Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-18
THE ARCTIC DEATH TRAP.
MORE ABOUT THE GREELY EX-
PEDITION.
Satisfactory Scientific Results, But At
aFearful Cost,

8 Fearful Cost,
The Survivors to Come to Portland, Me-,
and Remain Until Autumn.
Acting Secretary OF the Navy Nichols and Gen.
Hazen had conference this morning, when 1t was
decided advisable to direct Capt Schley to bling
the rescued members OF the Greely party from ST
Johns to Portland Me-, at his discretion, where
they can remain until cooler weather, and where
they can be Joined by their families and friends.
The necessary orders to that effect will be issued
shortly. Capt. Schley, will, In all probability, re-
main for some time at St Johns-until TIE survivors
are somewhat recuperated.
Another Court Of Inquiry Probable.
There is talk Of establishing another court Of
inquiry to look into the action OF Lieut. Greely's
expedition, with view OF throwing more light
upon the circumstances OF the relief expedition
avau aarres ea, etc Nothing definite viii be done how
What Might Have Been.
IF LAST YEARS EXPEDITION BAD BEEN A SUCCESS
INSTEAD OF A DIsGRACEFCL FAILURE
"fes," said prominent army officer, In speaking
OF the recent Arctic expeditions "the total failure
OF the Proteus expedition OF last year can never
cease to be regretted. By that failure seventeen
gallant fellows were left to gradually starve to
death, on barren Cape Sabine. 1t is not proper
and not fair to place the responsibility on any
ones shoulders because 50 many officials were mixed
up In the arrangements, but there Is an old adage
applicable to this case, too many cooks spoil the
broth" II the disastrous Proteus expedition had
resulted In any way than that in which 1t did, all
OF those fellows might be living to-day, and anxi
ously waiting TO join their families and friends In
stead OF awaiting decent burial just see how
established q station on his way up at
Lttleton island, the men left there would undoubt
% sdy have M discovered the Greedy party at Cape sa-
expected, and would have, In all probability been
able TO cross over in their boats some time during
the long months, and rescued the party before
starvation commenced
ton wasn't established, and the men starved. Well
then, follow the expedition. The Proteus went
was sunk. Lieut. Darlington ald the best he could
to save the stores but the undisciplined gave
1I SnI te ru1,o ISL ana S only Two hundred and
cached at Cape Sabine. II the crew had been prop
eriy disciplined, and had all worked together, con-
saved They would have cached most all OF them, and
that too, at Cape Sabine, where the Greely party
would have found them. But the crew revolted
and the men starved. Wen, what next? CARING
ton returned to Littleton island II he had waitel
there eight days the Yantic would have joined him
mained there, but il ne had. The Yantic mad eight
months provisions FOR eighty men, If remember
correctly Certainly enough could have been spared
to establish station at Lttleton island, and the
Greedy party could have been saved But CARING
ton did not remain at Littieon isiand the station
was not established, and the men starved. So, ac-
cording to my way or thinking, II last years expe-
dltion had resulted in any other way than it did
the entire Greedy party would have been saved"
Inquiry Realized.
Gen. Benet, chief OF the ordnance bureau, who
was the president Of the court Of inquiry which in
vestIgated the failure of the Proteus expedition,
said to q STAR reporter:
&c Not less than fifty thousand rations were taken
in the steamers Neptune, Yantlc and Proteus up to
and beyond Ltlleton Island from July, 1882, to
August, 1883, and OF that number only about one
thousand were LEFT In that vicinity. The conclusion Of
the report OF the court OF inquiry follows sald
Gen. Benet, turning to printed COPY OF the report:
THAT Lieut. Greely and party viii be Fortunate
Is ksny preseb,e that tpey win sssec aeacR
Ittle;e:: I Island % BY s Crossing Ing the the sound SOUND
in the rather unsound boat left at Cape
probable, but only TO f1nd themselves desolate
coast, without shelter and with little food, 100
miles from 4 the Carey Islands containing The only
OF miles from the nearest settlement at Upernavik.
