Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-13
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE JEANETTE INQUIRY.
Statement of Seaman Noros.

Francisco, and his duties were those OF a sea-
man.
Question.-'.Haye you any statement to lay
before the committee as to the fitting of the
Jeanette and her condition. the management.
the loss, as 70 the provisions of the several boats
crews when the wreck was left or the efforts of
the officers for The SAFETY of the men or the re-
Eef Of the crews:" Answer.-''No, sir
In answer to question regarding his move
reEts after meeting viii! Melville. he said that
on the 81 of November Melville arrived at Be
lun On the 2oth they made prepara-
Tons Ia 90 TO Yakutsk. arriving about
TIE Goth OF December. Witness went with
Uanenhowcr's party TO Irkutsk. remaining
there until Jackson and larsen arrived. Larson
wa TIE. artist of ti,, TGbSfTGt,d LOr,!ot Re'rs.
and Jackson tie He5-dH correspondent. AT the
Request of Jackson witness consented to go
nU3th. ~ he did not wish tn return hone Until
the Ot hers were found. III the request Of Mr..
Bennett tie seCi etaTy "I the Navy allowed him
to 20 with lir- Jackson. They arrived at va
kutsk about the 2Sth OF March. 1892 remaining
tierc iour days. About two days after leaving
IakptsN they net Il cour.er with the news OF
tie les "i the Rodgers. NeIkerausk
reacted about tho 9Th of April. and they learned
o. the finding of the bodies.
MEETl;G WITH TIE SEARCH PARTY.
At JemerrealGck they met the search party.
They procured dog teams there and Travelled
day AMI night. sleeping in the sleds, until tEey
reached the place where the people were found.
They remained little while Larson taking a
sketch OF the place. Ther went TO Matyei. and
from there visited the graves. They then
started on the homeward trip. stopping at
Bulccur. on the way to BeIGn. On account Of
storm t!Sy were compelled to stop when
within 81 vcgsts of Bciua. They arrived at
the latter place about the fst of May. The snow
was melting very fast and they had
difficulty in getting deer enough to carry
them To the next station. ON the way
they killed two three deer as they
were not as strong in warm weather as in cold.
hen within % yeTSts of Verteuausk horses
were procured. While at NcrkenaI.Sk they
learned that Capt. Berry. Ensign HUNT and
others We're 2 Gay and hall ahead of them and
they succeeded in catching Up with them. In
the mountains they net Melville ana party who
were snow bound. July 9Th they arrived at Irl.-
utsk. when WitIeSs was put. under the
nand of Melville In answer TO q question as
TO the object OF the visit to the graves. witness
replied that be did not know the object of going.
bat when they got there Larson wanted to
Sketch The place. then the bodies. Jackson
took all responsibility.
sKErtIING TIE BODIES
''The south end of the tomb was opened and
De Long. Amber. and Collins were taken out
aid shetched- jackson searched through the
Clothes of Collins and found the bronze cross.
He said he thought his People would like to
have it and took it off. The bodies were placed
in the tomb the SAME way they were before they
We're removed"
In answer 10 a question he said there were no
books or papers found at the place where the
bodies were found and no books or papers were
found or the bodies when removed as far as he
Knew. A half dollar found in Amblers
pocket Inc tomb Was not quite as strong after
the bodies were removed as il was before
Q-"Hay' you any charge to lay or COM
menGatlon to offer concerning any officer or
man Of the JeaEnette ~ To the condition of the
vessel her management. her loss. the provisions
and plans on leaving the wreck the efforts made
for the relief OF the crews. and the merits OF the
officers and mem
A.-'No. sir. they all did their duty as far as
Know; they did everything that men could
uo-
CRcsS-EXAMINED AS To THE DE LONG-COIIINs
TROUBI.ES.
The Judge advocate then cross-examined the
witness in behalf of J. j. Collins:
Q.-"Had you any conversation with Mr. Col
hns before YOU and Ninderlnan left Capt De
Longs party"
Al had no conversation with him. Before
We started all shook US by the hand. and when
Mr. Collins came up he said. Goodbye Noros;
remember NE when you get to NewYork'"
Q.-'Did you hear Mr.. Collins request De
Long to go with VOu:''
A--'.No. sir
Odd ne claim the right to go:''
A.-"NOt that know Of
Q.-'Did Mr.. Melville refuse to allow Won to
return IN search of the parity
A.-"When he met US at Belun he was max
lng preparations to go north. 1 volunteered to
go with him if he would get sufficient Clothing
lOf me to wear. He said: No. NOras. it would
take too many dogs That was all he said"
Q--"ls it a fact that during the retreat that
Captain De Long would order start at 5 a. H.
and would then remain in his tent until o'clock
IN the afternoon. when not Sicks'
A--'NO. sir; it is not a fact"
Q.-"What was Nj Collins physical condi-
tiOn as compared with the rest of the party,
when you left them:'
A--''As far as know, it was about the
same"
Q.-"Have you stated since return that Mr..
Collins. Amber and Alexy were the strongest
OF the party. and Collins was as well able to get
through as YOU were:"
Before the question was answered the room
was cleared. When the doors were opened
witness answered. no sir / did not say that
but. said that thought some of the people
might have gotten through as well as did
The Judge advocate said he had no desire to
further crOss-aXamne the witness and the fol-
lowing questions We're asked by the court
Q-"Could Mr. Jackson or Larsen have found
any papers without you knowing it!'
Al don't think they COULD
Q-"How was the tomb less secure after the
visit of Mr. Jackson!~
A-,Ihey had to cut one of the cross-pieces
TO get the plank OFF the box so it was not so
secure afterwards. The crOss-piece was frame
to the pyramid"
COLLINS TREATMENT
Q.-"How was Mr.. Collins treated by the COM
manding and other officers"
Al never saw him treated any other way
than officer of the vessel"
Witness did not know how Mr.. Collins treated
the officers: the crew always treated Collins as
IN officer. and he treated the crew as any other
officer of the expedition.
Q-"Have you any personal knowledge of
any difficulty between Mr.. Collins and any
Officer
A--"No. sir have not"
CIV as there any unnecessary delay during
the retreat:
A.-"NOne that know Of"
Q--"When Melville declined to take Won with
him in the search, We're you not i'll with dyseu-
terry"
Ayes. sir"