The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-06
MAS DELCz-G SlCRIFICED2
The Loss of De Long and his Companions
otthe Inflated Jeanette Expedition Laid
at the Door Of Engineer MelviIle-AnOth-
er Investigation d. rnandsd by Brother
of One OF the Victims.

Investigation DE n1anded q
of One OF the Victims.
.. NEW YORK, Feb, %.
DR.. Collins, brother of Jerome j.
Collins, who lost his life in the Inflated
Jeanette Arctic expedition, left
yesterday for Washington, where he IN
tends to petition Congress to order a
further and more thorough Investigation
Of the circumstances attending the loss
Of the vessel and portion OF her crew.
Sunday evening the doctor was called
upon at the residence of his brother, Mr..
Bernard Collins, No. $50 Steuben street,
Brooklyn. In the course of a talk with
him some of the grounds upon which he
bases his petition were aScertained. He
referred briefly to the troubles on board
the Jeanette up to the time she
was lost in the ice, and said that his
brother had not received Just treat
ment at the hands of Lieutenant-Com-
mander belong which he said he could
prove by letters found on the body OF
his brother. Although deprived OF any
authority, DIR. Collins said his brother
performed all the duties he was able
to while belong was asleep. Just be-
fore the boats separated Collins and
Bartlett were hunting on the Semen
sOfski Islands. Before they returned
from their excursion Jerome told Bart
lett that he thought the expedition would
turn out similar to that of Franklin, and
insisted that if anything should happen
to him that Bartlett would carry home
his documents, giving 4 history of the
entire voyage and experience of the party.
'When the boats separated" said the
Doctor, ''Melville at once struck for the
Lena, and reached one of its mouths after
a long and perilouS journey. On Septem-
Der 20, 1881, he arrived at the village of
Geoomvillocke in a disabled condition,
and Danenhower took charge of the
party until he recovered a few days after.
On October 10, Russian, named Kus-
nah came to the village, and, saying that
he could furnish them with reindeer, tea,
flour, bread and salt, which they needed,
DanenhOwer accompanied him TO his
home few miles distant and returned
with these articles. Fish and geese were
plenty in GeOomvillOcke, so the state
ment that Melville's party was
SUFFERING FROM STARVATION
at this point and unable to move IS false.
Melville then gaveKuSmah the whale-boat
and 500 rOubleS to procure further sup
plies at Bulun, which he said he would do
in five days. DanenhoWer asked to accom-
pany him, hoping to fall in with some OF
the De Long party, but Melville refused
his consent After kuSmah started, Dan
enhower reminded Melville that he had
given no directions to kuSmah to spread
the loss of the De Long party among the
natives. DanenhOWer then, and not till
then, was allowed to 20 and warn the ma
tiyes along the route to Bulun to look out
for the lost navigator. This was the only
direction given by Melville looking to the
relief of De Long. KuSmah did not re.
turn until October 20, when he brought
letter from Ninderman and NOrOs, WHOM
he had met at Seven Houses. The lettel
said that the De Long party was starving
and needed help Immediately. The ex-
cuse was offered before the court Oh
inquiry at Washington that Melville would
not go to the relief of De Long because
he had no dogs orsledges, The survivors
told Inc that all of these equipments
could be obtained at the village at
which they delayed so long, and ample
had he moved Immediately to rescue the
lost party, and Danenhower, in areported
interview in Siberia, in answer to the
question if a man had gone to Bulun with
KuSmah would the rescue of DE Long
have been the result, replied that it would.
Melville had orders TO take his party to
place of safety where he could obtain food.
Then he was to communicate with tle
Russian authorities. He knew the route
which De Long would take after reaching
Barken. He knew it was his intention &c
60 west to SOgasta and the Signal Tower.
HAD SOME ONE GONE
to Bulun with kuSmah and started an eX.
petition north Immediately it would have
picked up Ninderman and NorOs before
they reached Bulcour. When it is unoer
stood that the distance from this pOint t0
where the bodies were found is only IL
miles, including all the winnings of the
Lena, which Ninderman and NOrOS fol.
lowed, it Will be seen that, had Melville
made a forward move instead of consult
ing his own comfort and that of his party.
regardless of the fate of mis- companions.
he would have reached De Long and his
party before any of them, with
the possible exception of Ericsson, had
died. The weather was mild and nc
great storms had set in, 50 there was nc
possible excuse in these respects. Mel.
vile remained thirty-three days in Cocoon.
Had he pushed on as he was
urged to do by DancnhOwer and many
others of the party he could have reached
party in five days at the long.
est. SuppOsing he found no traces OF
the party, knowing the ronte down the
river Lena, which the Captain would take,
he would have started party northward
with the supplies, and Ninderman anC
Noros would have been found before
Bulcour. Having aScertaineC
from them the exact position and condi-
ton of the Captains party, their rescue
was foregOne conclusion.
| have a large mass of information
which has never reached the public, anG
It will be so conclusive that if Congress |
grants another inquiry
WHICH IS NOT BIASED
oy naval esprit du corps it can not fail &c !
the charges | make. There !
ire several survivors who, were they moi |
:hoked off, as they express it, and com.
1elled to answer simply yes and no, 1
,ould have changed theentire complexion |
If the testimony given in before the /
;ourt of inquiry. They are anxious
% be furnished an opportunity te |
ell all they know, and i intend that
hey shall do SO if there is any such thing |
Is justice. | am free to say that the /
,cath of my brother, belong and hi: /
party should be laid at the door of Chic. |
Engineer Melville, and | am prepared tC /
JrOye every assertion / make"