The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-12
THE ARCTIC HORROR.

Lieutenant Commander Gorr1nge. who
has made an especial duty of Arctic explo-
ration, was interviewed by World report
er in New York, and asked to give his
views of the Jeanette case. The reporter
said: "Do you think, Mr.. Gorringe, that
De Longs party could possibly have been
rescued, had the search been differently
conducted?' Mr.. Gorringe replied; Il
think it is too early to express my opinion
on the conduct of Engineer Melville in
not having persisted in the search for De
Long before he went to Yakutsk, chiefly
because we have not yet heard his side of
the story. Lieutenant Danenhower's mar
retive and the reports from Siberia seem
to reflect on Melville, but there are reasons
for not accepting these as unprei JUDGED
views. Danenhower's narrative indicates
a jealousy of Melville's being in command,
and yet he could not have been himself in
command, having been incapacitated by
loss of sight. De Long knew what he was
about when he gave command of Melville's
party to Melville, and not to Danenhower
belong and Melville were old shipmates
and friends of long standing. BY his own
statement, Danenhower was on the sick
list the greater part of the time, the jean
nette was drifting into the ice, while Mel
vile was actively on duty and sent ont in
co mmand of expeditions all the time.
know Melville very well, and I believe that
when we hear his side, what is now con
sidered lack of earnestness in prose-
cutting the search will be explained salts
factorily. You must remember that re-
lief party without provisions would have
only added to De Longs difficulties, and
herein lies the explanation of Melvi1le's re
treat He had nothing to take to De Long
and he retreated to the only place he knew
of to obtain it, and at once organized his
expedition It seems too bad that Mel
vile should be blamed after the manifest
devotion he has shown to his commander
and his duty. He is not the sort of man
to back out of anything. nor is he the sort.
to go headlong into an attempt to relieve"
a starving party by adding to the number
of hungry men.
AS to De Long, there is not in the navy
a more brilliant, noble, able, brave officer
than he was De Long was hero, and
the navy should at once erect monument
to his memory, and honor itself by SO do
ing I am prepared to contribute literally,
and, what is more important, to try and get
others to do the same thing"
What do you think, . said, the reporter,
s'of the chances of finding Chipp and his
partys"
Il think that Chipp's boat was lost in
the gale that separated the three parties.
1t is barely possible that they reached one
of the many low islands of the Lena Delta
and may still survive, but the chances are
against them"
sDo you think that De Long could have
done better than heidi in trying to reach
the Lena in boats2''
Under the circumstances no.. He had
not provisions enough to pass the summer
on the New Siberian Islands, which do not
appear to have abundant game. If he had,
or the game had been abundant am sure
he would have waited the freezing ever of
the ocean and travelled over its surface, as
Wrangel did farther east. on sledges. De
pend on It, Dc Long and Melville both
adopted the plans that seemed to them the
best, although by some persons these plans
may not now be clearly understood"