The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-04-22
THE JEANNETTE INQUIRY.

New and interesting Testimony
From the Survivors Of De Longs
Party.
WAsnIxerox, April l6-Before the
Jeanette committee to-day Seaman Min
dermann, of De Longs boats crew, re-
lated the circumstances OF his leaving
De Longs crew In the Lena delta and
going ahead In search Of help. Witness
said Collins asked permission OF De
Long to 60 ahead with witness aud Nh.
ros. bat was refused, the captain saying
to Collins: "If you should 60 you would
not get five miles from camp" Collins,
in the Judgment OF the witness. was. at
that time, 10 good physical condition
as good as witness himself A number
Of members Of D. Longs party wanted
to 60 ahead with witness and Noros.-
Those Who ware in as good physical
condition as witness would have proba.
bly, gotten through to place OF safety
il they had taken the same course and
chances the witness did. Witness
thought when De Long found himself
giving out he should have given his men
chance to save themselves. Melville
told witness the officers had poison with
them, to kill themselves with when all
hope was abandoned. In saying this
witness smiled little, as II he did not
at anv time regard this suggestion OF
suicide as serious,
Witness was then questioned in regard
to finding the bodies OF Cap'sin D. Long
snd his comrades in the Lena Delta. he
said he was present when the, bodies
we're discovered II was evident from
the appearance Of DR.. Ambler's body
that before he died be had bitten into
his left hand and sucked his own blood
His hand was ct his mou'h and bore
wounds from bis teeth. Tie fingers,
and toes of some other dead men had
apparently been burned of. Witness
thought they must have fallen into the
iire while trying to get warm. or have
crawled too close 10 it.. aad afterward
been too weak to get away.
Fireman Bartlett was recalled and tes-
titied that Melville told him on one oc-
cas,ou that all The officers had doses OF
poison prepared hy the doctor to he ta-
ken in the last extremity, but his Mel
ville's) had oil dissolved. Witness knew
there had been trouble between New
comb and Lieutenant Danenhower. On
one occasion during the retreat be had
seen, Lieutenant Dinenhower assault
Newcomb, throw him down in the bot.
tom OF the hoat aud choke him
Seaman N ,ros testified that the frs
kno wledge he had OF the existence q
i'll feeling between Melville and Collins
was on one occasion just before the ship
entered the ice. when Captain De Long,
Melville, Collins, anil The other officers,
and boats crew, including witnes. ,
went to visit an island. De Long, Col
lins, aud the others landed, but Melville
remained in the boat. Collins, while
climbing hill in sight OF the bat,
stumbled and fell. whereupon Melville
cried out, Look at the d-d irish
cow!'' At one time there was TAX oil
deposing DE Long and placing Lieu,en-
ant Chipp in charge Of the party.
In reply to further questions vi,ness
said he thought Melville failed in his du-
ty toward De Longs party. Ha b liev.
ed it would have been possible 10 reach
Bulein, and then possibly some OF De
Longs party might have been found
alive. t 81 S&s
Representative McAdoo--lf strict dis
cipline had been relaxed in De Long's .
party and the men had been allo we'd to
save themselves, do you think the result
might have been different
"Yes, sir, l do. think come OF them
would have got through"