To return to their comfortable and well provided
as terrible an an Undertaking as proceed
Ing south, and the heart-sickness and
DISAPPOINTMENT at being forgotten IN the desola,
what their future course will be- The veil cannot
be lifted until the next summers sun dispels the
Benet, "you can see how the predictions Of the
court were realized The veil has been lifted"
Lockwood InlmOrtaiiZed Himself.
telegram has been received by Gen. Lockwood,
father OF Lieut. Lockwood, OF the Greely party,
conveying the news OF Lieut. Lockwoods death,
ever been reached
Secretary Chandler to Commander
Schley.
Secretary Chandler who is at West Point upon
receiving the news Of the success OF the relief
pedition, sent the following telegram to Comman-
der Schiey: "Receiye my congratulations and
thanks for yourself and your whole command for
your prudence, perseverance and courage In reach
ing our dead and dying countrymen- The hearts
q m fxVffh
to Lieut. Grely and the few survivors Of his deadly
peril. Care for them unremittingly, and bid them
has in store for them. Preserve tepderly the re-
mains OF the heroic dead; prepare them according
to your Judgment and bring them home"
LIEUT.. DARLINGTON CRITICISED.
In speaking upon the subject the Secretary said:
"It Is pity that Lieut. Darlington Gid not remain
at Littleton island after the Proteus was lost In
accordance with Instructions for he would have
been joined by the Yantc with provisions and sup
entire at Cape .bine on october 81" He had, he
said some expectations OF hearing from the expedi-
ton by this time. and thought the ships did
remarkably well
Lieslt. Greely's Own Story.
FURTHER NORTH THAN ANY OTHER EXPEDITION
BRAVE MEN WHO SLOWLY PER1sHED FROM sTARvA-
TION.
Gen. Hazen received two kilograms from Lieut.
Grcely yesterday, the more important OF which,
announcing the arctic discoveries Of the expedition
and claiming to have gone further north than any
other expedition, published in full in the post
script edition Of yesterdays STAR, which reached
large number OF subscribers. The other tele-
gram, dated at St. Johns, yesterday, which was
briefly referred to in the postscript, was q follows:
"Brainard, Biefberbick, Connell, Freder1cks,
Long, and myself, sole survivors, arrived to-day,
having been rescued at the point OF death from
starvation BY the relief ships Thetis and Bear,
June 22. In Camp Clay, northwest OF Cape Sabine.
Ellison was rescued but died July g. Cross died last
January; christensen Lin, Rice, Lockwood, Jewell,
and Edwards in April; Ellis, Ralston, Whistler. and
Israel In May; Kislingbury, Sailor. Henry Bender,
Pavy. Gardiner. and Schneider in June.
We abandoned Fort Conger Aug. 9; were
frozen In pack of Victoria Head Aug. 49,
abandoned stsam launch Sept. IL. eleven miles
point Of landing we were three times driven
by southwest storms into Kane sea. We finally
landed Sept 20 in Baird inlet Learning by Scout-
Ing parties OF the PrOteuS disaster, and that no
provisions had been left for US from Cape Isabella
| to Sabine, we moved and established winter
and Cooked Hat. The inventory showed that by
daily rations OF four and third ounces OF meat
seven OF bread and dog biscuits and four OF
miscellaneous the party would have ten days full
rations left for crossing Smiths sound to Little
ton island March !.
entire winter. rendering the crossing improbable
Game failed despite daily hunting fr0m early Feb
ruary. Before the sun returned only 500 pounds OF
| meat were obtained. This, minute shr1mps, sea
weed, sassafras, rock nchens, and seal skin were
resorted to for food with results as shown by the
number OF survivors The last regular food was
Darlington compelled me to send four men to OBJ
tain la pounds of English meat at Isabelle During
the trip Ellison froZe solid bOtn hands and feet and