The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-07-08
THE FATE OF DE LONG
The story OF the Party's Sufierings as Told In
Their Leader's Note hook.


The story OF the Party's Suherings ss Told In
Their Ie~Ser's Note book.
Engineer George Melville, Of the ill.fated
Arctic search steamer Jeanette sends to the
Navy department at Washington, under date
of Lena Delta, March %, 1882, full particulars
Of his finding Of the remains OF DE Long and
his comrades He also forwards copy OF the
lOg.boOk of Lieutenant De Long Engineer
Melville says that after several unsuccessful
attempts to follow DE Longs tracks from the
norhward, he tried retracing Nlnderman' s
track from the southwark, On point OF
land at the junction of the Lem branches he
found where large fire had ban made and
Ninderman recognized it as the river down
which he came, About 100 yans north from
the point four poles dashed together were seen
projecting two feet out of the snpw-drltt under
the bank \ closer examination showed the
muzzlc of a Remington rifle standing inches
out of the snow and the uIstraps hitched
over the poles.
About 800 yards south Melville found Il
and close by THREE bodies par
TALLY buried in the snow. They proved to be
those of Lieutenant De Long, Or, Amber and
An Sam Cook. De Longs notebook was
found beside him. Under the poles were
found the books, records, &c, and two bodies
The others of the crew lay between the place
where De Long was found and the wreck o! a
fiat boat about 800 yards distant The snow
bank, which had a base of thirty feet and "A
height of twenty feet with natural slope, had
to be dug out. There was evidence Of the
land where the bodies were found having
been flooded during some part d the year, and
Melville reported his intention Dt burying the
remains in u more secure place and of prose
cutting the search for Chips party as soon as
the weather would permit.
THE ENTRIES IN TIE NOTE BOOK.
The notes made by DeLong in the note book
found beside him were begun OH Sunday, Oc-
tober |, 1881, and the first entry reads; "One
hundred and eleven days and new month.
Called all hands as soon as the cook announced
boiling water, and at 6 :45 had our breakfast
half pound of deermeat and tea The doctor
resumed the cutting away of poor Erickson's
toes this morning. No doubt Il will continue
until half his feet are gone or death ensues or
we get to a settlement Only one toe left
now" The notebook also gives an account
of each days experience from that date on,
ward, but towards the last his notes became
very short
Under date of Monday, October 3, De Long
writes that his party thought they saw a hut
but upon reaching the spot found only a
mound. A camp was made in hole in the
bluff, and roaring fire was soon drying (and
burnlng) their clothes, whiie the cold winds
ate into their backs. Nothing was left to
eat but their dog, which was killed and
dressed and made into stew OF such parts
as could not be cured. All partook Of
the stew except De Long and the doctor.
AleXy was sent Oft TO examine what they
thought was a hut, and came back at night
with favorable report. 1t was decided to
wait TIL morning before leaving. 1t was then
below zero A watch was set to keep the fire
from gong out and all huddled around 1t.
Thus the third night without sleep was PASSED.
If Alexy had not wrapped his sealskln around
De Long and kept him warm by the heat of
his body he de Long, thinks he would have
persisted. AS 1t was he steamed, and shivcred
and shook. In the morning Erickson was
unconscious and had to be lashed TO the sled.
At 8 A. NJ. the party reached hut large enough
to hold them, and for the first time since
Sunday they managed to get warm, Erickson
was very low, and prayers were read for him
before the others sought rest. AT 10 A. NJ. ali
except Aexy lay down to rest lie went off
to hunt, and at noon returned wet, having
fallen into the river. AT r. NJ they reused
u
son and n cup of tea, the day allowance, but
they were so grateful that they we're not ex.
posed to the terrible gale which was raging at
The time that they did not mind short rations.
DEATH OF ERICKSON.
On Wednesday tea and dog meat for break
fast
AlcXy again went out to hunt and Erickson
died while he was gone. AleXy returned
emptyhandcd The notes at this point say;
What in Gods name is going to become OF
us? Fourteen pounds Of dog-meat left and
twenty-five miles to II possible settlement.
They could not dig u grave for Erickson as
the ground was frozen too hard, and they had
nothing to dig with, so they sewed his body
up i'll the flaps Of the tent coverci HIM with
their flag aud cast him into the river. Three
volcys from Their rifles were fired over him.
Under date of October 6 the notes say; Zone
huAdrcd and seventeenth day. breakfast con
sisted of the last halt pound Of dog.meat, and
tea The last gram of tea was put in the ket
tie and We are about to take II 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 ted us thus
tar Will not suffer Us to die Of want now
The party lett record IN the hut which
was found by Melville rs already reported
They got under way ut $3.50 A. NJ. and proceed
ed until II 20, by which time they had made
about three miles and were pretty well done
up. They had half an ounce ct alcohol in
pint of tea for dinner; went ahead and struck
what appeared to he the main river again
Here tour of the party broke through the ice
IN trying To cross, and fearing frost bite fire
was built. AleXy was sent oil to look for food,
being directed not to go far nor st ~ long. lie
came back at $40 wl,n %, p'armigan, OF
which soup was made and VIVA n,'t an ounce
of alcohol made their supper,
LIVING ON ALCOHOL.
saturday, October s, the notes say: Called
all hands at $50; breakfast hat ounce OF
alcohol and pint of hot water. Alcohol
proves OF great Advantage; keeps oil craving
for food, preventing gnawlng at stomach, AMI
keeps up the strength of the men, who ar,
given three ounces day. Went ahead AT
1890, and after five miles struck big river
again; have to turn back: halt AT ); only
made advance OF one mile. Hard luck; snow,
t.f Ia, sa.NIa al