The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-04-17
THE DISASTER.
The Reception Of lieutenant Melville by
the Gar OF Russia.

The Reception Of lieutenant Melville by
the Gar OF Russia.
A~narrative of the Search for Lieuten-
ant Commander De Long and his COM
panions. By George W. Melville,
Chief-Engineer, U. 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
repeatedly told, Mr.. Melville gives the
painful topic q 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 Gear of
Russia.
During the day we had been waited
upon by an aid, q colonel of engineers,
who delivered invitations to myself and
two seameu of the Jeanette and Lieut..
Berry, OF the Rodgers, to be presented
to their maiesties, the car and cZarine
at Peterhof, an imperial summer palace
about sixteen miles out of the city. An
usher in civilian clothes next made his
appearance, anddirected us how to pro-
coed. Our dress, if not uniform, should
be full evening dress, with white ties;
the carriages at st. Petersburg were to
be of Il WI providing; but q special
car on the train leaving at IL 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-
scented at court the same day, but he
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 appropriate guards. Here we were
shown into al open barouche bearing
the imperial arms, and attended by
coachmen in gold-laced l~iveries, with
cooked hats, cutaway coats and buff
waistcoats, and were driven to the royal
gardens and dormitorias, where there
VASE series of withdrawing rooms with
small breakfast rooms attached. We
were first seated in one of these, and
presently an officer In uniform followed
by IN ananuensis entered, and politely
saluting us in English opened o run
ming conversation. which continued for
a few minutes, while the amanuensis
wrote upon q large and separate sheets
of paper the name, rank and nativity of
each of our party. Both then with
drew.
The next formality was decidedly less
irksome. We were conducted into the
breakfast room and re galed with a light
repast, which included tea, coffee, and
wine; cognac, pousse-cafe, and Liquors,
cigarettes and cigars. In q little while
another officer, in uniform and under
arms greeted us and requested that We
follow him. Entering q carriage we
were driven to the audience chamber
and usherel into q large anteroom
hung with portraits of the royal fam
lily, battle Genes 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 q brief chance at the I'M
perial ear. Our conductor proclaimed
to the a~ssembiage who we were, and Tor
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 m were announced to the
Gar. Minister Hunt had preceded us,
and our attendant now said hat 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 ha6
departed we were conducted to o door
opening INTO a passegeway which lee
directly to the audience chamber. This
door was thrown open by an usher, WHO
called out our names and vanished. We
, advanced q few PAGES two abreast, ant
: as we did SO Gear 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.. Melville?"
;. [ set him right by introducing the
others, and Lieutenant Berry perform
ed the same service for me.
. "Preferez vous parler en- Francois OIL
!, en- Anglais, monsleur?" the Gear in
CURED.
I assured him that English being m,
native tongue / preferred to speak it
At this juncture the Czarina approach
ed and graciously greeted US, appearing
t quite solicitous about Il health. ant
4 asking many questions in regard to on;
4 su~fferings. She carefully and with
kindly show of interest examined m,
, hands and fingers, which still bore tn
marks of their old sores.
We then began o cross-fre of CONVEX
: %sation, each Of the royal pair conversinl
: at times with one OF another Of our par
! ty. Finally the czar expressed his regre
t that any of us should lave come to grie
on his territory, however remote; ant
\ IT trust" said he. 'that it was the rig
OR of our climate alone, and not thu
GOODNESS of heart of any of my people
! which caused the death of your com
rades."
! The czarine commeded our fortitud,
4 and courage, which, she said were pc
, culiarities of the American character
! "But I hope" she remarked, chat yol
will not again attempt fortune in tn
frozen north"
Speaking of our own land, she OBJ
served, with a gentle sorrow in he
. tone, II had hoped in my youth to Wis
, it America, but now, | fear, it can new
, er be-"
There coming q lull at length in on