Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-07-06
A HORRIBLE HARVEST.
Recovery Of belongs Diary Containing au Account
Of the Weary Wanderings Of Himself and
his Party


full story of their struggle for life against
hunger and cold. For several DAYS they
were kept alive by drinking n decoctior
of old tea leaves and alcohol. Extracts
from the note book.
The following facts are from ID
Longs note book: Under date of Mon
day, October 3, DE Long writes that his
party thought they saw hut but upon
reaching the spot found only mound.
camp was made in the hole in the
bluff, and rOusing fire was soon dry
ing and burning their clothes, while the
cold wind ate into their backs. Moth
ing was left to eat but their dog, which
was killed and dressed, and stew
made of such parts as could not be cured.
All partoOk of the stew except belong
The doctor and Alexy were sent off to
examine what they thought was hut.
and they came back at night with a
favorable report. 1t was decided to
wait till morning before leaving. II
was then below zrro. A watch was set
to keep the fire going, and all huddled
around it, and thus the third night was
passed without sleep. At 5 a. m. the
party reached a hut large enough to
Saturday they managed to get warm.
Errecksion was very low and prayers
were read for him before the others
sought rest. At 10 a. IN. all except
AleAy laid down to sleep. Alexy went
off to hunt and at noon returned wet.
having fallen into the water. At D.
m. they reused up and had pound of
dog meat for each person and cup of
tea, the days allowance. On Wednes-
day they had tea and dog meat for
breakfast. AleXy again went off to hunt
and came back with nothing. On
Thursday they had cup of third hand
tea with half an ounce OF alcohol in it,
Alexy was again sent out to hunt, and
ErrccksOn died while he was gone
Alexy returned empty handed.
The notes at this point say: what
IN God 5 name is going to become of us?
Fourteen pounds of dog meat left and
twenty-five miles to n possible settle
ment" They could not dig grave for
Erickson rs the ground was frozen too
hard and they had nothing to dig with,
50 they scwcd his body up in laps of the
tent, covered him with their flags, and
buried him III the river. Three yolleys
from their Remingtons were fired over
him.
Under date of October 6, the notes
say: The seventeenth days breakfast
consisted of the last half pound Of doc
meat and tea. The last grain of tea
WAS put in the kettle and we are now
about to undertake a 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 rs this far will not suffer us to die
now The party left the record in the
hut. which was found bV Melville, rs al
ready reported They got under way
at $50 Il. m. and proceeded until LOO
hv which time they had made about
three miles, and were all pretty well
done up. They had half IN ounce of
alcohol in q pot of tea for dinner; went
ahead and soon struck what seemed to
be the main river again. Here four of
the party broke through the ice in try
ing to cross, and fearing frost bite
fire was built. Alexy was sent off to
look for food, being directed not to 90
far nor stay long. He came back at
$3.50 with one ptarmigan. Of which we
made soup, and which with half an
ounce of alcohol made their supper
Saturday. October 3. the notes say:
Called all hands AT $50 to breakfast of
half an ounce of alcohol and q pint of
hot water. Alcohol proves of great adj |
vantage to keep oil cravings for food, |
and preventing gnawing Of the stomach,
and has kept up the strength of the men,
who are given three ounces day. |
IA 81. a
miles struck the big river again. Have
to turn back. Only made IN advance /
of one mile. Cold camp but little wood
and half an ounce Of alcohol.
Sunday, 9th.-All hands called at 1870
Half an ounce of alcohol for breakfast. |
Read divine service and send hinder
man and Narosk ahead for relief. They |
started at Z, and we cheered them under
way. AT o clock we crossed a creek, |
broke through the ice and all went up |
To the knees dried our clothing and got |
under way again at 1890. At l struck
the river bank and a halt for dinner OF |
half an ounce Of alcohol. AlcNy shot
three ptarmigans and made soup. We /
lre following Nindcrman's track, al
though ne IS long since out of sight; |
found u canoe and lay our heads in it to |
go to sleep.
Monday, Oct TO- The last halfounce
of alcohol was drank at $50, and at /
$50 sent AleNy Off to look for ptarmig- |
an We ate deer skin foot tips; under
way at 8: in crossing the creek three rot |
wet; built fire and dried out; ahead |
until II; used up; built tire and made |
a drink cut of tea leaves and f.om the
alcohol bottle. on again at noon; very |
hard going; ptarmigan tracks plentiful; |
at 3 o'clock three halted. used up crawl |
INTO Il hole in the bank; AleXy is in quest |
of game, nothing for supper except a
spoonful of glycerine, all hands weak !
and feeble but cheerful. God help us. |
On Tuesday, the 11th.-A gale with |
snow. U'nfavorable to move. No game I
No game. One spoonful Of glycerine in
hot water for food No more wood in |
our vicinity.
Wednesday. 18th. Breakfast Last
spoonful of glycerine in hot water. For
dinner couple Of handsful of arctic
willow in hot water and drank an in
fusion. Everybody getting weaker
weaker, and hardly able To get fire wood
Gale with snow.
THURSDAY, the l3th.-Willow tea. No
news received from Ninderman. We
are in the hands Of God Unless he re-
lonts we are lost We cannot move
against tile wind, and staying here
means starvation In the afternoon we
went ahead for mile. After crossing
another river we missed Ice. We went
went down in hole in the bank and in
to camp We sent back for Lee. He
had laid down and was waiting 70 die
All united in saving the Lord prayer,
and cried, after supper strong gale OF
wind; horrible night Friday, break
fast of willow tea, dinner one-half teas
poouful of sweet oil and willow tea.
Alcxv Shot one ptarmigani had soup.
wind modcrating.
Saturday. Oct. Is. Breakfast Of vii
low tea and two old boots; conclude to
move nj sunrise. AleNy breaks down.
also Lee. Come to an empty grain raft
half and camp. Signs of smoke at twl-
ljght 10 the southwark.
Alexy died Of exhaustion, from >tarya-
ton, covered him in an ensign and laid
him in a crib.
Tuesday Calm and mild with snow
falling. Buried AlcNy in the afternoons
laid him on the ice ami covered him
with slabs OF ice.
wednesday Cutting mp the tent 70
make foot gear; the Doctor went ahead
to find new camp: slifte I by dark.
Thursday Bright and sunny but very
cold. Lee and Koock done up.