National Republican., 1882-12-14
NOROS TELLS HIS STORY.
Ho Corroborates the Statements Made by
Seaman Nindemann.
The Graves Of De Long, Amber, and
Collins Visited and Sketched.
The Inquiry Thorough and OOmplete--Another
Session To-Day.
CoIIins's Treatment Shown TO Have Been
the Same as Any Officer.

nette board yesterday morning, and testified
that he Joined the Jeanette on the 1st of
June, 1879, at San Francisco, and his duties
were those of seaman
@. Have you any statement to-day before
the court as to the fitting of the Jeanette
and her condition. the management the loss,
as to the provisions of the several boats
crews when the wreck was left, or the efforts
of the officers for the safety of the men or the
relief Of the crews "A. No, sir.
In answer to question regarding his move
nents after meeting with Melville, he said
that on the Sd of November Melville arrived
at Belun on the 2sth they made preparations
to go to Yakutsk, arriving about the Goth of
December.
Witness went with Danenhower's party
to Irkutsk, remaining there until jack
son and Larson arrived. Larson was the
artist of the Illustrated London Ners
and Jackson the Herald correspondent
At the request of jackson, witness consented
to go north, as he did not wish to return home
until the others were found. AT the request
of Mr.. Bennett the secretary of the navy
allowed him to go with Mr.. Jackson. They
arrived at Yakutsk about the 2Sth of March,
1852, remaining there four days About
two days after leaving Yakutsk they met
courier with the
NEWS OF THE LOSS OF THE RODGERS.
Verkerausk was reached about the Sth of
April and there they learned of the finding
Of the bodies. At Jemerealoch they met
the search party. They procured dogIteams
there and travelled day and night, sleeping in
the sleds until they reached the place where
the people were found. They remained
little while, Larson taking a sketch OF the
place. They went to Matrei and from there
visited the graves. They then started on the
homeward trip, stopping at Bulcour on the
way to Belun. On account of storm they
were compelled to stop when within twenty
versts of Belun They arrived at the latter
place about the 1st of May. The snow was
melting very fast, and they had difficulty in
getting deer enough to carry them to the
next station. On the way they killed two or
three deer as they were not tas strongi in warm
weather as in cold. When within fifty versts
of Verlzerausk horses were procured. While
at Verkerausk they learned that Capt Berry,
Ensign Hunt and others were day and
half ahead of them, and they succeeded in
catching up with them. In the mountains
they met Melville and party, who were snow
bound. July they arrived at 1rkutsk, when
witness was put
UNDER THE COMMAND OF MELVILLE.
In answed to question as to the object of
the visit to the graves, he replied that he did
not know the object of going, but when they
got there Larson wanted to sketch the place,
and then the bodies.
Jackson took all responsibility. The south
end of the tomb was opened, and De Long,
Amber, and Collins were taken out and
sketched. Jackson searched through the
clothes of Collins and fround the bronze cross.
He said he thought his people would like to
have it, and took it off. The bodies were
placed in the tomb the same way they were
before they were removed.
Ir,o tn n nnn there
no books or papers found at the place where
the bodies were found, and no books or pa
pers were found on the bodies when removed,
as far as he knew. A half dollar was found
in Ambler's pocket. The tomb was not quite
as strong after the bodies were removed as 1t
was before.
@. Have you any charge to lay or commen-
aation to offer concerning any officer or man
of the Jeanette as to the condition OF the
vessel, her management, her loss, the proVls-
ions and plans on leaving the wreck, the ell
forts made for the relief of the crews and the
merits of the officers and men?"-A. No, sir;
they all did their duty, as far as know
they did everything that men could do.
The judge advocate then cross-examined
the witness in behalf of j. j. Collins.
@. Had you any conversation with Mr.. Col
Inns before you and Nindemann left Capt.
De Longs party PA. / had no conversation
with him. Before we started all shook us by
the hand, and when Mr.. Collins came up he
said, "Good-by, Noros, remember me when
you get to New York"
@. Did you hear Mr.. Collins request De
Long to go with you "A. No, sir.
@. Did he claim the right to go?-A. Not
that l know of.
Q. Did Mr.. Melville refuse to allow you to
return in search of the party?-A. When
he met us at Belun he was making
preparations to go north. / volunteered to go
with him, if he would get sufficient clothing
for me to wear. He said, "No, Noros,; it
would take too many dogs" That was all he
said.
@. Is 1t fact that during the retreat that
Capt. De Long would order u start at n. m.
and would then remain in his tent until 2
o'clock in the afternoon, when not sick?-A.
No, sir; it is not fact.
Q. What was Mr.. Collins's physical condi-
hon as compared with the rest of the party,
when you left them PA. "As far as / know
1t was about the same"
Q. Have you stated since your return that
Mr.. Collins, Amber and Alexy were the
strongest of the party, and Collins was ns well
able to get through as you. were p Before
the question was answered the room was
cleared. When the doors were opened wit
ness answered:
"No, sir, did not say that; but said that
thought some of the people might have got
ten through as well as | did" The judge ad-
vocate said he did not desire to further cross
SAdihiuo tHe WltlesSj anu uuVSlloho "SiS
asked by the court.
Q. Could Mr.. jackson or Larson have found
any papers without you knowing it?-A.
don't think they could.
Q. How was the tomb less secure after the
visit of Mr.. Jackson "A. They had to cut one
of the cross pieces to get the plank of the box,
so it was not so secure afterward. The cross
piece was a frame to the pyramid.
Q. How was Mr.. Collins treated by the COM
manding and other otiicers?-A. never saw
him treated any other way than as an officer
of the vessel. Witness did not know how Mr.
Collins treated the officers tho crew always
treated Collins as an officer and he treated the
crew as any other officer of the expedition.
q. Have you any personal knowledge OF any
difficulty between Mr.. Collins and any otii-
ceri-A. No, sir; have not.
Q. Was there any unnecessary delay during
the retreat "A. None that know of.
Q. When Melville declined to take you with
him in the search, were you not i'll with dys-
intery?-A Yes, sir.
The court here adjourned until 1880 to-
day, when Mr.. Newcomb will be examined.
Hope for Claimants.
The senate committee on claims briefly and
favorable considered the Rowman hill which