Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-12-04
PEcIAI TO THE REcoKD-usIos.
DOMESTIC NEWS.
Collins VS., DE Interesting and Fit
ter Letter.

teresting and bitter letter is furnished for
publication by the Minneapolis Tribune, !
which gets it via Washington, from the |
brother of Jerome J. Collins, now in Wash |
ington. This brother, who has presented his |
facts before the Jeanette Board of Inquiry, |
felt that injustice was done him and his
brothers memory whsB this letter TO De
Long, found among the effects Of Collins,
and $ hich Is row in possession Of the Navy
Department, was not admitted az testimony.
The letter is as follows:
return herewith the slip which you require
the number Of thermom eters duly marked.
Permit me to express some surprise that the occu-
pant OF the position OF meteoroogst this eXpedi-
ton does not under the operation OF your
strict rule Of official courtesy, respect for which IN
ali Transactions you requested with so much en-
phasis litl e while ago. The contemptuous dlsre-
gard for my personal feelings as member of the
expedition exhibited in several ways and from time
to time b. yourself and your fellow Officers, can
well afford to pass unworthy OF notice /; but in
nv capacity rs an employe OF Mr. Bennett and
recognized entity in the official personnel of the ex
pe6ition by the honorable Secretary of the Navy
regard every ctof discOurtesy official and personal
as an infringement of my rights, expressed or i'm
Flied, by the fact OF my appointment. As the new
wear is about to begin, IL is of vital import to
me IN many ways, that should understand the po-
siton am TO occupy in relation to that work. to you
and to the other gentlemen associated with you.
have been aware from the commencement that the
standing you were willing to accord any civilian APP
pointed TO take part in the scientific work is mere
'cessory" to use an expression you employed to a
reporter OF the Washington Post, in April, 1879.
This was the way in which you eudeavored TO give
force 20 The statement that all the scientific work
required would be done by officers of the navy. Mr..
Bennett, when asked about this said you must have
been nlisrepTesented. Mr.. Connery managing
editor Of the Herald declared you used such
language. On these ASSURANCES decided to come
the expedition, fully expecting to feel at home
with number of men who were said TO be incapa-
bic OF sefshness and injustice. When at San
Francisco it was easy for you to tell me that you
intended to do thus and 50 regarding particular
work was sent 10 do, and which came under the
general head of physics A competent was
employed to take charge of the collection, etc, of
natural history and chronological specimens At the
Academy OF Sciences made some rambling remarks
which based on the suppositiOn that was some
thing more than mere accessory. Nothing in your
conversation gave me any grouud for believing
otherwise, although you had ample opportunity 60
enlighten me, until during general conversation
held in your looms at the Palace Hotel, in
the course OF viii the subject of inter.
viewing by reporters came up, and you in
dorsed a iadys statement that the Washington
Post interview accurately reported. In
ment saw was in q trap-not in a trap set by you
for you did not want anybody but nsvy people
with you es your manner of acting plaioly showed
l hoped for honor in coming to the Arctic and aso
profitable information, l volunteered to come,
leaving behind me happy home volunteered on
what believed to be enterprise full OF danger
and herein lies the big tooth OF the trap. could
not, under any circumstances for any cause almost
retreat from my post without mourning the sur Of
cowardce, which, you know, would only be too
readily cast upon any one who backed out at the
last moment H-d you told ne Il e day before we
sailed that was to live 10 the forecastle and have
the work of a-y ordinary seaman, instead of being
treated IS member of the cabin mess, doubt if |
could have gone back You had it in your power to
heap, or permit to be heaped, any amount of dis
respect socially officially, and / am as a
man with his hands tied. | cannot retaliate / can
only resent by silence. Three several times
you have threatened with exaction of ODE
dience, " if it took every man on the ship" When
laid before you the facts in or two cases in
which felt a2gIieved by others, you became at
once the apoogist of one party, and did not wish
TO hear anything about the ether Lstterly, things
have been going on mserably. In my official ca
pacity, am TO infer by the withdrawal of several
instruments from time to time that have either
neglected don't possess ability to use them first
the magnetic instruments, and then the photo.
graphic apparatus, specially given in my charge
and to which all had free By the exercise of
your important " official courtesy" was directed to
give DR.. Amber the hygrometer, which l did.
don't believe he has used it since. No explanation
such as kindly courtesy would suggest, has been
given to me more than if | was lamp trimmer in
the fire-room yet if | wanted little hot water to
make tea for my luxurious breakfast during my
watch, official courtesy demands that must 90 to
Mr. Melville about it, Don't you suppose am as
sensitive Melville, yourself, any body else
when am treated with official diseourtesy? II you
think you can do with me you please now, and
laugh at the future, you are making mistake COM
to your disposition and habits of self com.
plaeency.
The Jeanette Inquiry.
WASHINGTON, December 2i-A most af-
fecting scene occurred in the Jeanette Court
during the examination of Ninderman this
morning In describing the march TO the
south Oh September Goth, the witness said
that jus! before noon Erickson told him be
could not go much farther. Witness tried to
encourage him without avail In attempt
ing to repeat Ericksor's language when he
became disabled the witness broke down and
gssped, Z" cannot go on now, sir, and hastily
left the room. The incident was most pa
thetic, ard the Court and spectators were
deeply impressed. The President of the
Board ordered recess, saying, Poor fellow,
be never broke down up there when he was
put to the test but his sympathie for his
lost companions overcome him."
After recess Ninderman said Erickson said
to him, 60 don't care bow far you go; / can't
go any farther"
Weeds Statement About Morgan.
LITTLE Rock (Ark.), December 21.-Ms
sonic circles are commenting On Weeds state
ment about the disappearance of Morgan
General Albert Pike, head of the Scottish
Rite of Masons, says he has seen these state.
ments of Weed published before. :" do not
think the men whom Weed mentions were
mentioned at the time. The MasoDs know
no more about the matter than any one else
Perhaps at the time, it may have been known
among few members of The Lodges in New
ork, w course every man concerned In lt,
if Morgan was really murdered, should have
been hanged. In the obligation which a
Mason takes it is expressly stated that it
does not compel him to do anything against
his conscience or the laws of his country
The Order does not shield guilt. Ignorant
men, serving on jury, might think them
selves bound by it to acquit another Mason,
whether he is guilty or not"
Train Robbers FoiIed.
DALLAS Tex ! December 2i.-An ATTEMPT