Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-09-18
FROM JOY TO MOURNING.
MELvlLLE'S SADFAMILY AFFLICTION

FkUM JUY IO MOURNlNG.
MELvlLLE's SADFAMILT AFFLICTION.
The Arctic Hero's brilliant Reception at
Home Followed by the Mental De-
raDgement Of His Wife.
Chief Engineer Melville and Lieutenant
Berry spent Saturday in Philadelphia. At
noon they visited Mayor King, accom-.
panied by Navy Pay Director A. w. Rus
sell and Joel Cook, and later visited the
British consulate and various points of
interest about the city. Engineer Melville
proceeded to his home at Sharon Hill last
evening. He was escorted from the Con-
tinental hotel at o'clock to the Broad
street station by committee of residents
Of Sharon Hill, composed of A. G. Bryson,
James A. Bunting, George Gavin, Peter
Clark and George A. Nitzky. The party
was conveyed to Sharon Hill in private
car, where the gentlemen were joined by
Lieutenant Berry, who had been driven
there in the fourth hand drag of Il. X.
JamisOn. The streets were lined with
people, who cheered Justify upon the ap-
pearance of the Artic hero. Across the
avenue leading to his cottage an arch was
erected on which was tho inscription
"WclcOme Home" Engineer Melvillc's
residence was brilliantly illuminated, rs
was also nearly every cottage on the place.
He met his daughters on the threshold of
their house. Tho meeting was very af-
iecting. His wife, whom he had not seen
for three long years, he received privately,
aud no one saw the meeting. MIR. George
Gavin presented him with il letter of well
core from the citizens Of Sharon Hill,
after which he held public reception for
al hour and half.
This morning most distressing culmi-
nation in Melville's triumphal return is
announced. The hero of tho hour had
received the homage of New York and
Philadelphia, and had babe "gOOd
night 1" to brilliant company of invited
guests and neighbors who had welcomed
him to his home, when the terrible discov-
cry was made that the great excitement
consequent upon his return, after three
years absence amid the terrors and dangers
of Arctic exploration, lad been too much
of strain on tho mind Of his wife, and
that she had become deranscd. 1t was an
awful climax to his years of expectation.
The Joy of the fond wife had completely
upset her mental balance.
SIr. Melville went to Darby, to the resi-.
dence of friend and there spent tho
night. Yesterday morning the family
physician, DR.. w. Fisher LOngstrctl, was
sent for, and DIR. Bartleson was called in
as consulting physician. Tho doctors con-
versed for some little time with the lady
aud satisfied themselves as to her condi-
ton. They regard her case as peculiar,
I>,,k .,f
decline to state. To day some steps will
restoration to health. This will probably
take the form of her transfer to the hOspi-
tai. Mrs. Melville has been under u great
mental strain ever since her husband sailed
on the Jeanette
tional account of the affair and publishes
an interview which reporter had with Mrs.
Melville, whom he found in her room in a
pitiable condition. Her hair was dis
heveled and its black folds trailed over
the counterpane and snowy pillows her
face was tear-stained and her eyes rcd and
swollen with constant aud Ion: weeping,
while her hands were clutched couvulSivc-
ly and her breath came thick and
hard. Mrs. Melville in u very cx-
cited manner told the reporter that
her husband had deserted her, and gave
him highly cOlored account OF his actions
ever since his return home, which she
described to have been unaccountably
gruff and unfcaling. She accuses him of
having greeted her with curses and pro
sanity. The whole tenor Of her cOuversl-
ton with tho reporter Indicated her
Eighty mental condition. and in regard to
L., Il. ~ Il
her the explanation is that the
physicians who had been called in deemed
II best for her not to SEQ her husband
while her condition continued SO serious
and he was compelled to remain out of her
presence during all Of yesterday. MeaE-
while several of the nearest neighbOrs of
the family at Sharon Hill were summoned
and took upon themselves for little
while the care of the household. Mrs.
Melville showed 4 continuous desire to
have her three little girls near her, but in
her delir:Ousness would become greatly
excited at the mention of the name of her
husband, and it was ON this account the
physicians advised his remaining for tho
present away from her.
Danenhower and Melville.
WASHINGTON, September 17.-Lieutcn
ant John W. Danenhowcr furnishes the
following card for publication
My attention has been drawn to several
items and comments referring to al alleged
trouble between Chief Engineer George
W. Melville and myself. The latest one is
in the Washington Star Of last evening
copied from a New York paper, and is
the first that takes definite shape, stat
ing under the title. Melville VS.. Dane IL
hower," that if he( Melville had not turned
back from the first search Captain De-
Long and his companions might have been
saved.
Tho above alleged charge has never been
made by Inc. In the first place the facts
would not admit of such a charge, for
when Melville turned back the captains
party had been dead at least fifteen
days.
In the second place would never make
such charge except to the proper official
I have always avoided adj
verse and premature criticisms Of my late
and will simply refer to what l
said when confronted by half score of
journalists on board the Celtic on my ar.
rival at New York, aud as published in
the New York Herald of May 90, 1882,
under tho caption: "A Vindication Of
Melville" This was caused by my learn
ing that he had been hastily and unfairly
criticised previous to my return.
l have made no charge against any one.
My personal relations with Mr.. Melville
have been of a very pleasant character.
N"lvllIo's Leave Of Absence Extended.
Preparations for tho proposed grand 10.
ception at Washington had been completed.
Last night he tclegra phed that, owing to
the serious illuoss Of his wife, he cannot
como lie has been granted indefinite
cave ui absence,