Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-11-23
FROM WASHINGTON
sELyr.lE AND HIs RECORD.
His ssRouud Unvarnished Tale'' Excul'
pates Him from all stigma Arising
in the Death Of DE Long.

WASHINGTON, Nov %.
Before the Jeanette board of inquiry this
morning, Engineer Melville continued his
account of the burial of the bodies of Capt.
De Long and other members Of his party
The witness ordered Bartlett and Ninderman
after the tomb had been prepared to make
another search of the bodies before burying
to examine very closely their clothing to re-
cover any writing. books or papers.
In examining the body of Collins, Ninder-
man found . large crucifix upon his breast,
and holding it up asked if it should be taken
OF for his family. After some consultation,
witness believing it might be part Of his re-
ligion, decided that it should be buried with
him, and to the best of his knowledge it was
DONE The bodies were then taken to q
tomb and placed in row, Capt De Long
first, next DR.. Amber, then Mr.. Collins, and
then All Sam, whose body was placed far
thest to the north. Witness described the
burial and the erection of pyramid of
stones over the tomb. This occurred the
7th of April. Witness then withdrew all his
force to Vaskarta, which was the best point
ON which to start party in search of
Lieut. Chips company.
The island on which witness and party
we're detained at JamavaIOrch was more
than 200 miles distant from where Capt. De
Long landed and about l30 miles from where
he perished, with a range of mountains and
n bay of running ice intervening. On the
day that witness first heard that De Long
had landed, it would have been impossible.
even if witness could have seen him from
where he was, to reach him before he died.
as De Longs last entry in his diary was
made Oct. 80. and witness first heard Oct. 20
that he had landed. Witness had no fault
to find with the conduct of any officer or man
upon the expedition. or with arrangements
and general conduct of the expedition, or the
preparations for and general conduct Of the
retreat.
Melville was cross-examined in relation to
his knowledge of the alleged trouble between
Capt. DeLong and Mr.. Jewell J. Collins. He
knew nothing further than already stated by
him. He was asked if DeLong had spoken
to him about his trouble with Collins, but an
objection was raised to the question and sus-
tanned.
To the question, ''Did you have any differ
ence with Collins ?" witness replied, Il never
had any personal alteration with Collins
except in line OF argument in which all hands
took part"
Witness further stated that Collins had on
one occasion complained to DeLong that he
(witness) had hurt his feeling bv singing
Irish songs and relating Irish jokes.
Witness had disclaimed any intention of
hurting any ones feelings, and DeLong re-
piled, "Well, Melville, would not sing any
more in his presence, and then there can't be
any cause for complaint"
From that time" continued the witness,
''till we parted we never sang Irish songs or
told Irish jokes in Collins presence. l said
to him, however. if he had intimated it was
unpleasant to him l would have desisted and
that there was no occasion to complain to the
captain, and that considered his course un-
manly in doing so." From that time witness
had no intercourse with Collins, save such as
their official relations required.