The Portland daily press., 1884-01-04
THE PRoTEUs INQUIRY /.
Gen. Hazen Makes a Statement in His
Own Behalf.

1
| Gen. Hazen read long statement in his owl
behalf, to the effect that the subject of thu
! Greeley relief expedition had been long ant
! carefully studied; that the ships comprising
| the expedition were suitable, and that the off
| GERS in charge were properly chosen and in
structed. The instructions were practically
those given by Lieut. Greeley himself wheI
the Greeley party was recalled, Gen. Hazer
I said it did not seem necessary to depart from
Greeley's plan SO far as to land the wintel
depot going up. but the convoy afterwards de-
termined upon did away with the necessity
Still I was anxious to do this, and only for the
reasons given (the fact that the instructions
were through Greeley should have ordered
landing on the way north, and it was still ar
indiscretion of the officer in charge when on
the spot to do it, for such discretion then must
of necessity be almost without limit.
Gen. Hazen quoted Sir George Mares to the
effect that instructions to the leaders OF such
an expedition can be considered only as aTeice
to be followed under certain assumed oondl
tions, but in the uncertainty OF Arctic naviga'
tiOn circumstances are almost certain to occur
which may render it impossible to act upon in
structions, however ably conceived" These
remarks apply equally in all cases of Arctic
wreck in these seas has been effected the con.
dtions of the movement have add must gov.
EN-. The advantage OF upw ard landing would
have been in shortening the period of sea
perils for the depot of supplies. But the Po-
laris, Jeanette and Rodgers had no such
depots, nor had any previous American polar
expedition. The successful expedition of Mr..
Greeley in 1881 did not do it, nor did that of
1882, nor did Mr.. Greeley in any way refer to
such action, but on the contrary sketched a
different course and forbade any departure
from 1t. 1t would have separated Lieut.. Gar
lington from his depots, and should it happen
that the ship on arriving at Littleton Island
should fiud clear weather and an open sea to
The north no one could tell the effect it might
have upon the success of the expedition by de-
laying TO unload.
In memorandum No. 4, II appears conspicu-
ously in the inquiry that 1 had no hand in it,
except to reject it, 1t was the plan of staff
0fdcer, well intentioned, but not in accord with
MIR. Garlington's instructions, nor Mr.. Gree
ley's plans; it was without date or slguatur @,
and without existence as paper of any Inn
portance except in the light of after ev ents.
The question was asked me in the court if
was refused the money necessary to carry out
fully my plans for the expedition, to which
replied that all the money had been given that
had asked for. The reluctance of Congress
in granting the necessary appropriations for
the signal service, however, and the fiBal re-
lection of part of them did deter me from
asking for the money necessary for sending
two ships, which would have been the better
plan. These several expeditions to the Arctic
regions, and especially the one of this year,
Were elab rated with very careful and COM
plete study and preparation. The greatest
care was given tQ. the quality IF the food, and
the quantity was ample; the best ships afioat
Ior the purpose were secured; they were well
ohcered and manned, and they performed
Ineir part IN all respects, SO far as any ships
nok
The Proteus should have gone into that
lead July 23d. Only those present could de-
eide, and If it was mistake none can say. Had
she gone through as she was near doing the
act would have met only with commenda tion.
The officer on such responsible and dis
tant duty, like a commander in battle, must
not be hampered; and excepting the general
directions of Mr.. Greeley left the officer in
charge all the latitude | could and when |
was assured tender would go and when I
knew that she would carry rations enough for
all hands in case of disaster I was satisfied,
preferring to raise no formal question of sup
plies that might consume time, feeling conf
dent the commander would fully recognize
that his responsibility for their safety in case
OF any unforeseen emergency covered and ems
braced all persons in that region whether on or
off his ship, and no orders could have added to
tue measure of this responsibility. fAnd with
Lieutenant Greeley's plan of relief before
him that he should have left those regions as
necessary, knowing that the plan would
bring Mr.. Greeley there some time within
that period and that he would be in need of
succor, and that he should have brought back
to st. Johns what would have been years
supply of food for Mr.. Greeley's party and
left nothing for him is certainly what could
not have been anticipated.
don't view Mr.. Greeleys situation with all
these disappointmentS as one of jeopardy. He
may have reached the Danish settlement, and
if not, quite probably those of the Esquimaux
In either case he will be fairly off for the win
ter. Or, it is possible he may have returned
from Cape Sabine to Lady Fianklin Bay,
where he has probably ample food; or he NAV
make his camp at Life Boat Cove, gather in
several small depots within reach, and suppls-
ment his winter stock with native food.
