The Evening critic., 1882-11-11
MELVILLE CONTINUES
His story of the Retreat from the
JpNnnefte.


The antc.room Of the investigating Board
was crowded to-day. An Increased number OF
ladies woro on hand, seeking admission. En-.
gineer Melville arrived as usual. but the board
was not prepared for him until after IL O'Clock.
Resumlng at tho point whore he left off yes
terday Engineer Melville said that tho weather
was pretty cold, and, as tho young leo began
TO form agein, IL was necessary 70 Increase tho
number OF men at the oars. Up 10 this time
no ono had suffered particularly
No One Complained.
The witness dwelt for somo timo on tho
matter OF the footgear OF the mon, saying that
the three pairs OF moccasins assigned them at
the sinrt would have been amply sufficient,
had the subsequent weather boen dry aud
clear. After MIR. Chipp took charge Of the
working party witness n & took charge charge OF tho tho
In the custody OF DR.. Amber. The noating
Ice often separated the boats, and II was not
an infroquent occurrence that the crew OF ono
boat would havo to haul the other over the fee
TO open water.
Mr. Melville next gave q description OF the
manner IN which tho food was distributed at
that point OF the journey. lie said they were
then progressing quito rapidly. On tho day on
which they expected TO sight the Siberian
Islands there was agroat deal o. open water
and strong wind. During tho dinner hour OF
that day Chipp's boat fell q long way astern,
and the whirllng leo closed In on him. Tho
other members OF the party, after about an
hours interval, returned over the Ice
To Assist Chipp.
This was dono on belongs order. After
some time they sighted Chlpp's party, but be-.
fore they reached them Chipp launched his
boat again, having patched It whore It had
been stove In. The voyage was subsequently
resumed and the Siberian Islands were
sighted, but as the sea was heavy progress
and Mr.. Chipp suggested that the slodgos bo
thrown overheard TO llghton the burden Of tho
bonts.
That night in camp they were ordered to
cut Up Their SIedgcs For Fuel,
l., gNTa e.. t1.na al, mol rl.N
Ing the leo was moro compact. The land thon
was in plain sight not moro than ten miles
distant The Captain said 1t was Thadiousty
Island.
After leaving the new Siberian Islands prog.
ross was slow, owing to the pllng up OF the
ice pack, and all hands were instructed to look
out for openings, 80 that they could proceed.
When the Ice broke up De Long sent for wit.
ness and Chipp and consulted with them as to
going forward. Witness told Dc Long that no
did not think II possible to proceed In safety.
Dc Long Wanted to Reach the Lena
River,
but witness objected because no believed that
such landing would ruin the boats. Do
Long did not press his Intention. Seaman
starr was also consulted ON the subject merely,
however, as n translator OF tho map they had
which was printed in German and related to
the locality In which they then were. Captain
De Long took the chart after 1t had been trans.
lated and picked out the points along which
their course should be.
recess was then taken.
After Recess.
The witness, after recess, said that thoro
was no difference of opinion during the con.
sultation with De Long as to their future
course. After they set out again De Long was
pleased with their navigation. They ran
along the southern coast of Thadeousky
Island in search OF II suitable place to land
After several ineffectual attempts they sue
ceeded.
Tho next morning they set out for Koteluoi
the nearest point. The water being shonl
they progressed slowly. They were engaged
working over the shoals all night, and toward
morning the second cutter separated from
them, hut the boats rejoined each other about
breakfast time. The second cutter worked
badly again after they set out, and was lost
sight OF about 8 o'clock that afternoon.
The floating Ice hemmed the boats In. and
the party went Into camp again. Captain Dc
Long
MOisted Black Flag
| at the masthead OF his boat to attract tho at
tention OF Chipp, and n regular lookout fol
the latter and party In the second cutter was
kept. On the second or third day the man or
The boat contained Chipp and Seaman Coonoy
Chipp gave the witness
Graphic Description OF His Expert
ences.
| The day after Chipp's arrival, De Long ordered
an advance over the pack to the second cutter
| This was a very difficult feat, owing TO tn,
| rough ice. on this trip De Long fell over
| board and became wet to the skin. He was
| hauled in ty his boats crew. They then SO
| out for tho Island OF Koteluol and campet
| there that night.
AT this point the court adjourned until
Monday.