Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-07-08

RDAY, JULY 8,
THE FATE OF DE LONG.
The Story of the Party's Suffering
as Told in their Leaders
| Notebook. .s
Travelling fn snow aud Ice ON Al
cohol, GlYcerine, ,WilloW.Leaves
and scraps Of Deer-Skin.
dep .rtment IS in receipt OF advices from
Engineer George w. Melville, dated
Lena Delta, March 26, 1882, in which III
gives full particulars OF the finding o
the rsmalus of De Ling and his com
rades. He also forwards q copy of tn,
log-book OF Lientensnt De Long. En-
gineer Melville says that after severa
unsuccessful attempts to follow d.
Longs track from the norihwsrd, he
tried retracing Ninderman's track from
the southwark. On point of land at
the Junction OF the l. ma branches be
found VIII. re- large tirr had been made
and Ninderman recognized it as the
river down wnirh ho came About lOC
yards north frem tho point TOUR pole.
dashed together we're seen projecting
two feet out Of the snow. DRIFT under the
bank. closer examination showed
the muzzle Of Remington rifle stand
ing eight INCHES out oi the suow and the
gun-strap h.iche;i over the poles.
About five hundred yards south Mel
vile found camp kettle, and close by
three bO,lies partially Buried in the
snow. they proved IL be those ol
Lieutenant Delong. DIR. Amber and
Alb Sam (cook) De Longs note book
was found beside him. Under the poles
were found the hooks, records. &C.,
and two bodies. The others oi the crew
lay between the place whore De Long
was found and the wreck Of hat- boal
about 500 yards distant. The snow
bank, which had base OF thirty teei
and height OF tw enty feet with a natu.
raj slope, had to be dug out. There
was evidence OF the land where the
bodies were iound having been flooded
during some part OF the year, and MI.
vile reported his intention OF buryinR
the remains In y moro secure place and
of presenting the search for Chipp's
party O. soon a. the weather would per.
init. ...-.
THE ENTRIES IN TIE NOTE BOOK.
The notes made bv De Long in the
| note book found beside him were begun
on Saturday, October 1. 1881. and the
first entry reads: Zone hundred AND
eleventh day aud new month. Called
all hands as soon as the cook
announced boiling water, and at 6 At
had our breakfast-half pound of deer
meat and tea. The doctor resumed the
cutting away OF poor Ericksou's toe.
this morning. No doubt it will have tc
continue till halt OF his feet are gone OF
death ensues, or we get to u settlement
Only one toe lett now" The notebook
also gives an account Of each days ex
perience from 'th It date onward. but to
| ward the last his notes became very
short.
Under date of Monday. October 5, De
Long writesthat his party thought they
| saw u hut, but upon reaching the spot
found only q mound. A camp was
made in hole IN The bluff, and roar.
ing fire was soon drying (and burning)
their clothes, while the cold winds ate
into their backs. Nothing was lett to
eat but their dog, which was killed aud
dressed and stew made of such parts
as could not be cured. All partook ol
the stew except De Long and the doc.
tor. A exy was sent off to examine
what they thought WAS hut. and came
back at night with favorable report.
1t was decided to wait till morning be-
tore leaving. 1t was then below zero.
A watch was sett keep the fire from
going out, and all huddled around
it. Thus the third night without sleep
was passed. II Alexy had not wrapped
his seal l-sktn around Do Long and kept
him warm by the heat "f hls body he
(De Long) thinks he wou have perish
ed, As II VIVA. he steamed. aud shiver.
Ell and shook. In the morning Erick-
son Was unconscious aud ha to be
lashed to the sled. AIS p. III. the party
reached hut large enough to hold
them, and for the first time sincn Sat.
urday they managed to get warm. Erick-
son was very low and prayers were
read for him before the others sought
rest At 10 II. m all except Alexy lay
down to rest. He went of to hunt, and
at noon returned wet. having fallen into
the river. At p. m.. they reused up
andh a pound Of dog m at ior each
person and u cup OF tea, the day allow
ance. but they we're 80 grateful that
they were not exposed t., the terrible
gale which was raging at the time that
they did not mind short ratiOns.
THE DEATH OF ERICKSON.
On Wednesday tea and dog meat for
break fast.
Alexy again went off hunting, but
came back without anything. On Thurs
day had cup OF thiJ d-hand tea with
halt an ounce OF alcohol in it. Alexy
was again sent cut to hunt and Erickson
died while he Was gone. Alexy return
ed empty-han,lsd. The notes at this
point say: "What in Gods name is
going to become of usp Fourteen
pounds of dog meat lsit and twenty live
miles to q possible settlement" They
Could not dig grave tor f ickson us
TIL ground was ir,zen too Il .rd, and
they hal nothing to dig with. So they
sewed his body up in the fl Fps of the
tent. covered him with their flag and
& II him into the river. Three volieys
irn II their rifles were fred over him.
Under date Of October 6, the notes
say: "One hundred aud ssveni een,h
day, breakfast consls, cd Of the last halt
pound OF dog.meat ami tea. Tue last
grain OF tea was put, in the kettle and
we are now about 10 take journey of
twenty-five miles with some old tea
leaves and two quarts of alcohol. How
ever. trust in God and l believe that
he who has fed US thus Tar will not SUIT
Ter us to die Of want now"
The party lett record IN the hut
which was found by Melville as already
reported. They got under way at 8 80
a. M. and proceeded until 1t:20. by
which time they had made about three
miles and we're all pretty we'll done up
They had half an ounce OF alcohol In a
pot Of tea Tor dinner; went ahead and
struck what appeared to he the main
river again. Here t,ur OF the party
broke through the ice trying to cross,
and fearing frost bite fire wa. built.
Alexy was sent off to look tor food bein q
not to gn far nor stay long. lie
came back at 5 80 with one plarmlgan,
of which soup Was made. and with ha
an ounce OF alcohol made their supper.
LIVING ON ALCOHOL.
Saturd y. October s. the no, es say
'Called all hands At 5 30 bresk asst,
hali'nunce OF alcohol and II pint OF hot |
water. Alcohol proves of great advan-
age; keeps Off craving tor ioo.i, pre-
venting gnawing at stomach, and keeus |
~ the strength OF the men. who are
given three ounces q dav. Went ahead
MI