New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-07
ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS.
ENGINEER MELVILLE BEGINS HIS STORY.
Describing TO THE BOARD OF INQUIRY HOW THE


DESCRIBING TO THE BOARD OF INQUIRY HOW iiiH
JEANETTE ENTERED THE ICE AND WAS NIPPED.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 6.-The examination OF
Chief Engineer Melville begun at 1880 a. M to-day
by the Jeanette Board Of Inquiry. He was askeu 10
give narrative account OF the voyage OF the Jeannee
and any important Incidents connected with her man
agement up the time of her loss He began DIS STORY
with the departure Of the ship from San Francisco on
July g. 1879 His narrative Of the voyage up TO Ansus'
81 was in the main, repetition OF Lieutenant Danen
bowers story At this time tho ship was IN the Arctc
Ocean, heading north west The Ice became heavier
and headed the ship or and more to the east"aru
until September /. when Herald Island bore wcse
The witness continued: "The ship was then worked
through the ice in and out OF the lanes OF water trying
TO make north and west as the leo would permit Inc
pack was very heavy but full OF lanes and open lead
toward the north The pack proper extended from south
west 10 northeast, About September the ship was
forced into the far could to the westwaru
and anchored to o foe that night We nad passed.
through open and young ice that mad mace
Tho topsas had set TO assist the steam In forcing
through The pack at this time wss in motion 10 tne
eastward and we passed through 1t closed behind u.s.
There were open leads to the westward that VIC were
endeavorfng to reach On September the young ice
began make around and freeze fast the ola ICE &C.
menting the whole so that 1t was Impossible 10
move the ship Captain belong stated to me at tnat
time that he had put the snip 10 inc
westward In the hopes OF reaching Wrangeh Land
which was then in sight He also said 1t was his nten-
ton TO work along water the northward and
in case he could not get ship along to use seds when
the Shedding season along the coast 10
see If Wrangel Land continent as he had been leu
TO suppose At this time the general routine OF the snip
was carried on from day to day"
The witness then described the daily occupations and
amusements Of the officers and men. and added All
things were cheerful and happy board the ship Tho
Of
tempt OF tho sledge party (oi which no was
q member) to reach Herald Island An open body or
water from 700 TO 1000 feet wide, all around
the island barred their further progress after having
travelled about twenty-five miles over the Ice Ine Wiz
read Captain lie Longs orders TO Lieutenant Cnlpp
(wuO commanded the sedge party, wnlch were 10 con-
struct cairn tho island, aud TO nnd IL possible,
suitable spot winter quarters for the ship IL tney
should chance to drift down upon the Island Al thls
time the whole pack was in motion Ghe witnesses ac-
come OF the daily routine and Occupatons games on
the ice earhuntng, ec corresponding with Lieu eaht
DnennOwers evidence. as did also his account OF tine
nIppng OF the ship by the tee on November ii. The
witness was ordered Oy the captain TO examine carefully
the condition Of the snip In the vicinity OF the engines
and bunkcrs and found that the snip mad sustained
no material damage, and gave no signs O. leaking
MIR Melville alta tnat prior to NOVemD 20 prepara
lions made 70 abaDdon the ship II 10 became
necessary to do So The crews were assigned 10 tle
bouts and the men drilled; sleeping bags were
made and fur clothing prepared From January ~ 10
49, The witness SAID there was great noo IN me e pa0h
snip in sOd bed OF ice, and her bottom was
continually struck and hammered by the Ice passing
undernea her. The surface the pack seemed qul-
escent and for the and undermining OF the ice,
would not been known that the Ice was IN motion
at all. -, ,
on the 10Th the fee seemed 10 be pillng in toward
ship from all drectlOns. ABOUT III H. Wiler Ndb
found to DO running at the bouOm OF the snip Pre-
yOus 10 this received several severe Jars lore ana
AFT but no damage detected until tue people went
below 90 get out supply OF coal for me day Mnen
IL was found snip making water the pumps
were manned and the witness was ordered 10 MAKE
steam AT once Tne fOrenOld broken out, ana the
ppIes were gotten mostly good condition. Some
flour WAS damaged. The witness described the ln
proyisng OF steam pump un Ter his direction, by WhlCn
tue water reduced 90 that the carpenters cOuld
work, aud then described the further measures tat
were to stop the leaks and make the snip water
tlgnt Ins WORK occupied about ten days during Wncn
une the steam pumps Kept continually III mOlon
The damage the f0reO0t nj ts Zine was caused by
UNDERSTANDING the suip being firmly imDedded IN the
ice so tnas IL p .sslOe to SAL VI tin mat
for tne purpose OF stopping The leak by January 81
the lad been reuuceu tnat the snip cOuu De
kept tree of water by using the auxiliary pumping
boilers instead OF the main Uoers Inc boiler anu Gu
cutter were adapted 10 tue Work Oh the
pilge pump attached to the main engine. Mnhc TINS
work was GOING the pump la the engine room was
kept going day long at the rate OF thirty Fe strokes
per minute. Upon trying tue engine
and boiler OF steam cutter IL was
found mat the main engine DlIge pump Wac
too large 80 "A new pump made to lit tnen. By
FEBRUARY IL was found That the water could be kept
teen 10 nuIes caon On February ID TIE fires were
Juelnan furnace, as 1t was fOunu possible 10
do the pumping entirely by tue auxiliary apparatus
AIer about November 80, 1879 al the water used on
The snp iur drinking and Cooking was distilled. DuflnS
tuis time II was possible to Ee snow lhat would make
The court adjourned at D. III. until 1880 a m to-