112	JEANNETTE INQUIRY.
By Mr. CURTIS:
Q. Well, how much ?—A. Probably it would have amounted to some-where about a thousand pounds I should think; probably a little more.
Q. Would thirty-three men have any difficulty in transporting a thou-sand pounds?—A. Yes, we had at that time. Under such circumstances every little thing is a burden to you.
Q. At the time you left were the men in good condition?—A. Yes. Q. Strong in physical health ?—A. Most of them were. Some were not as strong as others.
Q. Did you have any shotguns with you?—A. At the time we left the ship we had, but when we started to travel we abandoned them.
By Mr. BOUTELLE:
Q. Why did you do that ?—A. Because it was too much weight.
By Mr. CURTIS:
Q. If they had not been too much weight, was there any game you could have shot?—A. Not at that time.
Q. Afterwards ?—A. No; I speak of Bennett Island.
Q. Did you take any axes with you from the ship?—A. One or two. Q. How many axes was she fitted out with?—A. That I don't know. Q. A large number?—A. Yes, a good many.
Q. Did you not find want of axes a great deprivation?—A. No; pick-axes were the principal want.
Q. You had pick-axes ?—A. We had one or two, and probably lost one afterwards.
Q. In the ship?—A. In the ship we had five or six.
Q. Was it pick-axes you had in going to that country ?—A. Yes. Q. Are you quite sure ?—A. Quite sure.
Q. And out of five or six such useful implements as that you took two?—A. Yes, sir.
Q. Now, passing the journey on the ice—I do not want to ask you anything that is not necessary—when did you take to the boats ?—A. We took to the boats on leaving Bennett Island; that is, boating and going over the ice.
Q. Now, when you took to the boats, who commanded the first boat? —A. Captain De Long.
Q. Who commanded the second boat?—A. Mr. Chipp.
Q. Who commanded the third boat?—A. Mr. Melville.
Q. And you had only three?—A. Only three.
Q. Who had the cutters?—A. Captain De Long had the first cutter, Lieutenant Chipp the second cutter, and Mr. Melville the whale-boat.
Q. Did Mr. Melville choose the whale-boat or was it assigned to him? —A. I don't know; I suppose it was assigned to him.
Q. You were with De Long's party?—A. I was.
Q. Your feelings are friendly both towards De Long and Collins?—A. I haven't any hard feelings towards anybody.
Q. Your feelings are of a friendly character towards all who were en-gaged in the expedition?—A. I am not one of those men who carry a grudge. If I have a little fight, when I get away it is all done, and if I meet the party again we are good friends. I might as well cut this whole concern short. These people had some disagreement, and as far as I could see there was a hard feeling between them.
Q. When did the boats separate?—A. They separated on the night of the 12th of September, 1881.
Q. And where were you then?—A. We were probably 40 miles to the