The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-07-28

The ancient war between the navy line
officers and the engineers or "greasers," -
they are contemptuously called, has broken
out In consequence Of Engineer Melviiles
exploit In search Of belong and party. Mel
Wills consented TO 60 on the Jeannette ex-
petition provided, if he survived and distin-
gulshed himself, be should be promoted 10
be . chief engineer. A chief engineer Is q
least tolerated by the line officers. He ale
ways wears bis uniform, does not put on his
sngine-room blouse, and 10 outwardly treat
Cd q II be were made Of che same clay -
the line officers. Like most women, Mrs.
Melville was very sensitive 70 the Sights put
upon them, and In order that her hus-
band need not tip his hat 70 some
we.k-brained ,striplipg Of lieutenant, and
no longer be called "greaser," she consent
cd to his encouptering the perils Of the polar
voyage. He often used TO say to her: sit
really makes no matter, my dear; any 1901
can be lieutenant, while 1t requires brains
70 be an engineer" But 20 long ~ she had
TO submit to the snibbings Of snobs and to
call on commandeu' wives who were not re-
quired to return her visits, she would not be
comforted. 10 she asscnted TO Melvilles
going aud he went. .g...--os
To the great scandal and consternation Of
navy etiquette almost the first news from the
disaster TO the expedition announced that
Engineer Melville was In command of the
"boatr In which his party was saved. And In
that boat was line officer Lieutenant
Dsnenhower. Melville had been put In
command Of the bost, too, BY belongs ex-
press orders. This wss terrible shock 70
the navy. Had al the ,oficers and crew per
isbed-that would have been bed, u 4 true !;
but 70 have any one saved By : naere "gren-
err was worse. II had never happened be-
fore, and IL xas hard 70 imagine any state "a
things justifyins Il. The ."gresser' belong
ing TO class whose only supposed use 10
ato be thrown overheard during m lemer-
sency," had brought his boat and crew 20
shore. It "a Ell ~ eS.g as.ss,y
To the prejudice Of The slime sgsinst tbe
aeresser, y Ms. Melville attributes Liepten-.
ant Danenhower's neglect aud refussi 70 csll
on her--the wife Of the man who had ssved
his life. 4He could attend oil the balls and
parties given him" she bitterly says, shut he
had not . moment for an interview with the
family OF his bsnefsctor." He telegraphed
whore to call on him at bis hotel, which was
not well. bred, whatever else IL might have
been, and when be found that II was pub
lished, declared that she autographed him IN
invitation to visit her; thus adding IN Insult
TO the injury already offered 70 m engineers
wife.
She also declares that theresolution offered
BY Senator Gorham, Of Maryland, 70 pro-
note and thank Engineer Melville, was
By the influence Of the "iine" suppressed
in the Naval Committee. A year ago Secre-
tary Hunt allowed her TO draw 80 month
! more than u usually permitted engineer
wives while their husbands are sbsent On
duty. She IVES recently informed that Sec
rotary Chandler had ordered the $50 70 Be
returned, but shs does net believe that tho
Secretary knows anything Of the matter, and
believes 1t only part Of the conspiracy on
the part OF the s'line" against her husband.
She very possibly exaggeratss the extent
Of this influence, but the existence Of the
feeling between the ''line" and the ''greas-
en-" u notorious, and Engineer Melvillss
presumpeion In. being brave, pincky and
sturdy, u an onsnse nat easily overlooked.