National Republican., 1883-04-07
BARTLETTS TESTIMONY.
The Jeanette Court Of Inquiry Listens to
His Story.
Tho Questions OF DIR. Collins-Danen-
hover and Melville.

The Jeanette court Of inquiry convened
at 1890 yesterday morning. The judge ad-
vocate announced that he had received
communication from DIR. Collins inclosing
thirty-hve questions which ho desired to
have put to the witnesses. Fireman Bart
lett was called to the stafAl, and the questions
were read to him by the Judge advocate. In
reply witness stated that Mr.. Collins, de-
| ceased, held the position of an officer ON
board the Jeanette. He was saluted as
such, and was always treated with the same
| courtesy as the other officers. Witness never
heard Capt. De Long speak an unkind word
| TO Mr. Collins, so far as witness knew. Mr..
| Collins on the retreat was treated by the men
and officers with the same consideration as
was shown to the other officers. Witness did
not hear Mr.. Collins say that he was pre-
vented from saving his papers when the
Jeanette was lost. Mr.. Collins subsequently
| spoke to witness in regard to his (Collinss)
| treatment and what he proposed to do upon
| his return. He spoke about papers which he
had on his person at that time, and made
request of witness relative TO them.
When the whale boat reached land there
was discussion as to the probable condition
and fate of the other parties. To the best of
Witnesses memory for sixteen days 1t was
impossible to travel from where his party
landed. At the end Of that time Mr.. Melville
made arrangements for the transportation OF
| the entire party to Bulun. Kusma agreed TO
| furnish the transportation in five days but
did not return for fifteen days. Thoir party
| moved lust Us soon as IL was practicable. Wit
| ness volunteered TO attempt search before
search was made, but was prevented by the
general opinion of tho whole party, based
| upon the facts that "We had no clothing, no
| provisions, no transportation, and no knowl-
| edge of the country" Lieut.. Danenhower of
| fered to go and did go.
Witness never received an order from Mr.
Melville to bring Lieut.. Danenhower back
dead or alive.
Witness knew of no trouble between Mr.
! Melville and Mr.. Collins. Their relations, so
far as witness knew, were the same as those
| existing between the other officers.
| objection was raised by the judge advocate
| to the question, "What did Mr.. Melville say
to you of Mr.. CollinsW
The objection was sustained by the court.
Witness was asked Had you been in COM
mand of the party would you have waited
| thirty-fve days?" and replied l do not re-
member that we waited thirty-fve days be-
fore trying to discover tho condition and
| whereabouts OF the other parties.
Taking into consideration the condition OF
the country and our condition, i think it
was about twenty days after we arrived before
IL was possible to make move. L made
proposition TO move, which was discussed by
/ Ino WnOlS party, hhnhOu anu l. uklOolhb w
draw Leach upon a sled, as he was unable to
walk, owing to frost bites, but the conclusion
arrived at by Mr.. Melville and Mr. Danen-
hover was that it would be impracticable and
impossible. They believed 25 per cent. of the
party would have TO be taken to Bulun on
sleds or dead" Witness did not believe n
proper seach for De Longs party could have
been made any sooner than it was made. Oh
lection was made and sustained to the ques-
tion, 4" Have you any reason to believe MIR.
Collins had upon his person any papers, other
than a small note book ~ Also to the ques-
tion, "Did Mr.. Collins tell you he had upon
/ his person letters addressed TO parties In new
York P
Mr.. Collins requested witness during the
retreat to take care of his papers in case he
(Collns) should die. Witness was present
when Mr. Collins's body was found. The
, taking out from under the snow of his body
was alone under witness's directions. Wit
, ness, with Nindemann, searched the remains
and all his (Collins) personal effects wer'
placed in a handkerchief and turned over t.
. Mr.. Melville that evening. The articles wer'
f one small note book, and a few packages o
!, crumpled written matter which had beer
carried in his pocket, number of beads,
few nails, some cartridges, u small purse, ant
; two or three pocket handkerchiefs.
" :, The written matter was not letters. L
appeared to be open written matter like notes
there were not over ten sheets, might hav'
r been less. Witness had expected from hi
# conversation with Mr.. Collins that Their
would be more papers than was found ON hi
A body Witness was asked, How does your ac
y count of what was found on Mr.. Collins con
pare with Mr.. Melville's report to the Nav!
DEPARTMENT." A. II haye never seen MI
Melville's statement, and do not know" wit
5 ness was present when cross was found upoi
) Mr. Collins's neck" "a rcmark was mad
or an inquiry whether we should leave 1
| nod nnt n with the Othnr nf
, fects. Mr. Melville remarked that he did no
i know whether il would be proper to bury !
on him or not, but thought it was part Of hi
religion to do So That was all that was said
Witness found the cross upon Mr.. Collins
+, Had had no conversation with Mr.. Melville
upon the subject since his (witness's) return
Has had only general conversation with him
y as with other people, and has only alluded Il
:, their experiences in a general way.
: Witness's relations with Mr.. Melville whil
in Siberia were generally friendly. Witnes
was an enlisted man, while Mr., Melville wa
:, an officer of the United States navy. In wit
~ ness's opinion everything was done that coult
~ be done to rescue De Longs party. The.
- could not have been saved had Danenhowe
been permitted to go on his search at the tim
}, he proposed it. Witness never made any state
u ment to any one in Siberia different from tina
V which he had made before this court. Wit
y ness knew of no papers which Collins had oi
his person during the retreat other thar
| those which were found npon hi
" body. With his subsequent knowledge
g of the country and experience in trave
y witness was of opinion that the tril
to Bulun might have been made sooner, bu
il would have been attended with great suf
!, ferihg and hardships. No person of the part!
~ was prevented from making search save il
:, a general way. Every one in the whale boa
Il party had at some time expressed willing
ness to make a search. Lieut.. Danenhowe
y did volunteer to make search and did max
!, Il search of two or three days duration. Wit
If ness did not know that any papers or article
g belonging to Mr.. Collins were destroyed o
It concealed by any person. This concluded tn
examination of Fireman Bartlett and tn
/. court adjourned till 1880 a. m. to-day.