Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-07-27
HaZen's Letter.

WASHINGTON, July 26.-Gen. Hazen
chief signal officer of the United
States, has written the following lettei
TO Linden Kent, counsel for Lieut.
Darlington, in reply to the latter's
communication of the 22d.
MIR. LiSpES KsNr-Your letter of the 22d
inst, which I first saw In the newspapers ca Iis
for reply. because II accuses me OF try ing to
shift the responsibility 10 Greedy and your
client Darlington. | deny having in any
or that anything published by my consent
or authority could lead to such accusat on.
have invariably declined to be interviewed
on these subjects, and anything that may
have been published contrary TO the forego-
Ing repudiate. But In the newspapers YOU
have called my attention 10 the ones on
which your structures arc written,
There Is nothing authorizing what YOU
claim. There Is an important fact connected
with this question which you disregard.
Before the first expedition started the whole
plRn, embracing the depOts, their size, nu o.
Der and location, time OF leaving the station
anu the route of retreat In 1853. with the EN-
a aIe scheme ior thre- years, and the rescue
duced toa complete plan. BEING Greely's
expedi tton. II was proper that he should ore.
pure All these Instructions, which he did
less. and 1t was approved. After reachipv
MS arctic station, Greedy wrote with great
care plar Tor the two relieving ships or
1852 and 1883. This IL the work OF Beehe and
darlington embracing the plan OF rescue
more complete and differing somewhat ON
tne nist one ending with these words: mo
should be pe lr9m 'hes. Instructions
should not be given to any party VINO on a
SHOWN coast are searching for men who
know their plans and orders
Greely was on the spot and was The proper
person 10 make this plan of rescue, and the
ONLY prearraised one there could be. There
was put one thing 10 do and that was plainly
ana simply to carry II out. This was liter
any done ny myself, Beebe and Darlington
anu am iuliy responsible for 1t up TO the
sinking OF the ship.
culpable. This Is what have always said
ana mere is not a shadow OF reelection upon
,he r nor has there been an attempt to shin
that In everything done relating to The
depots and the selection of I.ittieton island
Instead, Instead, OF Cape sabin as depot aud the in
vs nslnn T., 70 ianu depot ON ths return OF the
on me way up, We're all In exact accordance
r m,tm the plans, aud In them there was no
n r1om, 10, ior deviation. The depUts
SO lar RS the boats had reached, lust
asagreed upon. AS TO the locality, quantity
iba u E r.aa, OF stores there is not shadow
any one, and In publishing your letter You
nave entirely misrepresented me, There
WIS never a more carefully O aborated, pains
~, rs .nu CONSCIENTIOUS plan OF work than
.nns, ooih by Gieely ana myself. and there
. .I De none where prearrangeu
pan pan Upon which everyth ng must be |
Ione was adhered TO with greater
ruenty. Nothing could induce nue. 10 reflect |
upon dreely, but on the contrary the orcay
est praise is due him.
th an reviewing the past, all men see much
.ney wish had been different. This
course Is all you or any one can Justly say in
~ criticism. Before leaving Washington cree.
Impressed upon me AS Torcibiy as anv
nan could, and rightly adheri1c 10 ira
necessity OF supporting him IiIerally in The
WY we ma prearranged or as he might di.
eet after reaching his sIation
aging strong influences would be brought 10
,sar 70 have the plans changed lust as they
nave oeen. The responsibility under my di.
eclon ended with the sinking OF the pr,s
Gus. Lieut.. Garlington's conduct mn IL Tho,
lihc had been perfectly efficient. 4 wail
ecognized custom of the service makes A. i'm
roper Tor darlington OF myself To nnhiicIv
!, \, scusS The action of the court of inouiry
y ne rule equally applies TO counsel for both
sor doss 1. call for great astuteness 10 see
snerein Il H.sA' might e! past S,v. events ;;
,et,er NJ lirst, so as TO have mel after tSa
ccufrences, Would IL bs lust 10 hoid 10
~ sohal accounta comma nder who In hst,ta
!, ooeuience to duty, has drawn the Ara ~;
.,u ene,Iny oy his own we'll directed yoIiies
~ III ~ hlch brave men were ktlIeds Yonr
~, or.s seem 10 be of this nature, fal IN SEQ
ny reason Tor your writing me the letisr 10
, m,un this IL reply, or your becoming nv
orussI' when You became Gariingion's
'""se' WIN. Is. HAzSN.