The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-07
DIR. COLLINS, LETTER.
demonstrating with DeLong on
HIS Treatment.

HIS Treatment.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN Dec. 2-The
Tribune's Washington special says
the following is draft OF the letter
written by jerome j. Collins to De-
Long, and which is among the effects
OF Collins in possession of the navy
department. DR.. Collins, of your city,
tried to have it used as testimony in
the pending investigation, but it was
ruled out:
81 return here with the slip on
which you require a number of ther-
mometeIs duly marked.
Permit me to express some surprise
that the occupant of the position OF
meteorologist on this expedition
does not come under the
operation of your strict
rule of official courtesy, respect for
which in all transactions you re-
quested with so much emphasis q
little while ago. The contemptuous
disregard for my personal feelings
as member of the expedition ex-
hibited in several ways and from
time to time by yourself and your
fellow officers, l can afford to pass
as unworthy of notice; but in my Ca
paclty as an employe of Mr.. Bennett,
and a recognized entirely in the Off
cial personnel of the expedition by
honorable secretary of the navy, 1
regard every act OF discourtesy, Off
cial and personal, as an infringement
on my rights, expressed or implied
by the fact of my appointment. AS
new year work is about TO begin, il
is of vital Importance to
me in many ways that /
should understand the position am
to occupy, in relation to that work, to
you and to other gentlemen associa-
led with you. l have been aware
from the commencement taat the
standing you were willing to accord
any civilian appointed to take part
III tie scientific work is that of a
mere accessory, from expressions
you employed to reporter, and in
this way you have endeavored to
give force to the statement that all
the scientific work required would
be done by. officers of the navy. Mr.
Bennett, VIM asked about this, said
you must we been unsupported,
and Mr.. Con1c declared you never
used such Ian mage. On these as
surances l decided to come on the
expedition. fully expecting TO feel at
home with q number of men who
were said to be incapable of
unselfishness and injustice. When
at San Francisco ii was easy for you
to tell me you intended to do thus
and so, regarding the particular
work / was sent to do and which
came under the general head of ply.
sizes. A competent man was ap-
pointed to take charge of the collec-
tion, ETC., of natural history and eth
biological specimens. At the Acade-
my of Science made some rambling
remarks which based on the sup
position was something more than
a mere accessory, and nothing in
your conversation gave me any
grounds for believing otherwise,
although you had ample oppor
tunity to enlighten me, until
the general conversation held
in your rooms at the Palace Hotel,
in the course of which the interview
by reporters came up, and you en-
ington Post interview was accurate
ly reported. In moment ] saw
was in trap-not trap set by you,
tor you did not want anybody but
navy people with you, as yonr acting
plainly showed. 1 hoped for honor
in coming to the Arctic zone, and
also for profitable information. l
volunteered to come, leaving behind
me happy home. volunteered on
what was believed to be an enter
prise full of danger, and herein lies
the big tooth of the trap. could
not under any circumstances, for any
cause, retreat from my post |
without incuring the slur of cow
ardice, which you know would be
only too readily cast on any one
who backed out at the last moment. |
Had you told me the day before we |
sailed that was to live in the fore |
castle and have to do the work of an |
ordinsry seaman instead of being |
treated as a member of the cabin |
mess, L doubt ii l could have gone
back. You had II in your
power 10 heap, or permit to be
heaped, any amount of disrespect
upon me, socially and officially, and
1 am as man with his bands
tied. l cannot retaliate. Three
separate times you have beckoned
me with an exaction of obedience.
If it took every Imam ON the
ship TO enforce it. When laid be-
fore Won the facts Of one or two
oasaa ~, m hsch felt aQQrieved bV
Others, you became at once the apoi-
ogist Of one party and did not wish
TO hear anything about the other.
Latterly fhiDgs haye been going on
miserably. fn.my official capacity 1
an TO infer, by the withdrawal of I
several Instruments from time to
fime. that have either neglected or
a. not Doseces the ability 10 ue4