The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-23
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
Mr.. Rents Defense of Lieut.. Darlington
for His Failure to Relieve Greedy.
The Queen Of England Cables Her Congrat-
uiatiOns on the Rescue Of the Greedy
P~arty-The Presidents Reply.
eARIINeToN,s RELIEF EXPEDITION

A Defense of the Commander for Failure TO
Cache Provisions at Cape Sabine
WASHINGTON, July 22.-Mr. Linden Kent.
counsel for Lieutenent Darlington before the
Proteus court of inquiry, has written a letter to
General W. B. Hazen, Chief Signal Officer,
which is in part as follows: 1.-THE world now
knows that the sad fate of the eighteen victims
of the Greedy party was due to the failure to
deposit a proper quantity of stores at Cape
Sabine. You say that the rations which Lieu
tenant Darlington left at Cape Sabine were in
accordance with Lieutenant Greely's instruc-
tiens. OF course, if more stores had been left,
more lives would have been saved The legiti-
mate inference from this is that, while the few
stores'left by Darlington saved the lives Of six
of Greeley's party, the loss Of the others
was due to his failure to leave a
larger supply. Whose fault was it
that there was not a sufficient deposit of stores
at Cape Sabiues If G~arlington's, let him answer
for it; if not, you would not wish that he should
remain longer under such suspicion. In 1882
the Beebe expedition, under your instruction,
was organized for the relief of Lieut.. Greedy.
1t was transported north in the ship Neptune,
in accordance with the instructions derived from
you. A cache of provisions was established
upon Littleton island, and another on Cape Sa
bine, of 250 rations each. The rest of her stores
Kas. by your orders, brought back to st. Johns
and landed for future use. There was every op-
portunity to establish a cache Of 10, 900 rations,
instead Of 250at Cape Sabine, had you so directed.
In your testimony before the court OF inquiry
on Nov. IL, 1889, you approved of Beebe's course
IN thus making deposits, as in accordance with
your instructions, though in your testimony be-
lore the same court, ON the Goth of November, in
relation to the propriety of leaving stores at Cape
Sabine, you say: I have regretted very much
ever since that such instructions were not given,
and that his supplies were not all left at Cape
Sabine Surely it was not GarIington's fault
that the stores of the Neptune were deposited at
st. Johns instead of at Cape Sabine or Littleton
island, nor can / believe that it was Greely's, as
inst
Referring to the relief expedition under Gar
Hngton, Mr.. Kent reminds General Hazen that
under his instructions Darlington had neither
permission nor orders to leave provisions at
Cape Sabine, and the court of inquiry justified
his course in not doing SO. He also calls General
Hazens attention to the fact that he especially
emphasized the necessity for not permitting
Darlington to deposit any stores on his north
ward Journey, and continues: GAS you seem to
be in doubt whether the responsibility should be
liked upon Greedy or Darlington, these facts,
recalled to your attention, I think, will
relieve you of doubt as to where It
should in fact remain. / may add that the
court took occasion to note that from July,
1882, to August, 1883, not less than $4,000 rations
were taken IN the steamers Neptune, Yantic and
- 70 ~ ~ VI Nv MN ADAcAAAg dl4N y = "
of that nnmberN 900 only were left in that vi
entity, the remainder being returned to the
United States or sunk with the Prote1s. This
was the provision made, under yourinstructions,
for Greelys arrival at Cape Sabine, notwith-
standing the fact that Lieutenant Greedy him
self, in a letter addressed to you from Lady
Franklin bay, bearing date of August, 1881, said:
I feel 1t proper to state that, IN my opinion,
the retreat from here southwark to
Cape Sabine, in case no vessel reaches us in
1882 or 1883, viii be safe and practicable thus
foreshadowing to youths chief, charged with
his rehef-the very course that he subsequently,
pursuedwith such indescribably tortnring results.
II strict obedience to orders be the highest duty
of q soldier, let Darlington have the credit
which the court accorded him of having faith
fully executed yours, that the regret over the
fatal consequences to him and his expedition in
having done SO may be IN some degree as
suaged with the reflection That, as a soldier, he
could have done nothing else. Par
don me if / express my sur
prise at your attempt, in your
memorandum of the 18th inst, to shift the ret
sponsibllity for G~arlingtonis instructions from
yourself to Greedy. When the court says Gar
Hngt0n carried out your orders, yUH, ia sub
stance, answer that they were Greelyss instruc-
tions, not yours. Does it not occur TO You that
the country may think If Greedy is to be re-
sponsibie for orders that issue from your high
Office, he should also enjoy its emoluments and
dignieesg Amid the expression of the worlds
admiration tor the heroic conduct of Lieutenant
Greedy and his courageous band, the one word
of reproof and criticism from his chief will be an
unexpected greeting to him, emerging from an
arctic night suffering and starving
2Ea AEE