Mr.. Greeley reports from Lady Franklin
Bay on the 10Th of August, it icing but three
days after his arrival, that he had
already secured three months full rations
of native meat. On the the 1st Of September
he would still have at Lady franklin Bay AZ
24-hour days OF the long day left with me-
rldian sun of 160, and should he have water
and travel southward at the rate of 25 miles
day he would at no time have less sau at mid
day. But if he stop at Lttleton Island after
travelling south at that daily rate he would
still have about so 24-hour days before The long
night would begin, and ample tim for suita-
BILE preparation for his winter camp. The
main source of apprehension comes from the
fact that tho Proteus party left promises of
succor which were not rendered. This m ay
lead to neglect OF the necessary preparations for
winter and 80 encouragement.
In this connection desire to call attention
to what my wishes aud recommendations upon
the subject of reaching the Arctic with succor
were during the past autumn, after the tidngs
OF the disaster reached here, and call atten tiop
to my telegram from Washington Territory
upon this subject. From the beginning
have labored for the success of this york with
zeal, industry and earnestness and
often under circumstances of dlscouragement.
Another element of my story was added to-
day to the history of the so.cslled supplement
tary Instructions to LieRt. Darlington, or
Enclosure a." Lieut.. Caziarc, when before
the Proteous court testified that he gave the
paper to Capt Powell (who was then, in the
abs nee of Gen. Hagen, acting chief signal
oficer.) on Monday, June 4th. Gen. Hszen
stated to the court to-day that he had discover
ed that he was not absent on June 4th, having
reached his Office an hour before the usual
time for opening. on the morning of that day.
Many discrepancies are noied in the testimony
concerning this paper. Gen. Hazen testified
thai lis most significant feature, namely, the
establishment of supply depot at Littletop
Island, on the Norshward voyage, was the sue-
lect of discussion in his Office before Lieut..
Garlington's il structions were drafted.
Capt. Clapp testified that the subject had
been brought to Gen. HaZen's attention BIZ
ulu, uut tue proposition was rejected. Lieut..
Caziarc who got up the paper says he heard
nothing of the matter from any one but merely
embodied his own views in the proper course to
be pursued. Lieut.. Darlington tells the court
he saw rough notes of the paper in Lieut.
Caziarc's office some where between the 18th
and 20th of May. Lieut. Caziarc swears he
prepared the very first notes in the matter on
the Sd of June.
Capt. Powell testifies that he never to the
best of his knowledge and belief had the docu-
ments in his hands Lieut.. Caziarc saws he
gave i5 to Capt. Powell on the morning of the
4th of June, and he was told by that officer he
had given it to Gen. Hazen. Gen. Hazsa
thinks he never saw the paper until Lieut.
Darlington brought it to him on the 9th of
June and never saw any other COPY of it,
Lieut.. Caziarc testifies that Gen. Hazen
told him that he (Hazen) had handed the
Powell copy to the Secretary of the Navy;
Secretary Chandler says he never saw the pa
paper or any other memorandum from the
chief signal officer. Lieut.. Commander Nc
Cabe says he recognizes the paper as one q
copy of which was given him by Commodore
Walker; Commodore Walker swears that he
does not remember having seen it, and
could have sworn positively that he never had
seen it had not Mr.. McCabs been SO positive in
his statements. The Office copy of the paper
was marked and recorded Enclosure T." A
paper bearing that mark, given to Lieut. Gar
liDgton, was copy of the charter party of the
Proteus.
GEN ERAL NEWS.
New from the Colorado mountains tells of
addil ional snow slide iisastars Savaral oahine