New-York tribune., 1884-01-04
THE PROTEUS INQUIRY.
IN JUSTIFICATION OF DARLINGTON.
ARGUMENT by HIS COrYsEL-GENERAL HAZEN DE'
FENDs HIS OWN COURSE.

in behalf Of Lieutenant Darlington In considering so
much OF the investigation related 10 Darlington he dis
cussed C the failure OF Darlington TO establish depot
OF supplies at Lteton Island bis northward course;
(2) the failure Of the Proeus accompany the Yanc
up TO Littleton Island its neghborhood and the pro-
prety or Gar Sons conduct in coming directly south
from Lteton Island after the loss of the Proteus in
stead Of awaiting the arrival OF the Yantc. Mr. Kent
under the first head arcd that Garngtons instructions
were specific and poHye that emphasis had been given
to his duty in this regard by the letters Greey by
the experience and results OF the Beebe expedition OF
1882 and by the consideration Of the very point
versat0n with General Hazen before his departure the
expedition, in which General Hazen emphaticay ex-
pressed isapproyal OF the idea leaving supplies
Lrtlcon island the northward course and informed
Darlington tat the SOcaed supplementary instructions
which prod cel the confusion not part OF his ORDERS
and should not bc regarded when in conflict with hs
itiyeiustre,ons, they this particular point
Not only dd Lieutenant Darlington not have authority,
under his Instructions to establish depot Of stores at
Lit'leon Island under the suggestion made in the sup
Elementary Instructions but the effect Of the discussion
with General Hazen operated a suggestion to CARING
ton that should do that which his chief informed
him would conflict with his instructions based upon
the prearranged plan with Lieutenant Greedy.
OBLIGATION UPON THE YANTrC
Upon the second point it argued that the obligation
upon the tcnder the Ilntc, to keep company with
the Proteus ant that when Commander Wdes informed
Darlington that c would remain at Disco for certain
time to patch mp MS boilers ana then 90 10 certain points
for taking coal and then Upernavk to get what in
formation he could respecting the fee I'm Melville Bay,
Darlington, under his Instructions, which positive
and explicit that nothing should retard his northward
course, justified in proceeding without the Yantic,
and that Wdes and Darlington were justified In
entering into the agreement between them looking
this end upon tho failure Of the department in Wash
gton to furnish any tont orders for cooperation be-
tween the ships This agreement was contemplated
In Wldcss instruct and the Naval authorities under
whose supervision Wdcss instructions prepared.
thought such agreement perfectly proper. On the
third point cOntcndCd that GarlngtOns conduct
the only that promised safety to his men, and
probable relief for Greey or his party CARING
ton hd only forty days provisions. Within short tme
bis Journey south would have been prevented by tho
yOun ice At best his successful retreat prOblemau
cal, Dr. Kane, in retreat from the same point 70
Upenavk took eighty yfour days and the Poaris
their from Lttleon Island picked
up Cape York by whaler after having been in
their twcntythrce days Mr.. Kent asserted that
great wrong hal been done Lieutenant Darlington by tho
authorized publication OF the supplementary instruc-
tons as part Of bis the Signal Oce and its
faue promptly such through the press
when discovered that they not part of his
instructions; that General Hazen had in terms re-
pudiatcd them and that they not furnished to the
Navy Department. to Darlington or TO the press in June,
as a part Of Ilingtons instructions.
A STATEMENT FROM GENERAL HAZEN.
General W b. H1zen, Chief signal officer read state
memo in his own behalf. He stated the purpose and
gave the history OF the Lady Franklin Bay and Point
Barrow expeditions; spoke of the attempt OF the Nep-
tuno TO reach Greely in 1882; and gave the history,
briefly tie expedition of 1883 TO the time OF the loss
Of the Proteus. lie then said, in part:The questions
which seem 10 require notice hare Was the subject
OF these expeditions carefully studied We're the ships
suitable for tho services required of theml We're the
officers charge opcrly chosen and instructedf There
ear be no reasonable doubt that extended and careful
.h,1n ,laaff fpat, its
Mr.. Greedy had himself in the most comprehensive
manner carefully nvcstga it and had given us a
practical and ssiu example OF what he wanted
how he wanted done, and atterEard reduced his
plans to writing suitabeness of the ships, there
is no room for doubt 1t is well-known fact among
maritime men tn.t for ice service the Newfoundland
sealing hee, ne best ahoat. 1t is wellknOwn fact
that the Pro.4s among the best and most suitable
vessels purposes OF this expedition OF any IN thao
fleet Each those ships before being contracted for,
was car,ty pcctcd by officer OF the United states
Navy and pronounced suitable both III hull machinery
and c0Uipmcut. The owners OF the Proteus sent with
her the captain With whom they had trusted one OF their
best ships years captain whom the entire COM
! mnity OF Newfoundland pronounced the best Tor our
purposes sailing in waters. The owners also placed
in good crew, and and one half years supply OF
fresh provisions.
Tie instructions under which they sailed weIe
substantially those OF Mr. Greely, who could and did
speak weight and power. This he did Just at the
time the Proeus was leaving him 10 return home Mr..
Greely's plan the preconcerted plan o rescue ana
il seemed thai any departure would be not only treason
able TO lr. Gcey, but in every unustihabe and
when propositions suggested to depart from II,
was emphatic in ny di,apprOyal.
When Congress introduced into the question a new
element by requiring the recall of the expedition this
season it did seem necessary depart from it, so far as
to the winter depot going but the convoy after
wari determined upon did away with the necessity.
While was always favOrably disposed TO this upward
ahdns could order 1t, and when 1t was proposed
70 make the depot on the side of Smith Sound. some
thirty miles from the point selected by Lieutenant Greedy
on an nhosptable coast nearly destitute of animal
life, while the point chosen on the east side
WAS greatly preferable in all these particulars,
1 most emphaticaily declined to entertain It.
The advantage the upward landing would have been in
shortening the period OF perls for the depot OF sup
plies But the Polris the Jeanette, and the Rodgers
HAD no such depots had any previous American polar
expediton The successful expedition of Mr. Greely In
1881 dId not do it, did that OF 1882, nor did Mr.
Greedy any 10 such action; put on the con-
PaIe 0 r M bis den"ts and sIoud IL happen that the
ship on arriving Llttleton Island should md clear
weather and open 10 the nOrth no one could tell
he eject il might have on the expedition by
Memolandum No t. which appears so conspicuously
In the inquiry, had no hand In, except 10 reject H. III
the plan of staf officer wvll-ntenoned but not IN
accord with Mr. Garliugton's instructions, nor Mr.
Greely's plans; without date or Signature ana WIN
existence as paper oI any Importance except Ia tue
light OF after events.
REPLYING TO CRITICISMS.
Aword succossary upon portions Of the testimony
There has been disposition warranted by the facts,
TO bettle the quality this work; 10 diSParage the lit
ness Of the ship. her equipment and her officers ami
crew. But il Is In evidence that all these were good aud
efficient II stated upon the stand, ana circulated IN
the public press was luehcie, nutlhons,
thevlng aud d,obdent; but close inquiry brought ont
the fart that all these men were ON board u!u
proteus hey performed their duties uueXccpuoDSby
we'll aud after the shipwreck when the.e vas dia;oii
mesa more than disobedience, II because by thtr
customs and laws the wreck OF the ship cst Iargej tlc
from any authOry while the charge OF thieNlns is
not sustained. IL said that Capt3ln L1Ee
was an inefficient officer The evidence does
not substantate this, but quite opposes IT.