Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-10

NlStOIS aC the capitol eylnce the greatest
interest in the Jeanette investigation which is
going on in the House naval affairs committee
room Those taking part in the investigation
form an interesting group, of which Mrs. De
Long, the widow Of the commander Of the ILL
fated expedition, is the most remarkable figure
She occupies seat just behind her counsel
and watches the proceedings with an attention
and keenness quite wonderful. She dresses in
deep mourning, and has an expression of child
like earnestness on her face that engages the
attention and symPathyef all visitors. She has
a plump, pretty face and large expressive eyes,
which change in q moment from pensive or
somewhat pathetic expression to one Of search
ing eagerness thatk indicates a mind constantly
on the alert. The irsts impression on seeing
her there. with but one lady companion, before
critical and unsympathetic court of inquiry,
is that 1t is cruel that sheshould be present to see
the new grave of her brave husband torn open
and his acts criticised anI his suffering spoken
OF lightly or indifferently. But this feeling
gives place to one of establishment and admira-
tion when at trying moment, when something
is brought out by the testimony which seems to
reflect upon her husband. her wonderful
ENERGY AND lCLEvERNEss
is discovered. When some witness had passed
a criticism upon the management of the expe-
dltion, which her counsel is at loss to answer.
and her husbands reputation as an officer seems
under cloud of doubt. she always proves more
than equal to the occasion, and astonishes
every one by the prOmptness with which she
meets and refutes the accusations. She has her
husbands diary and records on the table before
her, together with the records of the naval court
martial, and seems to know them all by heart
$50 that in q moment she can find something an
plying to the point in question. no matter what
IL Is turning everything to her husbands ad-
vantage. The lawyers on both sides and the
committee have to defer to her ceverness and
superior knowledge Of the case Yet with all
she Is so young and seems as if she would be
almost childishly modest but for her eagerness
and devotion.
AN GOLD SALT"
A constant attendant upon the court Is an old.
weather-beaten captain, who always occupies a
place at the end of the table, never speaking to
anyone, but watching the proceedings with
great apparent interest He is next after Mrs.
De Long to attract the notice of visitors. and
everyone is sure to ask who he is. and EQUALLY
sure not to find out. His breadth of beam and
full weather-beaten face proclaim him an old
salt, and he is spoken of as an old whaler
who has sailed the Icy seas, but no one seems to
know just who he is
THE SURVIVORS.
Melville and Danenhower, Bartlett, Ninder-
man. Wilson and Manson form the group Of
Jeanette survivors. and are looked upon with
interest. One of them is generally ON the stand
being subjected to examination and cross-eX-
animation. while he tells the sad story of suffer-
ing, giving his views on the subject
THE Committeeman AND THE COUNSEL.
The only members Of the committee present
generally are the chairman, Mr.. Buchanan, and
Mr. McAdOO. DR.. Collins, the prosecutor, who
seeks to retrieve wrong he cOnceives to have
been done his brother, the scientist who per-
ished along with Lieut.. De Long and the rest.
generally sits by his counsel or stands near the
mantel, watching the proceedings through his
eyeglasses.
A somewhat cor,ical turn is given to the scene
by the two counsel-Judge Curtis. for the prose-
cutiOn, and Judge ArnOuX for the deteuse-who
are eternaliy Quarreling and frOwning at each
other. They sit close together. and are gener-
ally engaged in casting severe looks at each
other and making personal remarks rejecting
MRS. belongs MEANS
The question of what may be Mrs. belongs
means to enable her to stand the expense of
defending her husband is often raised by
curious folks. 1t is said that James Gordon
Bennett, the protector of the expedition BY
which Lieut.. belong lost his life. has pre-
sented her with $4,000. Besides this
she is said to have realized considerable from
the sale Of the book on belongs explorations.
of which she has published several editions.
The wife of Seaman NRderman is one of the
agents for the book. There has been bill
introduced in the House granting her a pen
sion, but it has not yet been acted upon