Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1883 — CRUSHED BY ICE. [ARTICLE]

CRUSHED BY ICE.

Another Arctic Expedition Gome to Grief. rhe Steamer Proteus, Carrying the Greely Explorers, Wrecked. [Washington Dispatch.] The Acting Secretary of the Navy received the following dispatch from the commander of the Yantic, giving particulars of the disaster to the Proteus, and the rescue of her crew by the Yantic > St. John, N. F., Sept Ki. W. E. Chandler, Secretly of the Navy: The United States steamer Yantic has arrived here, bringing Capt. Pike and the crew ot the Proteus, Lieut. Garlington and the Greely relief party, all well. The Proteus was crushed in the ice six miles north ot Cape Sabine, on July 23. The crew and the relief party, after depositing the records at Littleton island and PandoraHarbor, retreated southward In six beats to Uppernavlk, suffering much hardship In Melville bay. The Yantic reached Littleton Island on Aug. 3 without much difficulty, found the records, and immediately proceeded southwardly, searching the coast and island, thoroughly down to Sumner's island. The ice then closed in and we could not get around or through, and were obliged to retreatunder the lea pf Northumberland island. On the 9th, a southward gale having Loosened the pack, we were able to get through, and continued the search. The coast about Cape York is tilled with ice packed close, so that we could not get within twenty miles of land. On the 10th, having ice in all directions but southeast proceeded to Uppernavlk, and sent fifteen days” rations to Lesainsack, and a whaleboat to Cape Shakelton. On the 22d sailed for a coal mine, thence to God Haven. On the Slat Lieut. Colwell arrived in a launch, having been thirty-nine days in an open boat. He had separated from us under orders at Cape York. Sailed the same day for Uppernavlk, and found the relief party had arrived there. On Sept 2 proceeded homeward, and had a rough passage. Frank Wilder, Commander. The Proteus was a steam sailer, well adapted for Arctio work. She took Capt Greely and his party to Lady Franklin Bay over two years ago. The Greely expedition was to be conducted on a plan conceived by Capt Howgate. A depot was established at Lady Franklin bay, and the party were to move northward, establishing smaller depots for service on the return trip. In this way it was thought many of the dangers and hardships of-Arctic exploration would be avoided. The party had supplies to last about two years, by which time it was expected Capt Greely and his men would have returned to the starting point to await a vessel to bring them home. Nothing has been heard of Greely s party since the Proteus left them. Ail effort was made to reach them last season by a vessel sent out under tire direction of the War Department, but it was unsuccessful The vessel could not get through the loe, and came back without accomplishing anything. At the last session of Congress an appropriation of SBO,OOO was made to send out a search party for Greely. It took shape in the disastrous putting forth of the Proteus. The news or the loss of the vessel naturally created considerable comment in the Navy and War Departmenta Lieut Oasciare, of the Signal Corps, immediately upon receipt of the information had an interview with Commodore English, acting Secretary of the Navy, and Commodore Walker, chief of the Bureau of Navigation. The matter was thoroughly discussed. The feasibility of ordering the Yantic to go to the relief of the Greely was talked over. Various expedients to relieve the people at Lady Franklin bay were mentioned. An earnest desire to do something was expressed. One conclusion, and that of a disheartening character, was reached that itwas too late in the season to send any vessel into the Arctic, as it would be impossible for her to get anywhere near Greely’s party on account of the ice. Commodore Walker says: “Nd vessel in. the navy, no vessel in the world could reach Greely before next summer. He and. his party are in a bad fix. The result of this relief expedition must throw a damper on. Arctic exploration. No one knows whether Greely and his men are alive or dead. Their supplies must be exhausted by this time.’ Prompt action is necessary in the cause of humanity, but old naval officers shake their heads ominously when the matter isdiscussed. Said one officer: “This, in my opinion, will settle the whole question of Arctic expedltiona The loss of the Jeannette ana the burning of the Rogers, that was sent to find her, and the loss of the Proteus piles it up too high, even if the fate of previous expeditions was not fresh in the mind of the public; Of course, an effort will be made to relieve Greely and his party, but that will be the last Arctic expedition for many years for which money will come from £he treasury of the United States. ” The Yantic accompanied the Proteus as convoy, but was not to go further north than Littleton’s island, when the latter wa» to push her way through the ice. When th© Navy Department ordered the Yantic to thatduty there was an outcry in certain quarters about the recklessness of sending a relief party, and then giving the vessel carrying that party a convoy. It has, however, turned out a fortunate precaution. If th© Yantic had not been near the Proteus when she was crushed in the ice there certainly would have been some loss of life. Indeed, it is extremely doubtful whether any of the relief party would have escaped.