Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-11
THE LOST JEANETTE.
Melville on the Stand.


WASHINGTON, November 10.-The monot-
ony OF the repetition Of the oft told stories
OF the Jeanette investigation was to-day
broken by Engineer Melville, who described
something OF the dissensions among the
unfortunate men, which have heretofore
been vaguely alluded to. Lieut.. Dsnen-
hover has testified that he advised Captain
DE Long against attempting to reach the
mouth OF Lena river, when their ship was
broken up, but rather to make for the near
est point on the Siberian coast and follow
1t toward Behring's Strait. Melville testi-
fed that he also advised against attempting
the )urney TO the Lena river, and in favor
OF the river 1ana, far westward of tbs point
chosen by De Long.
o-daY, In his account of the Journey over
the Ice by the wrecked party, Melville said
that after some days Captain De Long
directed Mr.. Collins, the scientist, and
Herald correspondent, not to do any more
work. Owing to q conversation between De
Long and Collins, in regard to disobedience
OF orders on the part OF Collins the Captain
relieved him from duty, but did not put him
under arrest. He was free to come and go
as ne pleased, simply getting permission
from the Captain or executive officer.
Witness did not know the reason
why Collins was directed at this time not to
do any duty. Collins spoke to witness about
1t at the time and said he had been directed
not to perform anV further duty The Cap
tain had previously spoken to witness about
II, and had charged him not to permit
Collins to DO any more duty. Up to
this time Collins had been working
with the road party. At this time Chipp
completely broke down aud the Captain
ordered him to get on sled and be carried
The poor fellow, said witness, turned over
on his face and cried out: "It is all over:
you had better leave me behind" De Long
said: "No man shall be left behind while
another man lives to haul him" Soon after
this Chipp began to get better rapidly,
and again took charge OF the
working party. After describing
the discovery of Bennett Island aud their
stay thereon, Melville continued: About
August Oh the party left the island with
the boat. Previous to starting Cap ain De
Long called witness and told him to take
charge Of the whaleboat, and gave him
written orders to that effect. The original
order Of Captain De Long was put In evI.
dence and read.
Witness described the difficulty ex-
perienced In getting the boats through and
over the loose ice surrounding the islands.
Captain De Long had designated who should
go Ia each boat as they embarked In the open
water. Witness had the tiller in the whale
boat, Dannenhower held the sheet and
Newcomb worked the sail. Seeing that the
first cutter, Chipp's boat, was beating them
In working to the windwsrd, witness told
Dannenhower to take the tiller and New
comb the sheet, while he (wituess) worked
the sail; being stronger, he could do so
more quickly than NeWcomb. Under this
arrangement the whale boat soon beat the
cutter.
Witness remarked: should, perhaps, at
this point say that before leaving the island
some controversy took place between Dau-
enhower and Newcomb, and the latter was
suspended from duty by the Captain ss we
were about embarking. Seeing that New
comb was detailed to 20 in my boat l asked
the Captain what was Newcomb's status.
He replied that he was under suspension,
but that would not prevent him from rem
dering you whatever assistance you may
require in working the boat. When we
landed on the ice to camp for the
night Captain De- Long asked me II Danen-
hover had assumed to take command, or
why had permitted him to take the tiller.
told him the reason that | did not want
I'd be beaten by the first cutter had made
the arrangement. He said 'All right; but
you must remember do not want Danen-
hover 20 do any duty while he Is on the sick
list l told DanenboWer about it, He
said he was able and desired to do his duty
l said those are the Captains orders, and If
you do not like the arrangements I will ask
the Captain to allow you to go in another
boat. He said no, that he would rather be
In my boat than any other; replied: We
have always been good friends, and trust
we always will be. I shall be very careful
not to say or do anything which could
wound the feelings OF a commissioned
officer. He expressed himself satisfied.