving there on
the 18TH She left on the 21st and two days after
ward was crushed, sinking at Up. m. on July 23 L.
Twenty-nine days were spent In the boats. Sew
erai storms were encountered, from which the
boats took refuge under the lee Of icebergS Lieut.
ColWell and six OF the crew parted comp0Ay With
| the Others at Cape York. They found the Yantic
July 3ist, and reported that Captain Pike and the
Yanttc reached Cory island August "a, and on the
same night proceeded to Pandora harbor, where
She next proceeded south along the Greenland
coast, sending boats all around the islands in
search OF the missing crew. A storm and heavy
chor to the leeward OF Northumberland island.
me next day she bore away for Upernavik, ar
irving there August 221. On the e7th she started
for the Watga,e coal mines and returned to Uper-
naVik September ID when Capt Pike and the crew
were found and taken on board.
A telegram was also received at the signal Of1ce
from Lieut. Garlington who commanded the relief
expedition, confirming the above.
DISAPPOINTMENT IN STORE FOR GREELY's PARTY.
Capt Cazfarc acting chief signal officer, refer
ring to the loss of the Proteus. said that Lieut.
Greedy had supplies for his party sufficient to
maintain it until next spring, but added that the
great misfortune was the failure to provide Sup
plies for him at Litsletons Island, and this was
Mhae maze the loss OF the Proteus such disaster.
Under the instructions upon which he was acting,
Lieut.. Greedy would break camp. he said, at Lady
Franklin bay about the latter end OF September,
Island where he would count on finding stores
at several stations on the way down he would
find supplies and boats for use where open sheets
Of water were to be crossed. The trouble would
be met when he reached LittletOns Island. Ii he
found no supplies his situation would be critical
parties to pick up the provisions deposited along
the route, especially the two months supply left
by the Mares expedition at Cape Hawkes.. and In
this way maintain his party until relief could be
sent to them there.
THE SCENE OF THR DISASTER.
The whole Proteus party were in good health
and fair spirits. They had been exposed 81 days
and nights in boats, making some stoppages at
intermediate harbors. The Proteus was crushed
in Zoe OF ice at pm, July 23d, and sank within
10ur hours. Fortunately, the men had time to save
clothing, provisions, compass and other neces-
sar1es to meet Irotracted voyage. July 25th, the
sss1f Soa1s Reing edapps and manned
eight miles north-northwast OF Cape Sabine, lati-
tude 79o 81 n over 600 miles Of ice and frigld sea
was passed before Upernavik was reached. No
provisions we're landed from the steamer nor
were any caches made, and all the stores intended
1or the Arctic colonies relief went down In the
steamer.
EsQU1MAUx REPORTS FROM GREELY's PARTY
While at anchor In Dantshhabor, on August 12,
the governor OF Eiburg came on board the Yantic
and reported that the Danish steamer Sophia had
arrived there from harbor thirty miles north OF
cape YORK, and that her captain had stated that
who were with thei Greely expedition, arrived
there on sledges last winter, and reported that
parry we're a wei except Dr. Payy who had
bay. Another EsquimauX, who arrived from the
Greely camp, reported that all the officers had
ports is reliable, as the fondness OF the Esqui-
mau4 Ior lying and sensationalism places them In
tn the category Of fiction Capt. Pike says that as
Iar north as Cape Sabine there was no trace of
Lieut. Greeley or his party, and his failure to come
south to Litteton island to meet the relief steam
his probable fate. The Proteus was retreating
home when the tce-nip overwhelmed her. She GOT
barely fifteen miles north OF the scene OF the ship
wreck. The prospects OF the Greedy colony en-
countering the rigors OF fourth winter beneath
the arctic circle are mournfui to contemplate
one death only occurred during the expedition,
tnat on Henry Wilson, gunner'S mate, OF the Yam
tic, from apoplexy. I
LIEUTENANT GREELY's CHANcEs
The greatest concern is now manifested here for
the safety OF the colony at Lady Franklin Bay
under First Lieutenant A. W. Greely. This sta
ton was one OF the international chain OF posts
established in pursuance OF plan adopted by the
congress held In Vienna in 1S79 the final details of
Which were completed at congress held at St
petersburg Peters the following year: Il was hoped to
maintain these observations until 1884, but the
terms OF the last appropriation for this work are
such that 1T has been decided to recall the party
during the summer II possible The relief of Lieu
tenant Greely at Lady Franklin Bay was regarded
as difficult task from the outset Not only is the
latitude high one, but the narrowness of Smith
Sound and Kennedy Channel, which form the only
southern outlet for the vast masses OF Ice In the
great polar sea. render navigation in those waters
both peril0us and uncertain.
THE EXPEDITION OF 1882
The expedition of last year sailed from st.
Johns, N.F, on July 8, and after vainly trying to
get through the ice from July q to September 2,
when the new Ice was already four inches in
thickness, was obliged to return without having
communicated with Lieut. Greely. Caches OF
Island and Cape Island the localities having been
agreed upon with Lieut.. Greely in the event OF
failure OF the vessel to get through the ice. The
station yearly, renew the supplies bring back the
sick and disabled, recruit the colony with able
bodied men and gradually extend the field Of re-
search into more northern latitude.
THE PRoTEus EXPEDITION.
This year more determined effort was made to
communicate with this station, and the Proteus
which carried the Greedy party to Lady Franklin
bay, was chartered for that purpose she being q
staunch seal steamer and fitted for the undertak-
Ing She left st. Johns early In July with COM
plete outfit OF provisions and everything needful
FOR the relief OF the party. Her voyage came to a
disastrous end, as stated
LIEUT.. DANENHOWER AT THE SIGNAL OFFICE.
No further particulars OF the loss OF the Proteus
had been received at the signal Office this morn
Ing Capt. Mills this morning repeated the tele-
gram sent yesterday to Lieut.. Darlington asking
for Information. The officers at the signal Office
were busy this morning In examining charts and
conjecturtng as to the particulars of the disaster
Lieut.. Danenhower, OF the Jeanette expedition,
was one OF the early visitors at the Office, eager to
learn any additional news from the unsuccessful
expedition.
New jersey Democrats.
ALBEIT FOR GOvERNOR-A THREATENED BOLT-THE
PLATFORM.
The New Jersey democratic state convention
yesterday nominated Leon Albeit for governor on
the second ballot The final vote, according to
the secretary, showed 334 votes for Albeit The
widest confusion prevailed after the nomination,
and the supporters OF Albright cursed the nomi-
nation and declared they would bolt. The plat
form denounces the 'tsham methods of the civil
service commissions" declares that the people
should only be taxed 80 much as is absolutely
44f ~