Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-04
THE LOST JEANETTE.
Serious Charges Against De Long and
Melville-The Latter Reticent.

MINNEAPoLIs, MINI, November 3.-The
Tribune has report Of an interview with
Dr.. D. F. Collins, a brother OF the late
Jerome j. Collins, scientist, of the jean
nette expedition. DIR. Collins says "We
have evidence that De Long used his
official position as commander Of the
expedition to persecute in every con-
ceivable way some of the members
OF the expedition. Ny brother was placed
under arrest for no reason whatever. This
Lieutenant Dlnenhower admitted to me.
DE Long refused to allow my brother, at
certain times, to do any kind of work, and
purposelY allowed all the notes, photographs
and records OF the expedition, prepared by
my brother, to sink.
"We have evidence that the Captain forced
him to remain behind when he volunteered
to go ahead with Nlnderman and Noros TO
search for relief, my brother being in the
best condition Of any member OF the party
to do so. We have evidence that Bartlett.
seamen, is in possession of
similar facts, but we believe he has been
keptgtn Siberia purposelY by the officers of
the expedition, so that his testimony may
not get before the board. We are
also in possession of full information
that on Melviile's finding the bodies
OF De Longs party he used the most
blasphemous and scsndalous language con-
cernfng my brothers. body. We also have
reason for believing that the reports made
by Melville as to the condition of the weather,
which he alleges prevented him from going
to the relief Of De Long's party, were
false, for 'on the dates on which he
declares the weather bad it has been
shown to have been good.
n IL -
existed between certain officers of the expe-
dition, the troubles first beginning, as he
learns, over an order to the effect that all of
the men should undergo physical examina-
tion. Neither Msrkley, Collins nor Dlnen-
hover were permitted to assist In the re-
treat.
DR.. Collins adds: "We happen to know
that Kusmsh requested Melville to 20 to
De Longs ralief himself or send some
one, and Melville would do neither. He
first gave an order to DanenhoWer to
go and then countermanded 1t.
Ku NAH and ShOgra were fifteen
days In making the round trip
to Belum from the spot where Melvllle's
party was. Two days each way was ample
time for the journey. During the trip
these men got drunk and Melville knew it.
De Long Melville and those with
him made chessmen and checker
boards and amused themselves, leaving the
work OF searching for their companions to
two Ignorant and drunken natives, We
have good grounds for being certain that
there was a considerable amount Of intoxl-
cants drank during the fifteen dsys they
waited for the return OF the two natives
we Know from conversations with
surviving members of the expedi-
tion that certain letters and papers.
which we believe were on my brothers.
person, have never been produced. We
want to know what has been done with
these papers. II Melville had gone with
the natives, as he ought to have done,
no doubt De Long and his party
would have been saved. He would
have seen the beacon first that had been
lighted as stated in De L0ng's journal, which
was found, even ii he had started out when
Kusmah and SEoZra were overdue. We
therefore make the charge that had Melville
done his duty instead of spending his
time In playing chess and checkers
De Long and his party would not have died.
Melville left them to die, and he is respon-
sible for their Deaths"
DIR. Collins will lay his statement, with
documentary evidence, before Congress.
Chief Engineer MelVille's attention was
this morning called to what DR.. Collins, the
brother of the scientist Of the Jeanette ex.
pedtioD, Is reported to have said in relation
TO Capt. De Longs alleged persscu ion of
his (CollinsO brother, and MelVille's con-
duct efter landing In Siberia. &r Melville
declines, however, to make any statement
for publication In vindication of himself, say
ing, 81 have seen the published statement.
l don't know anything about the matter.
don't wish to say anything about it now.
The least said is the soonest meuded, and
the newspapers get things mixed up. l
shall soon appear before the board which
l.. aE.a vE+A ., -. AZ.
tire matter, and must decline to say any
thing at all for the newspapers"
Melville will be called before the jean
nette Board OF Inquiry on Monday. The
publication this morning OF the specific
charges said to have been made by Dr. Col
Inns, the brother Of the scientist of the
Jeanette, is generally commented on,
though the subject was not mentioned at
the meeting of the board. Judge
Advocate Lemly stated In reply to INQUIRIES
that he had been in correspondence with
DR.. Collins, and had for some time been
aware OF his (CollinsO views In the matter;
that the court proposed to investigate the
subject to the bottom and would
receive everything that DR.. Collins
might offer in the nature of com
petent evidence; that Lieut.. Danephower.
although his examination in chief has been
concluded, will, doubtless, be recalled in
connection with the Investigation of the
charges made by DR.. Collins. Mr.. Lemly
further stated that it was the intention OF
the court to examine every survivor of
the Jeanette expedition, and that
II Mr.. Bartlett, who, as is alleged
by DR.. Collins, was purposely kept
Ia Siberia, has not returned to this country
when the examination of the other wit
nesses is concluded, the court will take re-
cess and await his return. Lieutenant Da-
nenhower naturally declined to make any
statements for publication referring to DR..
Collins charges, or even to express any
opinion other than the somewhat significant
remark, when told the court proposed to
investigate them TO the bottom, 'Well, that