Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-04-17
NINDERMAN,
Of the Jeanette Expedition. Tells His
Experience. After Leaving De-
Longs Party to
60 Ahead in Search Of Help-He Thinks
Others Could Have Been
Saved If
They Had Accompanied Him-How Col.
lins was Treated by the Officers
Lack of Discipline.

WASHINGTON, April 16. - Before the
Jeanette committee to-day, Seaman MIN
derman, of belongs boats crew, related
the circumstances of his leaving belongs
party and going ahead in search of help.
Witness said Collins asked permission of
DeLong to go ahead with witness but was
refused, the captain saying to Collins, "If
you should go you would not get five miles
from camp" Collins, in the Judgment of
witness, was at that time in good physical
condition, as good as witness himself. A
number of members of belongs party
wanted to go ahead with witness, and
those who were in as good physical con-
dition as witness would probably
have gotten through to place of
safety if they had taken the same
course. Witness thought that when
DeLong himself was giving out he should
have given the men chance to save
themselves. Melville told witness that
the officers had poison with them to kill
themselves with when all hope was
abandoned. In saying this witness smiled
a little, as if he did not at any time regard
this as suggestion of suicide. The wit
ness was then questioned in regard to
finding the bodies of Capt. DeLong and
comrade in Lena Delta. He said he was
present when the bodies were discovered.
1t was evident from the appearance of DIR.
Ambler's body that before he died he had
bitten into his left hand and sucked his
blood. The fingers and toes OF some of
the other dead men had apparently been
burned off. Witness thought they must
have fallen into the fire while trying to get
warm, or have crawled too close to it
and afterward were too weak to get
away.
Froman was called and testified
that Melville told hi n on one occasion
that all the officers had doses of poison
prepared by the doctor, to be taken as a
last extremity, but his (Melville's) had all
dissolved. Witness knew there had been
trouble between Newcomb and Lieut..
Danenhower. On one occasion during
the retreat he had seen Lieut.. Danenhow-
er assault Newcomb, throw him down in
the bottom OF the boat and choke him.
Seaman Morse testified that the first
knowledge he had OF the existence of i'll
feeling between Melville sand Collins was
on one occasion, before 6 le ship entered
the ice, when Capt. Dtl4ong, Melville,
Collins and other officers and members OF
the boats crew, including witness, went to
visit AN island. DeLong, Collins and
others landed, and Melville remained in
the beat. Collins, while climbing the side,
stumbled and fell, whereupon Melville
cried out, "Look at the id Irish cowi"
At one time there was talk Of deposing
DeLong and placing Lieut.. sChipp in
charge of the party. In reply TO further
questions, witness said he thought Mel
vile failed in his duty toward belongs
party, he believed it would have been pos.
sible to reach Bullein, and then possibly
some of belongs party might have been
found alive.
Representative McAdoo-f strict disci-
pline had been relaxed in belongs party
and the men allowed to save themselves,
do you think the result would have been
different?
Answer-Yes, sir, do; think some of
them would have gotten through.
Adjourned.