CHAPTER X. 



ENGINEER MELVILLE'S NARRATIVE. 



WHEN the Jeannette's crew was retreating over the 

 ice towards the New Siberian Islands, after the loss 

 of their ship, Lieutenant Danenhower suffered severely from 

 trouble with his eyes, and in consequence thereof was re- 

 lieved from duty. Engineer Melville succeeded him as com- 

 mander of the whale-boat party, and received orders from 

 Lieutenant DeLong as follows : 



" U. S. ARCTIC EXPEDITION, CAPE EMMA, 

 BENNETT ISLAND, LAT. 76.38, LON. 148.20 E., 



August 5th, 1881. 

 To P. A. ENGINEER GEORGE W. MELVILLE, U. S. N. : 



SIR We shall leave this island to-morrow, steering a 

 course (over ice or through water as the case may be) south 

 magnetic. In the event of our embarking in our boats at 

 any time after the start, you are hereby ordered to take com- 

 mand of the whale-boat until such time as I relieve you from 

 that duty or assign you to some other. Every person under 

 my command at the time who may be embarked in that boat 

 at any time is under your charge and subject to your orders, 

 and you are to exercise all care and diligence for their pre- 

 servation and the safety of the boat. You will under all 

 circumstances keep close to the boat in which I shall em- 

 bark ; but if unfortunately we become separated you will 

 make the best of your way south until you make the coast 

 of Siberia, and follow it along to the westward as far as the 

 Lena River. This river is the destination of our party, and 

 without delay you will, in case of separation, ascend the Le- 

 na to a Russian settlement from which you can communicate 

 or be forwarded with your party to some place of security 



(111) 



