Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-18

ever passed through Boring strait. The
vessel left San Francisco July s, 1879, and
met the ice early in September. The
Jeanette never escaped from the foe
which held her. but drifted almost steadi-
ly to the westward for nearly two years.
and in the end was crushed leaving her
crew, including Melville, on the ice foe in
midocean. Lieut.. De Long, in writing of
the weary hours passed in this manner.
said:
melville is more and more treasure
every day. He is not only without a SUI
perior as an engineer. but he is bright
and cheerful to an extraordinary extent.
He sings well. is always contented and
brightens everybody by his presence
alone. He is always self-helpful and re-
liant, never worries about the future, is
ready for any emergency. has cheerful
word for everybody night and morning
and is in fine, tower OF strength in
himself"
Praised by Congress.
In reporting favorably bill giving him
promotion for his heroic services the
naval committee of the House of Repre-
sentatives of the Fiftieth Congress said:
1.-The qualities as officer and man dis
played by Chief Engineer Melville
throughout the cruise of the Inflated
Jeanette. and especially during the re-
treat of her crew over the ice and waves
of the polar sea to the desolate shores of
northern Siberia. and more strikingly
during the search for the remains of
Lieut.. Commander De Long and his party
during the perils and privations of an
arctic winter have evoked the admiration
of the world
This bill was passed.
Rear Admiral Melville was closely
identified with the construction or the
new navy of the United States. In
1887 the Secretary of the Navy instructed
Chief Engineer Melville to prepare spe-
cial designs for. the machinery OF two
1,7OO-ton gunboats and original drawings
for that of one 4,1OO-ton cruiser. From
this latter design the machinery of the
cruiser San Francisco was built, ana
there was ended the regime OF imported
machinery plans for vessels of the United
States Navy.
Remains Steadfast.
Rear Admiral Melville served on the
board of construction as engineersin- chief
with Rear Admiral r. B. Bradford. Rear
Admiral Charles O'Neil Chief Construc-
tor Philip Hichborn and Chief Constructor
Bowles. There arose many heated argu-
ments over the proper designs of vessels,
but Rear Admiral Melville ever remained
steadfast to his point, and as result Is
responsible for much of the modern I'M
provement in the construction of naval
vessels.
When he retired he took up private
business. and up to the time of his death
was man of vigOr and action He
married Miss Estalla Smith Polls. a
Philadelphia society woman, October II.
1907.
Honorary Pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearers who will act at
the funeral on Wednesday of Rear Ad-
miral Melville will include Lieut. Gen.
Arthur Macarthur, L. S. A, retired.
Other honorary pallbearers will be Col.
John P Nicholson, representing the Loyal
Legion; Rear Admiral E. c. Pendleton
and Capt ]. r. Edwards, representing
the navy; George Westinghouse of Pitts
burgh, representing the American Society
of Mechanical Engineers; Robert S. Crit
fin of the Naval Society. President
Humphreys of the Engineers Club, New
York. and of Stevens Institute of Tech
nology: Henry G. Bryant, representing
Geographical and Arctic societies; DR..
Samuel G. Dixon. state health officer of
Pennsylvania, who represents the Phila-
delphia Academy of Natural Science.
The active pallbearers will be detach-
ment Of chief petty officers from the Phil
adelphia navy yard.