New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-15
ON THE SIBERIAN COAST.
sUFFERINGs OF THE JEANETTE sURvlv-
ORS.
FURTHER TESTIMONY BY ENGINEER MELVILLE BE-
FORE THE COURT OF IYQCIRY.


sumed his narrative before the Jeanette Board OF In
qiry this morning. and detailed the efforts OF the party
reach civilization after their first Intellectual effort 10
induce the natives TO pilot them 10 Buun. Pushing ont
from the landing where they first met the natives they
worked up the bay all day, but toward night found
further progress impossible except the eastward.
which they deemed clearly out OF their course. The
weather became very cold and disegreeable with high
wind snow and hail The tent poles driven down
into the mud and the boat was made fast. All hands
passed terrible night and suffered greatly from cold
and frOstbite The next day they started back the
hats at Cape Balkia. About 1 p m. they reached
point near they supposed the huts were and dis
embarking built FIRE and had tea. Early In the
ing the huts were reached and four natives who
found assisted in getting the gear mp to the huts
One OF the natives started out 10 find the head man u
the village The natives furnished fish and yenlson for
supper The next morning the head man OF the village
was nadeo understand that the party wished TO
Buun. He finally consented to pilot them and the
party started out heading south and east On the
second night deserted huis were reached In which
the party camped. The pilot explained that owing
shoal water he could not take them directly to the VII
lage which he desired to reach.
On the 25th September they arrived at the village OF
ArTii where the pilot announced that he WAS unable
owing TO his condition to 20 further The head man OK
the village, however detailed young native TO con-
duct them to the Village Of Jamayaloeh where they
the rst inhabited village the party mad seen II was
taiIs bordering the Lena River proper.
The majority OF the party were 80 badly frostotten
do any work whatever The natives assisted the men
up to the huts and helped unload the boat. The
witness drawn "a dOg-sled about seventy-hye
yards up the hut Of the head man. After good meal
of boiled goose all went TO sleep. AT 10 o'clock they
awakened and given supper OF nsh after when
they slept until morning. The next day IL sOrming
and the heal said he could not start for Bulun that
the witness explained 10 the natives that he must depend
upon them for provisions About 10 a m. It cleared.
and after start was made Passing around the
cape they entered the Lena River proper about m,
the wind having in the meantime freshened- The
boat grounded and 1T seemed impossible TO round point
and keep up with the canoes There good deal OK
young fee and the natives were fearful lest the boat
should be frozen In knowing that the boats in
their exhausted condition could not make march
the ice The guides refused to go further and the
whole party returned to the village. AT this tine Il was
extremely cold and the wind was blowing very hard.
The witness and Two or three Others were hauled on
dog sled up TO the huts agan This was on september
~ 1881. The boat drawn up on the bank and the
witness told Mr. Danenhower TO see that the boat was
not broken up or injured in any way
The Judge Advocate then proposed series OF ques-
Q-Whst II you know, was the particular overt act
for which Mr. Collins In March, 1850. was AS you say
suspended from dutyl A-Of my own knowledge 10
not know pot present in the cabin at the time.
started the retreat and generally during the march,
aud when, II at any time dd they show any desp9Rd-
sard on the retreat ana during the march They were
thoughtful during the ten days camp, and drew
closer to each other In serious discussion OF their
prospects Of reaching land and safety = ..,,
the ships company during the rereatl Ayes. sir,
with the exception of those on the sick list or suspended
Q-Wa; Mr. Collins fully able work at the time when
he was suspended from dutyi Al think he was.
Q-How much out Of the set course was Bennett
Island when the party headed for III Al can't state
certainly. 1t was something out Of our course as va
had to head more to the westward to reach IT,
Q-Can you state about how muchl A-Possibly
piOnt of the compass.
oWas the delay at Bennett Island necessary for the
repair OF the boats and the recupeaon OF the men and
no longer than requisite for these purpOsesl AThe
in very good condition at the time, but tho
rest undoubtedly good for them don't think the
boats could have been repaired 70 the same advantage
ON the upon the island. The delay was no longer
than necessary 10 make the repairs and effect the
Q-Were there any unnecessary delays the retreat
either before after the separation OF the boats
A-NO / do not believe there were.
QD the boats selected for the rereat prove to be the
best possible IN respect OF their seworthess lneIg
for carrying their and equipmentsl Ayes sir
e11on ~ these three boats FOR t6Tty-three people
the best that could have been made and beieye
had selected three boats awkward 10 handle on tho
| ice the whseboat, We would never have gotten
Q-What, If you know, the controversy between
Mr.. Danenhower aud Mr.. Neweomb which resulted Ia
the suspension Of the latter from duty at at BenhetS
o-What arrangements If any, were made for COM
municating between the boats by signali A-None
whatever that know Of
on the 18th of Septembcr AIR Chipp the 10Th OF
September probably had day or two less provisions
Questions propOnnded by the Court, in reply 70
which witness said Before the ship was crushed 1t
very well known To the senior officers that IN
the ship was crushed the course was TO be ad TO the
New 92 PER- 2b ensna me bpg r mer
and myself After we had marched some time and Cap
tain De Long found had drfted far 20 the north
west told he deemed best to the moving
OF ice al right angles to the westward Our con-
versatOn for weeks before the ship was lost was In
reference TO our retreat up the Lena River For this
am sure II was intended that our course should
be to the Lena River by way OF the New Siberian
Islands, then up the Lena River through Russia and
home"
Tne witness believed the loads light in each
boat they could safely be made and less provisions
had been taken he DOUBTED II they could have pulled
through. 20 far as anyone knew, open water was
reached rapidly as possible. Signs OF open water
were seen To the eastward, out thht was out OF tne
course and whether not IL open water could
only be determined by going there.
In reply 10 an inquiry whether the ten DAYS ueiay
the the New Siberian Islands could have been
avoided the witness sad The delay Of ten days at tho
Ten Day Camp coud not have been avoided. Tho
previous destruction OF the slcds had nothing 10 do
with IT, The ice vas in such confused and broken
mass that could not have been dragged
The witness was asked il when he first the second
cutter she appeared be overloaded, and replied that
either of the other boats, and hOated lighter On the
march she had always been considered the tvorte
boat The witness believed Mr. Collins had not been
restored to duty when the retreat over the ice began He
asked il 1t would have been advantage to have
had the services in dragging the boats OF those who
were under suspension and Iephed Without doubt we
required all the working force We could get and could
we nave had the .ervlces OK those VINO Vet sSpehueu
it would have ighened the abors OF those who were
doing the work.
Q1IIow long did Mr. Collins remain under saspen-
sion 7 A-FrOm the time OF his suspension While IN
board the ship until We separated on the night oil sep
TENDER y, 1881
September II. 1851, tO September "a, leSll A-From
September II. 1851. TIL September ~ ISL leutenaht
DanenhOwer able perform some duty not all duty
such would be required OF an ohcer ia either Ut our
Odd Lieutenant Danenhower AZ any time during
this interval say that he able 10 do duty and ask 10
be permitted 10 take command A-AO, ne did not
The Court at E3Op H. adjourned I'll ~: 80 a. H. To-
morrow.
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