The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-12-03
THE RIVER PRESS.
GEN. HAzEN's REPORT.

to study. ale vast amount OF meIeOfOIO-
gical data which is being accumulated
in his office. Advancement in meteor
illogical science mainly depends on
studying this data. The work of the
service is seriously embarrassed by in
sufficient appropriations. Particularly
is this felt on the telegraph lines where
the operators salaries had to be reduced
ten dollars a month, and they compelled
to act as operators, clerks, line repair
men and messengers. No appropriation
was made for Geographic weather SER
vice during May and June, and the
Western Union Telegraph company
came to its relief, did the work free of
charge, and declined making a claim
against the government.
Two Arctic expeditions have ended
that at Point Barrow, under Lieut.. Ray,
which was absent two years and return
ed without accident; that co Lady
Franklin's bay, under Lieut.. Greedy,
and every one knows how it terminated.
The blame for this has been %variously
placed. Gen. Hazen, not wishing to
trust all chance of succor to one vessel,
in 1883 made application to the navy de-
partment for and obtained a vessel to
act rs a reserve in case of a disaster to
the Proteus. Lieut.. E. A. Darlington,
18th cavalry, was in command of the eX-
petition on board the Proteus, while
Commander Frank Wildes, of the navy,
was in command Of the reserve ship.
At the time the Proteus was crushed by
ice the two vessels were ZOO miles
apart, the Proteus the most northerly.
Instead of waiting at Littleton's Island
until the reserve ship should come up,
Lieut.. Darlington set out at once south
ward to meet the vessel, taking nearly
all the supplies hat had been saved
from the Proteus with him. When the
reserve ship was met it was only three
days sailing from Iittleton Island, yet
they did not return with the stores they
were sent to leaye, but returned at once
to st. John nor did Lieut.. Darlington
insist OF returning, although it was only
September I'd. Gen. Hazen says: "The
Abandonment of Lieut.. Greedy and his
party to starvation by officers whose
only mission in those waters was to sue
cor them displayed a lamentable disre-
gard of grave responsibilities Gen.
Hazen regards the expedition as the
foremost of its kind. Lieut.. Greedy and
the signal bureau carried out the plan of
relief literally, but the scheme was
thwarted by the officers in command of
the expedition not approaching the re-
sponsibility attached thereto and ne
glecting the work they were sent to per-
form.
On the return to st. John, September
18th, Gen. Hazen did his utmost to have
other relief dispatched at once for Lit
tleton's island, but without avail, al
though previous exper fence and sub
sequent facts showed that there
remained plenty Of time before naviga-
ton closed. There is no doubt that had
Lieut.. Darlington used his authority
Commander Wildes would have return
ed and left provisions, but both
seemed to care for nothing but their
own safety. The responsibility Of the
failure of the relief in 1888 is not yet
ended. The personal enemies of Gen.
Hazen are trying to saddle the blame
on him, but according to his report there
seemed to be little doubt that Lieut..
Darlington and Commander Wi1des are
responsible-to such an extent that
Commander Wildes, Immediately on
his return, was reprimanded by the
navy department.
We give considerable space to this re-
port because we do not wish the enc
mics of Hazen to reduce the appropria-
ton for his department in order to
Wreak their vengeance on him. This
section of country has suffered enough
from that cause already, and it is time
it was stopped. In the northwestern
division there remains 1913 miles of tele-
graph line, after the sale of 1,O61 miles
of abandoned line. Gen. Hazen says
that the portion which extends to the
north of the Northern Pacific railroad
should be kept in repair. as the meteor
illogical reports from stations on this
portion of the line are Of special value
to the service. The line from Helena to
this city and Fort Assinaboine is the
best paying and most important from
meteorological and commercial stand
points in the service, and yet it is in
such miserable repair that a great per
cent. of the benefits that might accrue
is lost.