Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-09

AZ first he was merely reminded by me Of his
failure to obey my order, and requested TO
be more careful in future; then his con-
mented on, and he was made to under
stand that obedience would be enforced: and,
| for thus repeatedly evading and disregarding nv
order, upon which he became both impertinent
and disrespectful, saying that he took more exer
else than any other person in the ship; that he had
| his own opinion about the wisdom or necessity OF
my order, and that spoke to him as would not
stead Of explaining Offering excuses for his con-
duct, expressing his contempt for my regulations,
and attempting to arraign me for enforcing them.
In the second winter, Mr.. Collins again showed an
evasion OF and failure to comply with the order I'm
relation thereto by consuming so much time in the
cabin to make and record the noon meteorolcgi-
cal observations as to considerably shorten ais
exposure to the open air and daylight during the
on the Sd Of December, 1850 1850 ph he $50 50
lar diso6eyed my order as to remain In the cabin
until 12:2 p m. and meanwhile to light and smoke
versaton with an oficer On the sick list then pres
PLANTATION Mr.. Collins attempted to parry my
Questions but falling in this assumed disrespect-
ful and insupordinate manner, and used disre-
spectful and fnsubordinate language, saying that
ne did not know his minutes were counted for
MIN; that he was not aware it was necessary TO
tice; that had no right to talk to him as did:
Ghat ne would not admit my assertions; that he
finally, when repeatedly told n' him he a aa
disobeyed my order he positively aud as repeatedly
e CON "a me- saying ~ have not and when
not So" called hts attention to the fact that
must be treated with respect, both as to language
and department. and that he failed In both par
ticulars; but he replied that "he treated me with
all the respect due me, and acknowledged only
such rights as were conferred on me by naval regu-
lat1onS But that had no right to charge him
with evadng or disooeytng an order, and when
did so charge him he would continue to say It is
not So" asked him II he was beside himself and
had lost his senses TO thus continue to contradict
me, but he assured me that he was perfectly calm
and knew what he was about
Upon this informed him that he would be re-
ported to you upon our return to the United States
or upon reaching some point Of communication,
more duty in the ship. l would state that many
allowances have been made for this gentlemen'S
seeming ignorance of the requirements Of naval
discipline, and great consideration and forbear-
ance have been shown him by me In view OF his
| position on board ship. He has been Informed OF
his errors and demonstrated with On their repeti-
ton, but all to no purpose. He has manifested
unwillfngnesS to be directed controlled and has
| resented such action so disrespectfully and i'm
pertinently as to make ignorance doubly 1neXcus-
| able. He has been treated with consideration
due to the commissioned officers, and has been
subjected to such regulations as govern them.
| But he complained at having to obtain my per-
mission to leave the ship as restriction upon the
toned to and could not bear; and that In carrying
out what he came here to perform, such restric-
ton was very Objectionable. When, in order to
| provide for a continuance OF good health and to
secure perfect sanitary condition In our eXcep-
| tionaly trying circumstances, 1 ordered the sur
| geon to make each month such physical examina-
ton OF officers anc men, myself included, would
enable him to report TO me in writing their condt-
ton, Mr. Collins protested against being examined
| claiming that he would decide for himself when
| he wanted medical treatment, and that meanwhile
he did not propose to submit his person TO expert
mentS or to contribute to medical Statistics though
upon his error being pointed out he asked and was
permitted to withdraw his letter of protest. assert
| Ing afterward that had announced that these
examinations were for experimental purposes
This gentleman seemed to assume that regula-
lions were made and orders issued to give him per-
sonal annoyance and discomfort; and that his
upon the muster rolls as a seaman, and his re-
marks In connection Herewith were usually ex-
tremely offensive ut may be unnecessary, but
would here state that this gentleman was
never spoken OF or referred to in
with me in the cabin, as did the officers OF the
navy; that he had a room assigned him in the
ward room, and that in every manner he received
from the crew the respect paid to an officeT. He
complained that he was not considered head OF a
department., and. until corrected. added the title
Of scientific observer" to the name meteorologst,
by which he was known and designated: aSSum-
Ing generally such an independence OF authority
and control could not be tolerated in any vessel
belonging to the navy OF the United States.
Situated as we were, drifting about in the ice,
and liable at any moment to disaster, involving
| for this gentlemans orenses, was neither prudent
nor advisable. Any adequate punishment,
whether inflicted by my order, or in pursuance of
the sentence of a summary court martial, would
have necessitated confinement Of greater or less
duration. which would have been detrimental,
seriously to health. 1 had already sufficient
anxiety and difficulty In contemplating
the possible dragging OF one officer in a
sled several hundred miles, the doubt OF several
others peing strong enough to stand the exposure,
and the 1mminence Of danger and disaster ex-
tending then over fifteen months, and was not
inclined to further add to the invalid list and fur
ther diminish my already crippled resources So
long as no overt act OF violent INSTRUMENTATION
presented itself my only remedy seemed to re-
port the facts upon my return to the United States
and to ask that they receive such attention as to
you appears right and proper. Very respectfully,
GEORGE W. DE LONG,
Lieutenant N, commanding.
The foregoing is rough draft Of report to be
made by me upon my return to the United States.
In the event OF any accident to me desire this
paper as 1t IS shall be forwarded to the Navy De-
partment
GEORGE ". DE LONG.