Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1884-12-06

hinfthat two-thirds of these stores ought
to have been left, and had this been.
done Lieutenant Greedy says his party
tHwould all have been saved" With
one third of the-ratioas taken away and
other resources at hand, the retreating
party would have been reasonably safe.
Besides, the food improvidently used
and wasted, used for fuel, used to feed
to repletion q; dog and left to waste in
his camps would have saved human
lives at Camp Clay.
On reaching l1itteton island it was
found that its shores were literally lined
with walrus, while there were in the
hands of the party fifteen guns and
some 1000 or 5000 rounds of ammunition;
2 better supply than. any expedition
ever before had in those regions.
There is scarcely any room for doubt
that ina few days: the party could have
killed and packadai in the snow, as is
often done with fresh meatin the north,
walrus meat with stores in caches in the
vicinity and saved from the Proteus to
have supplied the combined party: Of
Lieutenants Darlington and Greedy a
wholesome and abundant ration for a
year.
Lieutenant Ray says that at Point
Barrow, under like circumstances, his
party killed walrus enough in@one day
to have supplied his party year.
Lieutenant darlington reports that he
left Littleton island with his party for
the south for the purpose of finding the
escort ship and returning with it with
supplies for Lieutenant Greedy. But
when he did reach it, only three days
steaming away from Littleton island, he
made no demand to her captain for. her
return, while she had on board, as also
had Governor Elborg at Upernavik,
ample food available for this purpose.
The order of the secretary of the navy
to the captain of the escort ship gave
him latitude to remain at Littleton
island until near the close of the season,
about September 80, yet with a full
knowledge of the distressing condition
Lieutenant Greedy would find himself
in, and the whole plan of his rescue be-
ing familiar to him, he turned south
ward at once, a month earlier than re-
quired by the season, leaving nothing
for Lieutenant Greedy, and so intent
was he to get, south that he appears to
have had the intention of leaving. Lieu.
tenant Garlington's party behind if not
found in his path. The tone of this
officers ~utterances upon these subjects
have impressed me with a want of eff
Gent effort or intent on his part to per-
form his duties, disqualifying him for
their loyal performance.
No language could be more just, and
yet more severe, than that addressed by
the secretary of the navy to Commander
Wildes, after that officer had written a
supplementary report to justify his CON
duct. I beg leave to cite the letter of
the secretary of the navy as follows:
l. Navy DEPARTMENT.,
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 1883.
The receipt. of your letter of October 16
is acknowledged. In the present aspect
Of the case the department condemns az
the agreement enclosed in your letter of
June rs between Lieutenant Darlington
and yourself contemplating the separa-
ton of the Yantic and the Proteus until
August Is; ~ your failure o to accompany
the Proteus from Disco Island after YOU
had there rejoined her; (3) your unnec-
essary visit to Upernavik on July Is to
inquire of the Danish authorities how
the ice was probably moving between
yourself n the Proteus, the six days of
brought you to Littleton island before
the party of the Proteus went south; and
AZ your failure, when you found at Lit
Teton island that the .demoralized party
Of the Proteus had gone south in search
of the Swedish steamer Sofia at Cape
York, to land materials for a habitation,
clothing and food for the forgotten
Greedy party. What action, if any, will
be taken by the department has not yet
been determined.
Very respectfully,
Secretary of the Navy.
Com. Frank Wildes, II. S. Navy,
Commander u. S. 8. Yantic. NAVY
Yard, New York:
On the return of the escort ship,
bringing the relief party to St. Johns,
September 10, there was still time, as
known from previous experience and
shown by subsequent facts, to send
effective relief, and my six. kilograms
from Washington territory, where 1
then happened to be, attest the earnest
ness of my efforts to have this done.
Besides this, Captain. Melville and
others volunteered to CO., giving their
full plans for the relief.
There is scarcely doubt had any one
of these five means I have pointed out
been availed Of the untold sufEerings at
Camp Clay last winter would have been
prevented and the entire party saved.
Rosser Gets Even with Custer.
General Tom Rosser was a gallant