Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-06
The Jeennette Inquiry.
EXAMINATION OF CHIEF ENGINEsR MELVILLE

The examination OF Chief Engineer Melville was
begun at 10:30 this morning by the Jeanette
board OF inquiry. He was asked to give N lrra-
tive account of the voyage of the Jeanette and
loss, ~ and began his " story .,'''' with The The
departure OF the ship from San Francisco July
Sth 1873 His narrative Of the voyage up to Ayl
gust 31St was in the main a repetition OF Lieut..
Danenhower's story AT this time the ship was In
the Arctic ocean, heading north and west. Til
ice became heavier and headed the ship Off more
and more to the eastward until September /, wher
Herald Island bore west Witness continued: Tie
the lanes OF water.tryng to make north of west as
the ice would permit The pack was very heavy
but fun OF lanes and open leads toward the north
About September 5th
THE SHIP WAS FORCED INTO THE ICE
as far as we could go to the westward and an
chored to place that night. We had passed
made. The top sails had been set to assist the
steam in forcing through. The pack at this time
was In motion to the eastward and as we passed
through 1t, closed behind us There were open
leads to the westward that we were endeavoring
TO reach On september 9Th the young ice began
10 make around US and freeze fast. the old ice
cementing the whole mass, so that ii was
IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE SHIP.
Capt. De Long stated to me at that time that he
had put the ship to the westward in the hopes of
reaching Wrangel Land, which was then in Sight
He also said it was his intention TO work along
the coast water to the northward, and In case he
could not get the ship along to se;;s when the
was continent as he had been led i to suppose. pose
carried on from day to day. Witness then de-
scribed the daily occupations and amusementS OF
the officers and men, and added all things were
cheerful and happy On board the Ship
THE ATTEMPT TO REACH HERALD ISLAND.
Witness gave an account of the Intellectual at
tempt OF the Sledge party {of which he was a
memberl TO reach Herald Island, an open lead of
island barring their further progress, after hav-
ing travelled about 25 miles over the ice.
Witness read Capt De Longs orders to
Lieut.. Chtpp, (who commanded the sledge
party which were to construct d calrn on the
island, and to find If possible suitable spot for
to drift down upon the island At this time the
whole pack was In motion Witness account OF
the daily routine and OCCUPATIONS, games upon the
ice, bear hunting, &C., corresponded with Lieut..
the
N1PPING OF THE SHIP
by the Ice November 14th. Witness was ordered
by the captain to carefully examine the condition
of the ship in the vicinity the engines and coal
material damage, and gave no signs OF leak ing.
Mr.. Melville continued his narrative OF the ex.
periences Of the Jeannette's crew during the I'M
prisonment of the ship in the Ice. He stated tina,
TO abandon the ship If it became necessary to dc
sSe boats aad the men asgn dre
sleeping bags were made and fur clothing
prepared. From January 10Th to 10Th, witness
ACCOMPANIED WITH LOUD GRINDING NOISES
AT this time the snip was in solid bed OF fee
and her bottom was continually struck and ham,
mered by the ice passing underneath her. The
surface OF the pack seemed quieSce Mt and but fol
the noise and understanding of the ice, 1t would
not have been known that the Ice was In
motion at all. On the 10Th the ice seemed to be
ping In toward the ship from all directions.
About 10 am water was found to be running in
at the bottom OF the ship. Previous to this she
no damage was detected until the people went be-
low to get out the supply OF coal for the day.
When 1t was found that the ship was making
ordered to make steam at once. The forehold was
broken out, and the supplies were gotten out
mostly In good condition. Some flour was DAM
aged.
THE DAMAGE TO THE SHIP
Witness described the improvisng Of steam
pump under his direction, by which the water
was reduced SO as that the carpenters could work,
and then detailed the further measures that were
taken to stop the leaks and make the ship water
tight This work occupied about ten days, dur
Ing which time the steam pumps were kept con-
tinually in motion The damage to the foreport
ship being firmly imbedded in the Ice, SO that it
was impossible to use sail or thrummat for the
purpose OF stopping the leak. By January alst
ship could be kept free of water by using
the main boilers. The boiler and engine
work of the bilge-pump attached to the main en-
gine. While this work was going on the pump in
the engine room was kept going all day long at the
engine and boiler OF the steam cutter it was found
that the main engine biige-pump was too
large, so new pump was made
to At them. By February 9Th
1t was found that the water could be kept down by
running the engine room pump only about Is
minutes each hour. On February 18th the fires
were hauled in the main furnace, as it was found
possible to do the pumping entirely by the aux
fltary apparatus
The court adjourned at pm. until 1o:sO am.
tomorrow.
ENGINEER MELvILLE's CLAIM ON THE POLLS ESTATE
By the adjudication OF the estate OF the late Geo.
s. Polls, a chair manufacturer of Philadelphia,
filed in the orphans court Saturday, by Judge
Ashman, the fact was disclosed that the estate
was indebted to Engineer George w. Melville to
masters orders-s90 per month, half Melvlle's
salary.