The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-04-01

The latest record found was dated
October 1. A Yakut hunter discovered
1t in hut on the Lena. At this time
all of Lieut.. De Longs party were yet
alive. They had two days. supply of
but had no fear Of the fu.
ture, as they had all along been able to
get game. Erickson's toes had been
amputated in consequence of frost bite.
The party was about to cross to the
west side of the Lena. From the two
men sent ahead by Lieut.. De Long on
October 9, Melville learned something
of the wanderings OF the lost men sub
sequent to October 1. They crossed the
Lena to the west bank Mt summer
hunting lodge called Usterela. Erick-
son was carried in an improvised bed
drawn by his comrades. They proceed
ed south for two days, and crossed
q small branch of the Lena, which they
had to wade. On October they stopped
at small hut, where Erickson died the
next day, and was buried in the Lena.
BY this time they were in a deplorable
condition, having eaten their last allow
ance of dog meat, and being on an al
lowance of three ounces of alcohol per
man per day.
They pushed south until October 3,
when Lieut.. De Long decided to send
two men ahead to seek relief. The feet
of Ninderman and Nores were better
than those of the others, and they were
supplied with their blankets and REM
ington rifles, forty rounds of ammuui-
ton, and six ounces of alcohol, which
was per capita division of the whole
stock of the latter. They were ordered
to proceed south ON the west bank of
the Lena, and to send relief if found,
being told that the others would follow
their footsteps. When the two men
started the party was at a halt on the
north bank of a large western branch
of the Lena. The two men assembled
that branch about five miles to make a
crossing, and then travelled east to a
hut situated on the Lena bank. After
fourteen days of intense suffering and
slow progress they reached Belcour and
were found by three natives, who sup
piled them with food and transported
them to Bclun by deer sleis, arriving
at that place on September q.
Melville visited the place where DE
Long crossed the Lena in November
His party suffered greatly, and got back
to Belun on November p in Il nearly
exhausted condition. Concerning the
further search of Lieut.. De Long Mel
Vile says:
| "From my knowledge of tho coun.
try, and from the evidence of Nores
and Ninderman, am convinced that
Lieut.. De Long and party arc some.
where to the westward of the Lena, and
between Sixteraneck and Beicour
which are separated by an extent o
about $50 versts of barren and desolate
region devoid OF substance. To reach
that region a large force will be re
|quired, with property authority from
the Russian official. 1 therefore came
to this place to communicate with tn,
United States, and Immediately, will
searching parties. In the mean tim
the commandant of Belun is searchin,
with all the force his small town affords
The Governor of this province ha
tsent q general order throughout the en-
tire region from the Lena to Kolym
to search for and render assistance t
both parties that are missing. 1 am nov
completing my arrangements, and vii
start north in a few days."
\ Noros,. one of the two men who las
+ saw Lieut.. De Long, has written a lei
ter to his father in Fall River, Mass
, The letter contains no particulars nc
!, previously known.
i FALL RIVER, Mass, March 2O.-Th