The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-31
SHARP REJoINDER 10 THE STRIo.
TUREs OFFERED BY LIEUT..
GARLINGT0N's COUNSEL
The ChiefSignal Officer Defends
the Original Plans for the
Greedy Expidition.
He Asserts These Plans Were
Originated and EndOl sed
by Greedy Himself.
Haz6n Goes for his Critics Like
a Diminuitve Cyclone
Washington Topics.
HaZen,S ReDIy.

| WASHINGTON, July 26.-Genera
Hazen, chief signal officer, U. S. A.
has written the following letter tc
Linden Kent, consul for 1t. CARING
ton, in reply to the latter's communal.
cation of the 22d instant:
Mr.. Linden Kent Your letter OF
the 22d, which | first saw in the
newspapers. calls for reply, because
it accuses me of trying to shift the re-
sponsibility to Greedy and your client,
Darlington. l deny having, in this
manufacturer by fact or intent
done this or that, or anything
published by my consent or authority
| could lead to such accusation. have
invariably declined to be interviewed
on these subjects, and anything that
may have been published contrary to
the foregoing, 1 repudiate. But, in
the newspapers, you have called my
attention to the ones on which your
structures are written.
There is nothing authorizing what
you claim.
There is an important fact connect
ed with this question which you dis
regard. Before the first expedition
started the whole plan, embracing de-
pots, their size and number, and loca-
ton, the time of leaving stations, and
the route of retreat, In 1888. with the
entire scheme for three years, and res
cue afterwards was carefully, elabor-
ately, and reduced to complete plan.
Being Greely's expedition, it was
proper he should prepare all these in
structions, which he did. SO far as
could be seen, the plan was faultless
and it was prepared.
After reaching his Arctic station
Greedy wrote out, with great care, a |
plan for the two relieving ships of |
1882 and 1883. This is the work of |
Beebe and Darlington, embracing a
plan of rescue, more complete, and |
differing somewhat from the first one, |
ending with these words: "No de
Walton from these instructions should |
be permitted. Latitude of action
should not be given to the party who,
on known coast, are searching for
men who know their plans and Or
ders." Greedy was on the spot and
was the proper person to make this
plan of rescue, and the only prear-
ranged one there could be. There
was but one thing to do
and that was plainly and simply to
carry it out. This was LITERALLY done
by myself, Beebe and Darlington, and
am fully responsible for it up to the
sinking of the ship. For doing this,
you attempt to hold me culpable.
This is what L have always said, and
here is not shadow of reflection on
Greedy, nor has there been anv at
;empt to shift the responsibility to
any one. This shows that, in
done relating to the
lepots and selection of Littleton
Island, instead of Cape Sabine, as a
lepot and the intention to land at the
lepot, on the return of the vessel in
Ease it did not reach Greedy, and not
IN the one way up, were all in exact
accordance with the plans, and in
hem there WIS no room for discre-
ion. The d>pOts upon the route
we're established, so far as boats had
'eached-just as agreed upon. AS to
he locality, quantity and kind of
torres, there is not shadow of rehec-
ion upon Greedy in this, nor upon
Inyone else.
In publishing your letter, you
AVE entirely misrepresented me.
There never was Il mora carefully,
painstakiag and conscit
Gus plan of work than this, both by
freely and myself, and there could be
lone where prearranged plan, upon
which every thing must depend, was
.dhered to. With greater fidelity,
lothing could induce me to reflect
lpon Greedy, but ON the contrary the
greatest praise is due him.
In reviewing the past, all men see
much they wish had been different.
This covers all you, or any one can
Justly say in criticism.
Before leaving Washington, Greedy
upon me as fOrcibly as any
nan could. and rightly, the absolute
necessity of supporting him literally
n the way we had arranged, or as he
night direct after reaching his station,
aging strong influence would be
to have the plans changed.
Responsibility under my direction
,nded with the sinking of the Proteus,
md Lieut.. Garlington's conduct up to
hat time had been perfectly efficient.
A. we'll recognized custom of the ser
nee makes il improper for CARING
on or himself to publicly discuss the
scti0n of court Of inquiry.
This rule equally applies to the
counsel for both; nor does it call Tor
my great astuteness TO see, in the
light of past events, wherein the
plans might have been better. Would
t be just TO hold to personal account
/ commander who, in battle, in obedi-
ence to duty, has drawn the fire of
,he enemy by his own well-directed
vollies, by which brave men were |
killed? Your efforts seem to be of |
this nature. [ fail to see any sufi |
Gent rea sou fer your writing me the |
letter, To which this is reply, or in |
your becoming my accuser, when you |
became G2rlington's counsel.