Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-11-04
DE LONGS FATE.

Was He the Victim of the Jealousy of II
Associates ?-An interview Wi N Err
Collins, the Brother of the Lost Herald"
Corse.pendent-Some Damaging state
ments-Melville and Davenhower Refuse
to Reply.
Minneapolis Tribune.
A reporter yesterday called upon DR.. D.
F. Collins in reference to the investigation
now going on in Washington as to the loss
of the Jeanette. In answer to questions
his statement wgs substantially as follows:
''We have evidence said he, ''that Capt.
De Long used his official position as COM
mander of the expedition to persecnte in
every conceivable way some of the mem
bers OF the commission. My brother, who
was the scientist of the party, was placed
under arrest for no reason whatever. This
Lieut.. Danenhower admitted to me when I
saw him in New York. Capt. De Long re-
fused to allow my brother at certain times
to do any kind of work, and purposely
allowed all the notes, photographs and
records Of the expedition prepared by my
brother, to sink. We have evidence that
the captain
FORCED HIM To REMAIN
behind when ne volunteered to go ahead
with Ninderman and Noros in search of
RELIEF. my brother being in the best con
dition Of any member of the party to do
so. The evidence already adduced in the
investigation has proved that the ship was
not fitted for such work of exploration.
Tho statement that made some time ago
to tie effect that large quantities of the
food furnished the expedition was unfit for
consumption has been borne out by Dan
enhower's testimony, in which he says that
a good deal of the canned food had to be
thrown overheard.
"in the early part of the investigation
no attempt was made to notify the re la
tives Or friends of the explorers. The in
quiry simply went ahead under the in
structions of the secretary of the navy.
When found that out I wrote letter to
Gen. Washburn who introduced the first
resolution in congress calling for an inves-
tigation. My letter protested against the
way The hearing was being carried on and
demanded an opportunity to put in any ev
ldence Or question we might wish, to get
at the facts. Mr.. Washburn wrote Secrs-
tary Chandler and Endorsed my letter to
him. Mr.. Chandler referred the letter to
the court OF investigation and Tie judge,
Master Lendy, q. S. N, wrote me very
kind note stating that he would De glad to
receive any evidence desired to put in.
''There is evidence that Bartlett, who is
now n Siberia, one of the seamen, is in
possession of valuable facts, but he has
been
KEPT IN SIBERIA
tha5 his testimony may not get before the
board. We claim that this investigation
81 ould not be closed until every surviving
member of theiexpedition shall have been
examined under oath as to what he knows
about 1t. We are also in possession of full
information that on Melville finding the
bodies of the De Long party, he used the
most infamous and scandalous language
concerning my brothers body. We also
have reason for believing that the reports
made by Melville as TO the condition of the
weather. which he alleged prevented him
from going to the relief of the De Long
party, were false, for the dates on which he
declared the weather was bad are shown to
hava been good by the records.
Il have sent Master Lendy's letter to
New York, and have had prepared care
III list CT questions to be put to those who
come up before the board. If these ques-
tons are answered honestly by the sur
V1vors, it will give US some facts that have
not yet been brought out. If an attempt
is put forth to make the investigation par
tIal and leave any witnesses out, or close
its sessions before all the survivors have
boon examined, we shall be compelled to
PUBLISH IN PAMPHLET
form all the evidence we possess in rela-
ton to the private history of the mem
bers of the expedition and their conduct
while with the Jeanette. This ;pam
phlet we shall place on the desk
of every member of congress
during the next session, and demand a
congressional investigation. Danenhower
told me, when 1 saw him in New York, that
Capt. belong was suffering from insom-
MIA, and his mind was not right. Concern
ing my brothers arrest, the fact is simply
this il nutshell-DeLOng was no scient-
list. He wanted to get at the scientific re-
ports for his own purposes, and nay broth
or refused to give them up. Then the cap
tain used his power, which was absolute,to
prosecute my brother.
Melville says in his dispatch to the sec.
rotary of the navy, 4 found the bodies of
DeLong and his party We know this to
be untrue, for it was Ninderman who found
them while Melville was at another part of
the Lena Delta. 1 said minute ago that
JEALOUSY EXISTED BETWEEN
certain officers of the expedition. indie
pendently of my brothers case this ives so.
Danenhower's testimony goes to show that
he was kept on the sick list and deprived
of his legitimate position long after his
eyes were comparatively we'll and he was
fit for duty. On one occasion at a consul
tation of officers he was left out.
$50 far as we are able to find out the
hrst trouble on the ship was concerning an
order that was issued to the effect that all
the men should undergo a physical exam
ination monthly. Among others my brother
refused to be examined below the waist, it
being intensely cold at the time. When
the ship went down Danenhowe- was not
permitted to assist in the work of retreat
ing. Ny brother was rot allowed to carry
GIN until he reached Bennett island. We