New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-25
ARCTIC EXPLORERS.
MELVILLE AND DANENHOWER.
NO GROUND FOR THE STORIES OF THEIR DISAGREE
MENT-HOw THEY PARTED AT YAKUTsK.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rnrBuSE


lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRGBUSE.l
WAsIuNGrON Sept. 24.-Engineer Melville spent
last night at the Ebbitt House. in this city. and
this afternoon took extended drive through the
suburbs the guest Of Lieutenant Danenhower.
To n correspondent OF THE TRIBUNE who ques-
toned him this morning concerning the various
publications that have been made as to a disagree
ment between himself and Lieutenant Danenhower,
well as in relation to certain points that have
been in dispute relative to the search for Captain
De Long, he spoke as follows
You ask me in what way parted with Danen-
hover on TIE other side at Yakutsk. Well our
parting was pleasant and agreeable and there was
nothing in it to give rise to the stories that have
been circulated. When our party arrived at Bulun
| telegTaphed 10 the Navy Departments and upon
reaching Yakutsk l expected to receive replies.
When we got there these had not arrived. After
delay of a week or more, | received
kilograms from the Navy Department directing me
TO spare neither pains nor expense in fitting out an
expedition to look after the safety of the second
cutter II was evidently the impression Of the De-
partment that De Long was all right and that
Chpp's boat WAS missing When | received these
telcgrams, sad to Lieutenant Danenhower: Dan,
l am going north again. You take the rest of the
people and 90 south had been particularly di-
rectcd to look after the sick and frozen and to
send them to a warmer climate and ! gave Lieu
tenant Daucuh0wer written order to
proceed southwark at once, and par
tcular to mention by name each man
who was to accompany him, ana further directed
him to communicate as often as practicable with
the Secretary of the Navy. We got everything
ready, our sleds loaded up, said goodbye, and
Danenhowcr and kissed each other when we badc
each other farewell"
"1hen there is absolutely no foundation for the
story of ll-focling existing between DanenhoweI
and yOurSelfW ~
None whatever. I want you to state explicitly
and exactly, word for word, what ] am abont to
say When Danenhower and separated at Yakutsk
we were on the most friendly terms it was possible
for two men to be and from that time up to the
present moment nothing has occurred to mar the
good feeling existing between US"
"You will perhaps, remember that the first state
ment made as to any ill-feelIng existing between
Danenhower and yourself was in an interview tee-
graphed by The Herald correspondent to his pa
perp
Yes; that interview was manufactured out OF
whole cloth. This correspondent, whose name was
Jackson. did meet Dancnhower at Yakutsk; but
know nothing of what he described as having oc-
cured there"
plans advancing rhe idea that he persisted in fol-
lowing ou an il-adyiscd project OF his own, when
a different plan of action would perhaps have in
sured the salety Of the entire party. What can
you say Is to this =
- think it wrong to say anything about that.
There Is to be Investigation, and moth
ing should be stated in advance of that.
Nv own opinion is that De Long did everything for
the best. If nc made any mistakes, they were such
as could not have been avoided unless he had been
able to read the future. 90 not believe he made
mistake Had he done differently II Is possible that
no one man Of the expedition would have been left
to tell the talc'
You have also noticed the newspaper criticisms
in regard to your search for DE Long wherein IL IS
claimed that, had you returned a. once, you would
have been III ii isle to rescue them y
Yes but did Immediately prosecute the search
for DE Long; ] went to Bulun To get sup
plies and returned nOrthward to take up
the search thrty-six hours aitcrward. had no in
formation whatever until the 29th day Of October.
Aorus and Nindeumaun left De Long on the 9th OF
October and were twenty days reaching Bulun,
arriving there on the 10Th. When the records OF
DE- Longs party were found, the papers showed
that he had made the last entry ON the 3Oth OF Dc
tobcr These facts show plainly how utterly I'M
possible II was tor me to have rescued them"
What is your opinion as TO Lieutenant Chipp's
boat 2"
Il don't think Chpp's party ever reached the
shore If believed otherwise l would now bc at
the Lena dclta.'