The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-04-03

The Reception of Lieutenant Melv1lle by
the Gear or Russia.
Anarrative of the Search for Lieute

panions. By George W. Melville,
Chief Engineer, Z. S. n, is the title
Of a book just published. Although
the principal incidents of the loss OF
the Jeanette, the rescue of the survivors
and the finding of the bodies Of De-
Long and his boats crew, have been
re repeatedly told, Mr.. Melville gives the
painful topic o fresh interest. Passing
over the ~ice-journey and the strange
Siberian adventures, to which Mr.. Mel
vile gives an unexpectedly fresh inter
est, we copy an extract from one of the
pleasant final chapters, describing the
reception of Mr.. Melville by the Gar of
Russia.
During the day we had been waited
upon by an aid, a colonel of engineers,
who delivered invitations to myselfan d
two seameu of the Jeanette and Lieut..
Berry, of the Rodgers, to be presented
to their maiesties, the czar and czarine
at Peterhof, an imperial summer palace
about sixteen miles out of the city. An
USu61 III ClfllIdu ClOGuSo uSAO llduS hHo
appearance, and directed us how to pro-
coed. Cur dress, if not uniform, should
be full evening dress, with white ties;
the carriages at st. Petersburg were to
be of our own providing; but a special
car on the train leaving at II a. M,
would be placed at our disposal, and the
royal carriages would await us at Peter
hof.
Promptly at the appointed time we
were at the depot, where our usher met
and conducted us to the proper railway
coach. Minister Hunt was to be pre-
sented at court the same day, but he
was under q different escort. We were
soon whirled to Peterhof, and alighted
from the train in company with a
numerous party of officers, diplomats
and court officials, all under separate
and inappropriate guards. Here we were
shown into an open barouche bearing
the imperial arms, and attended by
coachmen in gold-laced liveries, with
cooked hats, cutaway coats and buff
w~aistcoats, and were driven to the royal
gardens and dormitories, where there
was a series of Withdrawing rooms with
small breakfast rooms attached. We
were first seated in one of these, and
presently an officer l uniform followed
by an amanuensis entered, and politely
saluting US in English opened a run
ming conversation. which continued for
a few minutes, while the amanuensis
wrote upon a large and separate sheets
of paper the name, rank and nativity of
each of u party. Both then with
drew.
The next formality was decidedly less
irksome. We we're conducted into the
breakfast and RECALLED with a Light
repast, which included tea, coffee, and
wine cognac, pousse-cafe, and liqueurs,
cigarettes and cigars. In a little While
another officer, in uniform and under
arms greeted us and requested that we
follow him. Entering a carriage we
were driven to the audience chamber
and ushered into a large anteroom
hung with portraits of the royal fam
lily, battle scenes, etc. Here there was
a brilliant gathering of officers and
functionaries OF high rank, generals,
admirals, ministers and diplomats all
in gorgeous uniform and glittering with
stars and decorations, humbly awaiting
their turn for a brief chance at the I'M
perial ear. Our conductor proclaimed
to the assembiage who we were, and for
a moment every eye was riveted On us,
and some of the Russian officials came
forward and spoke to us. At the same
time our names were announced to the
CZar. Minister Hunt had preceded us,
and our attendant now said that we
would be received by the Gear in the
reception room, after which we would
be presented to the Czarina in en- ante
room.
AS soon, then, as Minister Hunt had
departed we were conducted to q door
opening into q p~assegeway which led
directly to the audience chamber. This
door was thrown open by an usher, who
called ont our names and vanished. We
advanced a few PAGES two abreast, and
as we did so Gar Alexander ILL.,, En-
peror of all the Russias, crossed the room
with outstretched hands and greeted us,
saying in English:
"Good morning, gentlemen. These
are Messrs. Melville and Berry; which
is Mr.. Melyille?n
I set him right by introducing the
others, and Lieutenant Berry perform
ed the same service for me.
"Preferez vous parler en- Francois on
en- AngIais, monsieurf" the Gear in
quired.
I assured him that English being my
native tongue / preferred to speak it.
At this ;uncture the Czarina approach
ed and graciously greeted us, appearing
quite solicitors about our health. and
asking many questions in regard to our
s~ufferings. She carefully and with q
kindly show Of interest examined my
hands and fingers, which still bore the
marks of their old sores.
We then began q cross-fire of CONVEX