The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-07-06
THE JEANETTE TRAGEDY.

TIE JEANETTE TRAGEDY.
Dlnry ~ De Long. showing tllc Grind
Mnl Approach ~ starvation - A
Chapter Of Awsml Suffering and
Horror, such Rs IL lsHrcIy ReDd--.
The SlOsS Downward G;nsmns Of Dog
Meat. AicOiiOI. a:lyccrinc, Leather,
1aOt Water amt Death.
The Navy Department. at Washington, Is in
receipt Of report from Engineer Melville, civ.
ing IN detail tho story OF his search for Lieut..
do Long and party, ard the discovery OF their
dead bodies. The following extracts arc from
Do Lopg's notebook.
Under date Of Monday, Oct. 3, DO Long
writes that his party thought they saw a boat,
but upon reaching the spot found only mound.
A calup was made in . hole in tho blur, and
roaring frc built, 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 4 stew made
OF such parts ~ could not be cured,
All partook OF the stew except De Long.
DR.. Acay WAS sent on to examine what they
Thought Was hut and came back ut ght
with favorable report. It was decided to wait
till morning before leaving. II was then below
Zero. A watch was set 10 keep the firc going,
and oil huddled around il, aud thus third
night without sleep was passed. II AlcAy had
not wrapped his soalskn around De Long, and
kept him warm by tho heat Of his body, lie JDe
Long, thinks he would have persisted, 40 ho Was
steamed, and 2hivcrtd and shook.
At m. tho party reached the hut which
was largo enough TO hold them, aud FOR tho
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 =. NJ. all except Alexy laid down
to sleep. Alexs went or TO hunt, and at noon
returned wot, having fallen into the river. At
p. M. they fo,ised up and had pound Of
dog-neat for each person and cup OF tea, tho
days allowance. But they were 80 grateful
that they were not exposed to the terrible gale
which VAS raging that they did not mind the
short ratons.
On Wednesday they had tea and dog meat
for breakfast. Al.xy again went OF hunting
the. had cup OF third-hand tea, with half an
ounce Of alcohol in it. Aiexy was again sent
out to hunt, AMI Erickson died Mh.ic lie was
gone. AlcAs returned cmpty-handed. Tho
notes at this point say: .What in Gods name
IL gong to become OF us2 Fourteen pounds OF
dog meat left, and Twenty-Five miles to . pos
sible settlement
They could not dig 4 grave for Erickson, a
the ground WAS frozen too hard. and they had
nothing 10 dig with so they scwed his body up
IN laps Of tent, covered HIM with their flags,
and lulisd him in the iiv,r. Three voleys
from thsir R,mlngtons were fired over him.
Under date Of Oct. 6 the notes say: "Il7th
day Breakfast consisted of tho last half pound
Of dog meat aud tea. Tho last grain Of tea WAS
PUT III tho kettle, aud We arc now about TO Nn-
dcrsake 4 journey cf twenty-five miles, with
sonle old tea leaves and two quarts of alcohol.
However. trust IN God, and | believe that He
who has fed us thus far will not suffer us 10 do
nf ants ~ N.Y.. 90 l,af a Ia la
hut, which was found BY Melville A. already
reported. They got under way al $50 4. M,
aud proceeded until lao \. m, by which tms
They had made about thrcc mites aud w,ro all
pretty well done up They had half an ounce
Of alcohol III apct OF tea for dinner. Tney
went ahead and room struck what seemed to be
the main river again. Here four o; the party
broke through tho leo in trying to cross, and,
fearing frost bites, lire was built. Alexy was
sent on to look for food, being directed not 10
SO far or stay long. He came back about $50
with one ptarmgan, Of which soup was made,
and with half N ounce Of alcohol made their
supper.
Saturday, Oct. 1, the notes say: SCALED all
hands nj $50. Breakfast Of bali an ounce OF
alcohol and pint Of hot water. Alcohol proves
OF great advantage, keeping on the cravings for
food, preventing Enawng OF the stomach, and
has kept up the strength OF the men, who are
given three ounces = day. Went ahead until
kVsJUs ALlu utkSE wv HuWSh NuG UtH ltVCI
again. Have to turn back. Oaly made an ad-
vance Of one mile; cold camp but little wood,
aud halt an ounce OF alcohol.
