New-York tribune., 1885-03-29

t,a pal,pf <pe1on. Octave, PIP. ZIfs NoWF
YORK: Charles -crihners Sons
This i, an admirable record of one Of the most
tb,illua eoisoles of Arctic adventure. 1t is not
recital of tho discoveries of lockwood AMI Brain
ara of the retreat from Discovery Bay ana the
terrible winteriug at Cape SABINE. IL ls Oo'n-
roander schIey's account of his mission to Smitn
Sound and incidentally of the failures which hau
oreceled his own most gallant exploit. Inc pun
Ishers have made good use OF the material lor
porular book There are fourteen sp'rItei liiusua
tions from photographs taken by members ci .ho
expelition, and three excellent maps, one showing
the discoveries of the Greedy party. Large type
aud an attractive binding lend adventitious aid 20
n modest straightforward aud dignihed chroh'cie
of last years Arctic expedition.
The opening chapters are devoted to the oreahi-
cation of the Lady Franklin Expedition. the renoi
expeditions of 1882 and 1888, and the retreat lrou
the wreck of the Proteus. The authors nave
evidently aimed to present cooriess account OIL
these various operations and to avold All cri.o'sm
of those who conducted them The facts are quietly
narrated. and the official documents are quoted
WITHOUT invidious comments. Sometimes IL iS
possible to read between the lines what is evdentN
in Commander Schleys mind respecting TINS ones
or anothers official responsibility Tor the caUaS
trophe at Cape Sabine, but he has the tact anu
discretion to withhold direct expressions of
condemnation,
anvbody unfairly. If anything in these chapters
gives offence to any officer in the Signal Service or
in the Army and Navy it will be because the logic
of the facts Quietly presented cannot be argued
AWAY. The spirit in whch the chapters are written
is admirable, and is especially to be commended
since not only grave but angry controversies nave
arisen over the conduct of the relief expeditions.
The fortunate voyage of 1881, i'll which the
Proteus carried the Greely party from Upernavik
to the edge of Lady Franklin Bay in SIX days Is
Justly pronounced most unfortunate result, since
IL created a false impression that the station could
he reached easily and without danger. Inc
influence of this erroneous view that the dDcuit'es
of the navigation of Smith Sound had been exag-
gerated was seen in the organization OF the nrst
two relief expeditions and it also gave direction to
Lieutenant Greely's suggestions in his last letter
to General Hazen sent Sonth by the Proteus. THIS
letter the authors very considerably remark, did
not draw up complete plan for the expeditions
although some Of its directions were extremely
minute and specific; but was rather memorandum
containing such suggestions as occurred TO nun
after the experience of the voyage. This is true so
far as the choice of the vessel, the quantity OF
supplies to be left at designated POINTS and other
preparations are concerned; but Lieutenant
Greely was explicit in demanding close adherence
TO his plan of providing relief at the points where
he expected to receive It, No deviation from these
Instructions he wrote should be permitted
Latitude of action should not be given to relief
party who on known coast are searching for men
who know their plans and orders"
The Neptune expedition, judged by this letter OF
instructions offers no ground for criticism.
Iieutenant Beebe was not able to pass the ice
barrier in Smith Sound, but he carried out his
instructions to the letter. and these were in accord
with Lieutenant Greely's suggestions. One of the
depots of supplies by happy mischance was
established at Cape Sabine instead of at a point to
Che northward in Grinnell Land; and this was the
only deviation from the official instructions. The
amount of provisions deposited there and at
Littleton Island was precisely what Lieutenant
Greey had asked for in each instance $50 ratons,
or ten days supplies The Neptune had at least
1000 rations, or full supply for three months for
the Greely party; and these were taken back to
ST. Johns only to be stored there and then carried
nm again the next summer to be sunk In the
Proteus. Commander Schey grimly remarks
tina. they would have kept better in the ice upon
the rocks at Cape Sabine" AS Lieutenant Beebe
had not received orders to land them the inference
Is that General Hazen in this respect had followed
Lieutenant Greelys memorandum too closely
The account given of the Proteus expedition OF
1888 is unclouded by prejudice, and is as Just as
il is intelligibe. The responsibility for various
ATTEMPT to disparage the motives of any official
or TO subject anybody to unfair or ungenerous
criticism General Hazen based his plan OF opera
tjons upon Lieutenant Greelys letter. the
Secretary of War urged the substitution of naval
in place of a military relief party; General Hazen
oyerruled the suggestion on the general ground
that it was never safe to swap horses While
crossing stream; and his wishes prevailed, the
responsibility for the decision rests with him. In
like manner General .llazen's instructions to
Lieutenant Darlington are quoted as showing that
he assumed that Lieutenant Greely's supplies would
be exhausted in 1888. and that no effort must be
spared to push the Proteus through to Lady
Franklin Bay; that no provision was made for the
contingency of the loss of the Proteus and that no
orders were issued to land supplies on the way
north On the last point, the evidence is conclusive.
An officer of the Signal Service had prepared
memorandum directing that supplies should be
landed at LittetOn Island before entering the ice
Lieutenant Darlington on receiving this memoran-
dun went to General Hazen and pointed out the
contradictions between the main instructions and
this unsigned paper. He was verbally informed
that he was to follow the general instructions and
that the memorandum was no part of his orders.
This is pronounced the most momentous decision
made in connection with the expedition.
The Yantic is described as not in military sense,
mart of the relief expedition. There were two
dependent commands. The military party on the
chartered vessel were to relieve the Greedy party !;
the naval tender was to be transport upon which
Lieutenant Darlington was to fall back In case OF
disaster; Commander Wildes was to afford all the
assistance in his power but his connection with the
relief of Lieutenant Greeiy was entirely subsidiary
II the relief party had been lost it would have been
Commander Wildes's duty to take the same steps to
rescue Lieutenant Greely that he would have taken
II he had been originally sent on the mission alone
but as long as Lieutenant Garlington's party re-
mained alive in Greenland waters, the primary
N .,;x., ,nstad xy,tb than The Yanfic's rom.