Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-12-11
FROM WASHINGTON.
EVIDENCE FROM THE TOMB.
De Longs Record Read Before the
Inquiry Board-At Loggerhead with
Collins, Who Disobeys His Orders.

The following extract from the record Of
Capt. De Long of the Jeanette, in posses
| sion of the Navy Department, throws some
light upon the unpleasant state of feeling
which existed between Capt. De Long and
Jerome Collins of the Arctic steamer Jean
nette:
"Beset and drifting in the pack. Dec. 2,
1880. The memorandum following is .
| statement of the occurrence this day, in
| which Mr.. Collins treated ME with such dis
respect as to cause me to relieve him from
all duty in the ship. and to inform him that
upon the return Of the vessel to the United
States, l would report him to the Secretary
of the Navy.
My orders in relation to daily exercise re-
quires everybody except the sick or main
| watch, to leave the ship at l A. NJ. and re-
| main out of her on the ice until p. NJ.
| OF course it has been understood that Col
| Inns should cone on board at noon to make
and record on the slate the meteorological
observations for that hour, but have OBJ
served on several occasions of late that he
seemed to remain on board much longer than
such duty required. | had considerable
trouble last winter in getting Collins to COM
ply with the order in regard to daily exer-
else. His delay in getting out of bed, his
requiring time for his breakfast, etc, max
ing it sometimes IL 80 A. NJ. before he
made his appearance on the ice. l pointed
out to him there his failure to obey my or
der, demonstrated with him on his repeating
the offence, insisted on my order being
obeyed, and finally secured literal csm-
piance with it, although, as he informed me,
| he had his opinion of the wisdom and ne
cessity for such order, or words to that eff
! feet.
| Today, at l2lO p NJ, went into the
cabin to see why he remained so long, and
at the same time to close the air port and
| found he had removed his coat, had lighted
and was smoking his pipe, and while writing
| in the port chart room was carrying on con-
versation with DanenhOwer. l said nothing
and returned to the ice, and at II 20 p. NJ.
as he had not vet come out, l went again
and found him at the stove adjusting his
gloves and continuing the conversation re-
ferred to.
| The following ia the substance of the en-
suing talk: asked Collins had it required
all this time to make and record IL O'Clock
observations? He replied: Well, sir, l
hardly know the meaning of your question.
l said, the meaning of my question: is il
| necessary for you in order to make and re-
cord IL O'Clock observations to remove your
coat, light your pipe, engage in conversation
| with DanenhOwer and remain in the cabin
until II 20 p. Mp
He answered CURLY: well perhaps l
might have done it quicker, but did not
know my minutes were counted for me-
The statement goes on at length to report
a conversation showing the impertinence and
disobedience of orders by Collins.
De Long states that Collins was CURLY,
contemptuous and disrespectful throughout
his interview with him, and De Long in
formed him that upon reaching some port he
should report Collins action to the Secre-
tary of the Navy. He prohibited Collins
from performing any further duty on board
beyond completing work called for in the
written orders.