National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-29
ON BOARD THE JEANNETTE
Engineer Melville Describes the Behavior Of
the Officers.
The burden OF the Testimony Is Against
ColIins's Claims.

Tho Ioannotte investigation was resumed
yesterday morning. Lieut.. Danenhower
stated to tho best OF his knowledge he did
not in his interview with Dr. Collins and his
brother at the Fifth Avenue hotel say that
Mr.. Collins led "Hell of life" in the
Arctic. He might have said that tho life in
no Arctic was hell or something to that ef-
feet but IL so he referred to tho general con-
dition of life in that region. .....
Engineer Melville testified that his relative
rank was that of lieutenant commander,
dating from March of 1851. lie had been in
the navy twenty.three years and passed
through all grades up to his present rank.
His relative rank whom tho Jeannette sailed
was equal to that Of Mr. Chipp and superior
TO that of Mr.. Danenhower
Tho officers were rs jolly as need be at tho
outset, and later, as is customary upon ship.
board, they began TO pair of" according to
personal prediloctions and tsstes Mr.. Col
lins selected Mr.. Newcomb rs his "chum,"
associating with him thereafter more than
with the other officers. A general condition
of good will continued TO prevail until the
ship got into the ice.
An inspection on the first Sunday of each
month was customary on the Jeanette as
on all naval vessels. On one occasion Capt.
DE Long reprimanded Nindermau, who was
in charge of the watch, for being absent with
UuU leuNCs Nutu ME NsDllluo Chlnc Ou DUtEu
Capt. De Long took him to one side and
spoke to him about the impropriety of being
absent without leave. Witness heard that
he also spoke to Mr Newcomb about the
matter. They had been out hunting for
bear. The next day a general order regard.
ing leaves of absence was issued and passed
to every ofiicor on tho ship.
Mr.. Collins appeared to think that he should
not have been interferrcd with in his coming
and going, and he said that be would not
leave the ship at all. lie e.would never ask
for leave, but would die on board. Mr.. Col
lins and witness were on very good terms
at the time and, In fact, no angry words ever
passed between them. Witness demonstrated
with Mr.. Collins about his determination, and
set forth the necessity for discipline.
Witness narrated series Of triaing events
which seemed TO irritate Mr.. Collins, Jokes
about the mess table, which were miscon-
strued and orders and regulations which he
interpreted as having personal reference to
himself As one Of the results, Mr. Collins
ceased to bid his fellow officers good morning
at the breakfast table, practice which all
the others observed.
One day Capt De Long asked Mr.. Collins
for particular thermometer, and the latter
appeared to be unwilling to surrender it,
Some talk ensued, which appeared to have
been general in its bearings, during which
witness heard Mr.. Collins say; Captain,
Wlbn lnB OluCeTb WOulu Try 10 IIcAL me as
| courteousy as l try to treat them" Capt
De Long picked him up rather sharply"
asking; what is the matter with youY If
you have any particular charge to make
against any officer make it now, and I will
have it investigated" Witness heard no
more. but was told by Capt De Long the next
day that Mr.. Collins complained of witness
about always singing Irish songs aud max
ing Irish jokes to make game OF my country
men," Capt DeLong advised witness to sing
psalms or not sing at all. Witness went
straight to Collins and said to him that he
didn't think his conduct was manly. Mr.
Collins replied that he could explain it in q
minute. Witness declined to listen to any
explanation, and said, snow, from this time
forth, you keep to your side of the ship and l
will keep mine" Witness never sang Irish
songs or made Irish jokes in Mr.. Collins's
presence thereafter nor did he ever speak to
him except when required by the necessities
of service to do so.
Capt. De Long appeared to be dissatisfied
with the manner in which Mr.. Collins took
care of his instruments. There were deep
sea sounding cups which cost S75 apiece. Mr..
Colling appeared to forget that tho shin rolled,
and was in the habit of laying the instru-
ments down on the rail, from which they
would roll off on the deck and be rendered.
useless until repaired. These cups got rusty,
aud Capt. De Long had Ninderman polish
them with the hydrometer The first one,
with graduated glass, was rolled over and
broken. Capt. De Long said: "Collius, if you
60 on smashing instruments in this way we
won't have enough to last us three months"
The witness described the breaking and
loss of other instruments through tho negli-
gence or ignorance of Collins.
Witness in the twenty-three years Of his
life in the navy had never sailed in a vessel
where there was as little quarreling as on the
Jeanette. The officers and men did theil
duty. Capt. De Long was courteous and
careful of the feelings of his officers. Witness
knew Of but one instance OF punishment
The man was now dead. Most persons oil
careful of their health. De Long Away
consulted the doctor about the orders he gave
In reference to medical matters.
The order forbidding any one to take tn
water from tho fire room without consulting
him Mr. Nelyille) was given because thu
drinking water ought to be free from saline
properties, and because If the distilled wate
had been used freely the amount of coal useC
per day would have been doubled.
In reference to inquiries as TO his opinion
of Chipp Danenhower, Ambler, and New
comb, witness said "Chipp was first elias
man in every respect. He was one Of tb,
pridcs of the service but usually very reti
cent. Danenhower's character was first rate
He considered him tho most attentiv
man 20 his duty he mad ever seen
He could not say too much of Amber
He was the gentleman Of tho ship withou
any reservation whatever. Newcomb wa
rather young for his years and he desired Il
have as little TO do with him as possible
Newcomb was neither useful nor ornamental
lie had no i'll feeling toward him although il
had been necessary to reprimand him New
comb several times during the retreat"
Tho further testimony of the witness wa
concerning the general incidents of the IT
treat.