Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-07-07

4 OUT EhAlN0 AMI O1A a.
The Navy Department is in receipt of
advices from Engineer Geo. W. Melville,
dated Lena Delta, March rs, 1882, in which
he gives a detailed account of his opera
tions up to that date and full particulars
of the finding of the remains of De Long
and his comrades. He also, forwarded a
copy Of the log book of Lieut.. De Long.
| Engineer Melville states that after several
| unsuccessful attempts to follow De Long s
track from the northward, he tried re-
| tracing Nindermand' track from the
southwark. On point of land at the
| junction of the Lena branches forming
one of the banks of one of the rivers he
found where a large fire had been made
and Ninderman recognized it as the river
point to go north. and about 100 yards
| from the point four poles ashed together
were seen projecting two feet out of the
snow drift under the bark. A closer ex-
animation showed the muzzle of a Rem
ington rifle standing eight inches out of
the snow, and the gun straps hitched over
the polls. The natives were set to work
digging out the bank, and Melville and
Ninderman searched the bank on the high
ground. About 500 yards south. Melville
found camp kettle in the snow and close
by three bodies partially buried in the
snow. They proved to be Lieut.. De Long,
DR.. Amber, and All Sam (cook). De
| Longs notebook was found beside him;
copy Of the contents Of the notebook is
enclosed. Under the poles were found the
books, records, &C., and two bodies. The
rest of the crew lay between the place
where De Long was found, and the wreck,
a flatboat, about 500 yards distant. The
snow bank which had base of 80 feet and
| height of 20 feet, with a natural slope
| would have to be dug out. There was
evidence of the land where the bodies we're
found having been flooded during some
part of the year, and Melville states his
intention of burying the remains in more
secure place and of prosecuting the search
for Chips party as soon as the weather
would permit The notes made by De
Long were begun Saturday, October l.,
1881, and the first entry is ''111th day and
new month. Called all hands as soon as
the cook announced boiling water, and at
| 6:45 had our breakfast-half pound Of deer
meat and tea. The doctor resumed the
cutting away of poor Erickson's toes this
morning; no doubt it will have to contin-
ne till half his feet are gone or death en-
sues, or we get to settlement. Only one
an account of each days experience from
that time onward, but towards the last
| his notes become very short
Under date of Monday. October 8, De
Long writes that his party thought that
they saw hut. but upon reaching the
spot only found mound. A camp was
made in hole in the bluff, and roaring
fire was soon drying and burning their
clothes, while the cold wind ate into their
backs. Nothing was left to eat but their
dog, which was killed and dressed and
stew made of such parts as could not be
cured. All partook of the stew except De
Long and the doctor. Alexy was sent off
to examine what they thought was hut
and came back at night with favorable
report. 1t was decided to wait till morn
ing before leaving. 1t was then below Ze
70. A watch was set to keep the fire 60
ing, and all huddled around it, and thus
the third night without sleep was passed.
If Alexy had not wrapped his sealskin
around De Long and kept him warm by
the heat of bis body he (De Long, thinks
he would have persisted. AS it was, he
morning Erickson was unconscious and
had to he dashed to the sled. At8 a. M,
the party reached hut large enough to
hold them all, and for the first time since
Saturday they managed to get warm
Erickson was very low and prayers were
read for him before the others sought rest
At 10 a. m. all except Alexy lay down to
sleep. Alexy went off to hunt and at noon
returned wet, having fallen into the river.
At p. m. they reused up and had pound
of dog meat for each person and cup of
tea, the days allowance. but they we're so
grateful that they were not exposed to the
terrible gale which was raging at the time
that they did not mind short rations. On
Wednesday, tea and dog meat for break
fast. Aexy again went off hunting and
came back with nothing. On Tuesday
had cup of third-hand tea, with half an
ounce Of alcohol it it. Alexy was again
sent out to hunt and Erickson died while
he was gone. Alexy returned empty
handed.
The notes at this point say: "What in
Gods name is going to become of us, four
teen pounds of dog meat left, and twen-
ty-fve miles to possible settlementp'
They could not dig grave for Erickson
as the ground was frozen too hard, and |
they had nothing to dig with, so they
sewed his body up IN the flaps of the tent,
covered him with their flag and buried |
him in the river. Three volleys from their |
Remingtons were fired over him. Under |
date Of October 6, the notes say: Zone
hundred and seventeenth day. Breakfast |
consisted of the last half pound of dog
meat and tea. The last grain of tea was |
put in the kettle, and we are now about to |
undertake journey of twenty-five miles
with some old tea leaves and two quarts |
of alcohol. However, trust in God and |
believe that He who has fed US this far |
will not suffer us to die Of want now"
The party left record in the hut which |
was found By Melville as already reported.