Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-09
DE LONG AND COLLINS.
The UnpIeasantness Between Them
Some Light Thrown On II.
MEMORANDA OF THE DEAD COMMANDER.

MEMORANDA OF THE DEAD COMMANDER
| The following papers, signed by the late CON-
| mander of the Inflated Jeanette, are given out
| for publication by the Navy department:
ARCTIC STEAMER JEANETTE
l. BEsET AND DRIFTING IN THE PACK,
December RI, 1890
MEMORANDUM
The following is a statement of an occurrence
| this day, In which Mr.. Collins treated me with
such disreSpect as 20 cause me to relieve him from
all duty in the ship, and to inform him that upcn
| the return OF the vessel to the United States I
would report him to the Secretary of the Navy.
My order in relation to daily exercise requires
everybody except sick and the man on watch) to
leave the ship at II a. IN. and remain out OF her on
the Ice until p. m. or course 1t has been under
| stood that Mr.. Collins should come on board at
noon to make and record In the slate meteorolog-
| iCal observations for that hour but / have
observed. on several occasions OF late, that he
sc med TO remain on board much longer than such
duty required: l had considerable trouble last
winter In getting MI. Collins to comply with the
| order In regard to daily exercise-hs delay in
getting out Of bed, his requiring time for his
breakfast when up and dressed, &C., making it
sometimes II 80 am. before he made his appear
ance on the Ice 1 pointed out ta him. then, his
on his repeating the OffenSe, insisted on my order
being obeyed, and finally secured literal COM
plance with 1t, although, as he informed me, he
|
| Tor such an order, or words to that effect To.
ga Gay, Goa at ,1 1S;1o p m, went into the cabin
the see same Why time me fa a1nsa so long and
found he had removed his coat, had lighted
and was smoking his pipe, and while writing in
the port chart room. was carrying on converse
ton with Mr. Danenhower. said nothing and re-
turned to the Ice At 1920 p. m, he had not yet
him at the stove adjusting his gloves and contin,-
| Ing the conversation before referred TO- The fol-
lowing IS the substance OF an ensuing talk: 1 asked
| fra1 4 hi
and record the IL O'Clock observations? He replied
well, sir, | hardly know the meaning of your
is this: Is it necessary for YOU In order TO make
and record the IL O'Clock observations to remove
your coat, light your pipe engage In conversation
with Mr.. DaneuhOWer, and remain in the cabin
until 1920 p. m.?" He answered CURLY: 'sWell,
perhaps, might have done it quicker but did
not know my minutes were counted for me-"
said in subsistence: II have seen fit to issue an
| order that everybody should go On the ice from
IL TO !, and your coming In the cabin and remain
! ing until 1920 is q violation of my order that
VIII neither submit to nor permit you to continue.
| have noticed for several days that you were
servations and to-day satisfied myself on the
| subject" He replied: son. very well. If you are
satisfied, OF course have nothing to say. was
not aware (or 4 did not knowD it was necessary
to follow me up"
Iaske l.: What do you mean by that?"
| He sail: II mean that in taking me to task as
you do, you are doing me great Injustice
| said: "As this matter has gone so far 1t must
go further. Be good enough to remove your coat
l.
Collins, a representation to me OF injustice has
only TO be made In proper language to secure you
| manner or bearing in talking with me. You seem
| to assume that you are to receive no correction,
direction or dctation from me; that your view OF
an occurrence Is always to be taken; and that If
diner from you 1t Is my misfortune, but OF no i'm
portance to the result" He commenced: 81 came
that part OF It, You are here in fact, and we win
| deal With the fact" He resumed: Il do not like
the tone or the manner in which you speak to me,
| I a m tax tn tao
replied: II have perfect right to say what 1
He Isl said II aeknowledge only the rights given
inquired: "Do you mean to imply that am
doing anything contrary to naval regulations?'
Ireplled: "You should not have disobeyed my
He said: II Will not admit such an assertion.
have always carried out your Instructions" (2)
inquired: 81 'Do you undertake to contradict
what Is not s5?' rs N' NAV "''' '''' ''''s
He rep lea; 81 mean to say my dear sir that
l said: But. Mr.. Collins, say you hare disc
beyed or violated my order" as
He promptly and enphatically replied: 81 say
| l said: "Great allowance has been made for
your ignorance OF naval regulations, your position
| on the Ship and your being so situated for the
first time. But you must remember that q cam mn
handing officer is to be spoken to in a respectfu
and nd with angaags and
He replied 81 treat the commanding officer Of
this ship with all the respect due him as the head
| violating an order, "a say have not" (S3
said: "Do you suppose you viii be permitted to
talk to me In that way? Are you beside your
| sef?"
He replied, "Not at all; am perfectly calm and
collected, and know what say"
lSl1d: "And you contradict me fatty in that
way Have you lost your senscs?"
He replied; NO, have not lost my senses.
IN. hon 7 fha%f
the cabin as you did to-day. you violate my or
ders you continue to contradict me-"
He answered: "When you say have violated an
order, say have not"
I then rose. saying: "That is quite enough.
circumstance as we are. the matter can not be
conveniently dealt with here. but upon the return
OF the vessel to the United States on her reaching
some point OF Communication shall report you to
na ot tne b Ma Shin
TENDER 1St"
curt, contemptuous and disrespectful In both Ian
guage and bearing, the manner Of his answering
being more offensive even than the words used.
instead OF making suitable replies to my questions
and proper explanations OF the violation of NV
order, he arraigned me for the manner in which
the questions were put, and contradicted me fatty
when said he had violated my order
Mr. Danenhower, who left the cabin at my first
question, was in his room, necessarily in posi-
tOn 10 near the conversation, and l notified him
that l should refer to him as witness He VOL
unreered his willingness to have written state
While 1t was fresh in his memory, and therefore
requested Lieut. Chipp to write such a statement
from d1ctatiOn, as Mr.. DanenhOwer's eyes, of
course, prevented him from doing so himself
GEO. w. DELoNG,
Lieutenant U S. Navy, Commanding
DECEMBER 9TH, 18S0-Upon reflection, and recall
Ing as far as possible what was Said have to
make the following additions to the foregoing
| memorandum, in the places designated by the
| numbers l. 2, 8, &c. AS to the exactness of the
places am not certain and there may be some
little doubt as to the sequence of the words. But
| as 10 the language being employed (as similar
terms so closely allied as not to effect the mean
Ing by the smallest tri1e) am absolutely certain.
l. consider that by coming into the cabin as
you did to-day, removing your coat, lighting your
pipe and carrying on a conversation with Mr..
Danenhower, you took advantage OF the IL O'Clock
observations to disregard my orders in relation to
| the exercise.
| 2 And when you say took advantage Of the -
o'clock observations to disregard your order say
| 1t Is not so.
g. Wait moment will not have you put
words in my mouth.
4 And when you say take or took advantage
| order, say 1t is not So
g. And that your remaining IN the cabin as you
did to-day IS taking advantage OF the 10 O'Clock
observations to disregard my order.
This should read 'and say it is not"
Il I'm &nIyN