New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-09
DEFENCE OF LIEUTENANT BERRY.

TO the EditOr Of The TTtoHht.
SIR: In an editorial few days since which
evidenced a desire your part TO do justice to all
branches of the service you mentioned the fact Of Lieu
tenant BcTy's experience rendering valuable his ser
vices upon the proposed Greeley relief expedition. In
connection with this the statement is made that preu
dice exists against him account OF his deserton of the
Rodgers crew There 10 ground for such prejudice,
t on the contrary Wherein is the "desertion" ~ Not
until he had positively insured their safety did he leave
his men, DO who condemn his course advocate
in which having lost his ship he should have forgotten
the purposes, for which she fitted QUIT Or do they
say that he should have remained In safety and sent
subordinate TO prosecute the search which entrusted
20 him'
unnecessary 10 go into the bardships undergone
during hi. long journey Suffice II to that the din
cultes were overcome and the coast searched for 500
miles Arriving at the isolated settlement OF Nischni
Comsk all details then known OF the loss of the jean
nette were obtained together with the inforato that
Melville looking for DE Longs party, and that Chpp
had not been heard FROM There only three Amert
cans engaged in the search for tho missing What was
their physical condition after the long struggle through
which they had passed What was the duty Of
sent upon an expedition which had for It's sole object the
recovery Of these en Lieutenant Berry knew that he
had fully provided for his party and that they were
in position to speedily relieved Was he now, at this
point with the hrs positive oeW ~ Tue hs n tb VI
and return lust in time march board ship with his
msn1 Had he done his ACTON
styled dcserton But lie did not lie sent back full
Information and orders to WaTng fitted out fresh dog
teams and searched 400 miles Of coast line. He
would have followed this mp with as much more as was
required but having made communication with Melville
that officers excellent work precuded the necessity for
further search and he returned 10 the United states long
after his crew had reached their homes.
One other fact should be remembered by the preju-
diced that this search Of 1900 miles prosecuted on his
own resources and after the loss of his ship resulted In
the actual discovery by Berry himself OF the fate OF all
three ships which he soughthe Jeanette the Vigil
liant and the Mount WOolastOn. There should be no
prejudice against man who has shown his ability To
meet the greatest misfortune that can overtake RELIEF
expedition. M n; l. HUM, Leu'ohant u o. ~
Washington, Jan. 80, 1884.
Lieutenant Hunt was one Of the officers OF the
Rodgers, and accompanied Lieutenant Berry in his
tourney across Northern Siberia. That journey was
a most arduous and dangerous undertaking, and
Lieutenant Hunt does not exaggerate its difficult
ties and hardships. What was done was done
bravely and thoroughly. The sole point at Issue Is
this: Ought the commanding officer TO have made
the journey himsslff He was captain of the ship
and responsible for the safety Of his men, Ought he
TO have left the crew after the burning of the shpf
Ought he not to have remained with them until
they rescued, and have sent two OF his subor-
dinates across cOuntryf That he had not provided
absolutely for the safety OF his men Is proved by
three circumstances; ~ Master Putnam lost his
way during slsdging journey, and his companions
were unable to rescue him; 81 turbulent chief