The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-11-08
Melville's account Of his efforts to save

] y,o, "o 'Soi"fSA
Melville's account Of his efforts to save
belong and party is very interesting. The
idea that Melville neglected any opportun.
lty to find the starving party is preposter.
ous. Melville and belong were always On
The most intimate terms and the former
lost no time in reaching the place indicated
by Ninderman and Noros in the hope OF
finding the tarty alive. When the crew
left the Jcannette Captain Del.oug gave
! Melville command Of the boat in which
were Danenhower and others OF the suryi.
yors Of the expedition. Al. rG-1,
Danenhower, being line officer. was
inclined to demur 10 this arrangement,
masmuch as Melville WIS oulylu staff
officer, but the latter replied, "The only
power in the Arctic Ocean appointed me
to take Charge Of this party, and | propose
to exercise the authority conferred uton
me by that appointment, and you must he
satisfied" 49,, :
Aleiviile's party landed near the mouth
Of the river which flowed into the scenes
Of 50 much suffering. Following up the
banks OF the stream n camp OF natives Vas
encountered. Melville could not make
them understand that he wanted relief for
others Of the shipwrOckci. crew, and
there were no persons in the purity who
could converse with tho straure inlal.
!taNts. Melville made signs to them that
he was searching for the lost party, but tho
natives thought he wanted to know he
way to the nearest village, hut they
refused to assist him in his, search
because he had neither; money nor any-
thing else OF value with which TO reward
Them. Melville grew desperate and forced
them to 80 With him. At the village, they
found a native who could speak Russian,
and he was made to believe that the white
men were people Of great distinction,
princes NnL kings, etc., whCreupon se,l.es
end guides were quickly supplied, Writ.
ten directions how 10 find Del .ong's party,
prepared by the Captain himself and, LEFT
ny NiAlerman aud. Noros, were found nj
different points along the route truversed
by the latter. The last one stated that Do
Long would 80 down to tho west aide Of
the river, and Melville pVehe,i down. on
that side as lust "a he could, but tho M.
tives grew tiye.i and refused to 10 farther
them to 80 on with him. A number oi,the
searching party. got sick and DELAY
was caused in caring for them, andto this
was added another difficulty. A severe
Storm set In and for long time the tricks
lett ~ the snow by belongs party could
not be iouull, but on reachinp tie rron u ~
dead heroes It was learned ,hat Ell IN ha ~
died before Ninderm:n md Noros c~c 1
reached Melville TO inform him wher, M
party were. belong instcad If taen; ;u
on the west side OF The river srrosscd p rrn'
10 the east side. Had lie nj dono on ~ ~
might hayo been saved for ;ust nr;or ~ NJ i,o
dale OF bis death two hnni;nr nm r,; i. ~" ~
natives were returning ny TIA wect s;le "
the river, !r.'''',"" Tia 49, "
Melville Ia az Tho on;n,on ,ba, IN. 1o.u
nette was as well l|tietl n mech tha ' S;M
tl,st iloats. No Ship, he BELIEVES, could eoHIyI
have been saved from disaster in
circumstances tie same az those nj.
tending Tie loss Of the Jeanette, A ship
builder recently asked lie engineer what
construction Ia ship building he would
recommend for Arctic navigation. Mr.,
Melville replied that II the heaviest plates
OF metal were riveted together so AZ to
leave u space between them, and that
space were filled with melted metal and
the whole 80 thoroughly, welded together
that It, WAS compact and solid, vet weplJ i
fail 10 be strong enough 10 overcome tha
enormous power Of the ice. In, o,hor
words, no vessel can be bull, tia. will she.
cessfully navigate tile Arctic Ocean. The
only way to .eapl the Polo, he contends Is
to establish stations or Colonies whirl,
might be gradually extended north la