"SundSv, ath.-Ali hands ut $50. Halt
ounce Of alcohol. Read divine service
sent Nlnderman and Noros ahcadIo rolie:.
They started 1t Z; chccrcd them under way. At
crossed the creek, broke through ice, all wei
| mp to the knees. Dried clothing and under
way again at iU:3a AT struck the river bank
halt tor dinner--hAlf IN ounce OF alcohol.
Alexy shot three ptarmigans; made soup We
are following NindegmAn's track, although he il
long since out OF sight Found . cave lay ouE
heads in il, and 60 70 slcsp.
eohol at $3.50. At $50 sent Alexy on to look
for ptarmisan. Eat deer-skln scraps; yester-
day morning ato my deer-skin foot-tips. Under
way at q In crossing the creek three got writ
built tirc and dried ont Ahead again till IL
used up Built ire and made drink out OF tes
leaves and from alcohol bottle. On again a
noons very hard going. Ptarmigan track,
plentiful Ats halted. used up. Crawlcd into
= hole in bank. Alcxy in quest OF game.
Nothing for supper exceut 4 spoonful Of glvcer-
i've. All hands weak aud fe.ble, but cheerful.
God help Us.
.Taesday, llth--Gale, with SNOW; unable tc
mcves no game. One spoonful OF giycerlnt
vicinity.
"Wednesday, lath. breakfast, last spoon.
fnt Of glyccrinc aud hot water. For dinner, a
couple OF handfuls Of Arctic willow in pot oi
water. aud drank the infusion. Everybody
getting weaker and weaker, and hardly able t.
get iilcwood. Gale, with s0ow.
"Taarsday, 18th. = Willow tea. No new,
from Ssndcrman. We are in the hands OF God
aud. unless He relents, We are lost. We canno,
move against wind, and staying here mesnt
starvation. In the afternoon went ahead for .
mule after crossing another river missed Lee
Went down in hole IN tho bank and int
camp Sent back for Ice, he had laid down,
and WAS waiting 10 die All united in Saying
the Lords Prayer. aud cried After supper q
strong gale Of wind horrible night
.EridAy.-Ircakfast willow tea dinner,
one-half teasuoonful OF sWcet-ol and willow
tea Alexy shot one ptarmigan Had soup
saturday. Oct lh-Rrcakfast willow te,
aud two old boots Conclude TO move at sun
rise. Aexy breaks down also Lee. Come e
empty grain raft halt and camp Signs Of
| smoke q twilight TO southwark
"sanday, Oct l6-Alexy broke down. d.
vine service
read prayers for the sick. MIR. Collins birth.
day-l0 yeArs old. About sunset Alexy died Of
exhaustion from starvation Covered IN the
ensign and laid him in the crib.
"T0esday.-Calm aud mild; snow falling
buried Alcxy In the afternoon; laid him on tLs
/ Ice ana covered 0lm with SLABS al N0e
"WEDNESDAY. Cutting up tent to make foot.
gear. Doctor went ahead to lind new camp
Shifted by dark.
| "Thursday.-Rnght and sunny, but very
cold Lee and Koack done up
| Friday.-Koack Vas found dead about mid.
| night, between the Doctor and myself. Lex
died about noon. Head prayers for tho sick
| when No found he va going.
"SAtnrday.-Too weak 70 carry bodies Of Lex
| and Koack out on the ice. The Doctor, Col-
Inns aud myself carried them around the cor
nor out OF sight Then my eyes closed up.
"sunday. pretty weak slept o
| rested TO-DAY, aud then managed to got enough
wood in by DARK Rsad part Of the divine
service. Suffering in our feet no foot-gesr
"Nonday.-A hard night
TUESDAY, "Wednesday, and Thursday, 9th
the l31,h day. lverson broken down.
.Friday.-lycrson died during the earl
morning.
saturday, 29th.-Drossler died during th
nisht.
.Sunday, Oct. 30.-One hundred and for
tieth day. Boyd and Sartx died during I'll
night Mr.. Collins dying
tNoTk--This il the end Of De Longs diaEy
ne Long. Surgeon Amber aud All Sam, u
cook, must have died soon after the last not
II