National Republican., 1882-12-16
THE JEANNErrE INQUIRY.
A Question as TO whether DNnenhower @
Melville Commanded the Boat Expcd

A Question as TO whether DNnenhower or
Melville Commanded the Boat Expcdi-
tion.
The Jeannette board met yesterday morn
ing, and the judge advocate announced that
the court had decided to admit Lieut.. Vain
wright to represent Lieut. Danenhower in
asking the questions, in accordance with the
letter submitted yesterday. The questions
were propounded by the judge advocate. In
substance the witness replied that during the
gale of September - Melville sat first in the
bow and then the stern of the boat Danen-
hover sat in the stern and shaped the course
of the boat, apd witness thought that the lat
ter was in charge. In going up the Lena
river Dancnhower and one or two seamen
took turns at the tillcr. Those who seemed
to suffer most were Melville, Leach, Bartlett,
and Lauterbach. He did not remember that
September 20 Danenhower told Melville to
take charge during his sickness. In answer
to a question witness said Lieut.. Danenhowcr
was commander of the expedition.
@. By Judge advocate. Did Captain Dc Long
perform the duties of steering the ship, furl
and loose the sail in person, or did he dele
gate the performance of these duties to the
proper persons2
The room was here cleared for consulta-
ton. When the doors were opened the presi-
utnb hIhlcu IuNb Iut VuthIlOn WIS unutOth-
sary, and would not be put. The judge adj
vocate stated that he did not desire to further
examine the witness.
Q. BY the court. Did Melville steer the
boat himself before Mr.. Danenhower took the
helm, or did one Of the seamen steer before
that timer
The Judge advocate objected and the room
was cleared. The objection was not sustained.
A. Mr.. Melville may have taken the helm
for a brief period, but the duty was mostly
! performed by seaman.
Q. Did you understand that Melville gave
the command ofthe boat to Danenhower dur
ing tho gale of September 12, or did he
simply make use of Mr.. Danenhower's pro-
fessional ability PA. / should say he made
use of Danenhower's professional ability.
Q. Did Melville ever turn over the COM
mand of the whale boat to Lieut.. Danenhow-
er "A, In my Judgment, during the last
night of the gale Mr. Danenhower was in
command; but did not hear Melville give
the command of the boat to Mr.. Danenhower
at any time.
Q. Did Melville or Danenhower announce
to the party that Danenhower was in com
mandP-A. If remember correctly during
the confinement of Melville at the hut Mr.
Danenhower was in command; my impress
| sions are that Melville announced the fact at
the time.
Q. Was that the only occasion on which it
was announced?-A. The only one of which
l have any recollection. Lieut.. wainwright
made the following statement: All that Mr.
Danenhower claims is that his former testi-
mony was correct, and he wishes to verify it
by this witness. Mr.. Danenhower does not
claim that he was in command of the party,
excepting upon two occasions and that his
services then were ignored by Mr.. Melville in
his testimony before the court.
The room was again cleared for consulta-
ti0n. When the doors were opened Lieut..
wainwright said he had no further questions to
ask the witness, and it was stated that the
examination of Mr.. Newcomb was concluded
The court then took a recess for half an hour.
When the court reconvened at $780, Tong
Sing, the Chinese steward who returned with
Lieut.. Danenhower, was examined. He was
asked If he had any charge to lay or COM
mendation to offer concerning any officer or
man of the expedition as regards the condi-
tion of the vessel, her management, the
wreck, the provisions, and the efforts for the
relief of the men, &c. He stated, in reply,
that everybody treated him well. Captain
De Long had three Cinnamon on board, and
one of them (the cabin boy) was sent back to
San Francisco and witness was promised
double wages as steward and cabin boy
When he got back he got only stewards
wages, and not the wages for acting as cabin
boy. He was then examined in behalf of Mr.
Collins, and was asked if he knew of any
trouble between Mr.. Melville and Collins. Mr.
Collins didn't like Capt. De Long or Melville
either. The judge advocate did not desire to
examine witness any further. The court then
adjourned to meet again at 1890 this morn
ing, when it is expected that Seaman Will
son, of the Jeanette crew, will be examined
1t will be remembered that Wilson was left
behind the search party on account of illness
His return to New York was announced to
the Navy department this morning, and orders
were sent for him to proceed here.