The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-07-07
rIRur. DR. LoxG,s DIARY.

LIEUT.. DE LONGS DIARY.
= ~. a. rerri1le BEAD
fron CelA and Starvatlon-TheB ore
rors q Aresic KxploFasls0.
WASHINGTON. D. O.. June "a
The Navy Department II In receipt OF .
report from Engineer Melville, giving IN
detail the story Of his search for De Long
and party and the discovery Of their dead
bodies. Tho following extracts are from
De Longs notebook.
Under date Of Monday, Oct. Sd. De Long.
writes his party thought they saw . bus
but upon reaching the spot. found only ..
mound. A camp was made In hole In the
bluff and roaring fire was soon burning
and drying their clothes, while the cold wind
ate into their backs. Nothing was LETT %
eat but their dogs, which were killed and
dressed and stew made OF such parts e
could not be cured. At 8 .. N. the
party reached hut large enough to holo
them. and for the first time since SATURDAY
they managed to get warm. Erickson wae
very low, and prayers were read for him
before others sought rest. Alexy was 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 usi Four
teen pounds of dog meat left, and twenty
five miles to possible settlement They
could not dig grave for Erickson, - the
ground was frozen too hard and they had
nothing to dig with. So they sewed his
body up in laps Of their tent, covered him.
with their flag and buried him In the river.
Under date of October the notes say:
117th day" Breakfast consisted Of the last
half.pound Of dog meat and tea. The last
grain Of tea was put in the keith. 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 thus will not suffer US to die Of want
now" The party left the record in the hut,
ported. They got under way ut $3.50 =. m...
and proceeded until 11:2O, by which time.
they had made about three miles. They
were all pretty well done up.
They had half an ounce Of alcohol in . pot
of tea for dinner; went ahead and soon.
struck what seemed to be the lain river
Again here four Of the party broke through,
the ice in trying to cross, and fearing frost
bite fire was built. Alexy was sent on to
look for food, being directed not to 60 far
nor stay long. He came back ut $50 with
one ptsrmigan Of which soup was made and
with half an ounce Of alcohol made their
supper.
Saturday, October sth.-Called all hands.
ut $50. Breakfast half an ounce of alcohol
and pint of hot water. The alcohol proves
of great advantage and keeps of the craving
for food, preventing gnawing of the stomach,
and has kept up the strength Of the men,.
who are given three ounces aday. We went
ahead until 1880, and after five miles struck
big river again and had to turn back, only
making an advance of one mile. Cold camp.
but little wood and half an ounce of alc0--
hOl.
Sunday, 9th.-All hands out at 4:3O; half.
an ounce of alcohol; read divine services,
sent Ninderman and Noros ahead for relief.
They started at Z; cheered them under
way. At crossed q creeA and broke
through the ice; all wet up to the knees.
Dried clothing, and all under way again ~
1880. At struck the river bank; halt for
dinner; half-ounce Of alcohol. Alexy shot.
three ptarmigans; made soup. We are.
following Ninderman's track, although he,
is long since out of sight. Found canoe.
and laying our heads on it, went to sleep.
Monday, 1Oth.-Last half-ounce Of alcohol
at $3.50; at $3.50 sent Alexy off to look for
ptarmigans; ate deerskin yesterday morn.
at g.; in crossing creek three got wet; bailt
fire and dried out; ahead again till IL; used
up; built fire and made drink out Of tea
leaves and DRAWINGS from alcohol bottles
OH again at noon; very hard going; ptarmi-
gan tracks plentiful; at halted, used up:.
crawled into q hole in the bank; Alexy in
quest OF game; nothing for supper except
spoonful of glycerine; all hands weak and
feeble, but cheerful; God help us!
Tuesday, 11th.-Gale with snow; Unable.
to move; no game. One spoonful Of glycer-
Inc and hot water for food; no more wood.
in our vicinity.
Wednesday, 12th.-Breakfast, last spoon
full of gIycerine and hot water. For dinner
we stepped . couple of handfuls of Arctic.
willow in q pot OF water and drank the in
fusion. Everybody getting weaker and
weaker and hardly able to get frewoOd.l
Thursday, 13th.-Wilow tea. No news
from Ninderman. We are in the hands OF
God and unless He relents, we are lost. We
cannot move against the wind and staying
here means starvation. Afternoon, went
ahead for q mile; after crossing another
river Lee " .nt down in hole in the banks.
camped and sent back for Lee. He had
lain down and was waiting to Gle. All
united in saying the LORDS prayer and,
cried. After supper strong gale Of wind
and q horrible night.
Friday, 14th.-Breakfast, willow tea; din.-
ner, ne-half teaspoonful sweet oil and will
low tea. Alexy shot one ptarmigan; had
soup. Wind moderating.
Saturday, 15th.-Breakfast, willow tea.
and two old boots. Conclude to move at
sunrise. Alexy breaks down; also Lee.
Come to empty grain raft, halt and camp
ward.
Sunday, 16th.-Alexy broke down. Dr.
vine service.
Monday.-Alexy dying. The doctor bap.-
tised him and read the prayer for the sick.
Mr.. Collins birthday; 10 years old. About.
sunset Alexy died OF exhaustion from star:
walton. Covered him with the ensign and.
laid him in crib.
Tuesday.-Calm and mild; snow falling.
Buried Alexy in the afternoon; laid him on.
the ice and covered him with slabs of ice.
Wednesday.-Cut up tent to make foot
gear. The doctor went ahead to find new,
camp. Shifted by dark.
Thursday.-Bright and sunny, but very
cold. Lee and Kaack done up.
Friday.--Kaack was found dead about
midnight, between the doctor and myself.
Lee died about noon. Read prayers for tho
sick when we found he was going to die
Saturday.-Too weak to carry the bodies.
of Lee and Kaack out on the ice. The doc
tor, Collins and myself carried them around
the corner. out Of sight Then my eyes
closed up.
Sunday.-Everybody pretty weak. Slept
or rested to-day, and then managed to get
enough wood in by dark. Read part Of di-
vine service. Suffering In our feet. No.
foot gear.
Monday..-A hard night.