Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-12-11

ARCTIC WORK.
[continuea.from last week i.

"''Nps "tA' s''"AsSASu ~ AAS ~ tsA~ ASlAui
hip for 1883. That vessel had borne
lieutenant Greedy to his station in 1881,
nd he had afterwards highly commended
,er and her captain as in all respects well
qualified for that duty. The plan Of this
elief expedition was submitted by me to
he Secretary of War for his approval as
,arly as Nov. l, 1882. Iu the FIRST para
,raph Of my letter enclosing tho same I
wrote as follows: Il have the honor to
enclose herewith copy Of plan for relief
expedition Of next year for the Arctic
party of Lady Franklin Bay. which plan
Lieutenant Greely wished followed in the
event Of a failure to reach him this year.
This seems to leave US only to follow his
plans" That plan was returned to me
without any dissent as to its essential fea
lures, but with the suggestion sthat il
would be much desirable to eudeayor to
procure from the Navy the persons who
arc needed for this relief party" My
views as to such suggestion were request
ed, and as they were furnished I prosun-
ed that thoy were satisfactory, as it was
not insisted on. As measure Of pre-
caution the Secretary Of War, on my
special application, requested the Navy
Department to detail suitable vessel oi
the Navy to accompany the relief ship as
far north as Littleton Island. The steam.
ship "Yantic,' Commander Frank Wildes
U. s. Navy, was accordingly assigned to
that duty. She was placed in dock and
heavily sheathod with ak-planking, and
her battery and ordnance stores landed
and it was believed that she was in al
respects thoroughly equipped for that
special service. In view Of the possible
destruction of the "proteus," Commands
Wildes was ordered to proceed as far north
as practicable, in order to afford succor te
her officers and crew in the event Of such
an accident, and he was directed to pro
ceed northward through Davis Strait,
in company with tho "Protcus' II prac
tieable, but not to enter the ice-pack q
proceed beyond Littleton Island.
Lieut.. Il. A. Darlington, 7th Cavalry
U. s. Army, was assigned to the com
mand Of the relief party by order Of th'
Secretary of War, he haviugivoluntecred
and being recommended as snitabl
officer for that service by the general com
manding the Department Of Dakots
where he had been stationed for sewers
years. Lieutenant Garlington's instruc
tions embodied tho plan Of Lieutenan
Greedy, aud he WIS ordered to follow
closely. lie was informed that he woul'
be accompanied by ship Of the Unite
States Navy, the "Yantic," as far a
Littleton Island, to render him such ali
as might become necessary and as nigh
be determined by the captain Of tha
ship and himself when on the spot.
The relief expedition, consisting 0
those vessels, sailed from Saint johns
in company, on June 18th and voluntari
ly separated on the same day; the ''Pre
tcus" on her arrival at Godhavn bein
five days in advance Of the "Yantic.
They were again in company at the last
named point on July II, and RENAME
together there until July 10, when th
"proteus' again proceeded northwar
alone, and seven days later was crushe
in the ice pack CT Smiths Sound an
sunk with nearly all her stores. At tn
time Of the sinking Of the "Proteus
off Cape Sabine, on July %, the 'sYar
tic" that was ordered to be at Littleto
Island, IL practicable, to meet just sue
an emergency, the designated reserv
ship Of the expedition, was distant fro'
Littleton Island more than 1000 milo
lieutenant Darlington, on the day SUI
eeeding the wreck, proceeded with tn
relief party to Life Boat Cove, near Iii
tleton Island, and without hating
await the arrival OF bis reserve ship, &
out at once southwark in small boats, cal
rying off with him full rations lor thirt,
seven men, for forty days at least, bein
three-fourths of the provisions saved froI
the wreck, leaving less than one-fourt
cached for Grcely and his party Of twent.
five at Cape Sabine.
Lieut.. Darlington and party boarde
the "YanticH at Upernayik on Septenbf
II. She had arrived at Littleton Islam
on August 3, only five days after the RI
lief party had left that vicinity, an
started southwark on the same day, with
out leaving one ration out of her super
abundant stores for Lieut.. Greely and hi
pnty. The "Yantic' returned TO Ssin
Johns on September l3.
trL:, oi,,donmaut of tinut (,repI