The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-06-28
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
THE ARCTIC Party.
Engineer MeIviIIe's RepOrs.
The Slow Death OF belong
and Party.

Washington, 26.-The navy depart.
ment is in receipt of report from En-
gineer Melville, giving in detail the story
Of his search for belong and party and
the discovery Of their dead bodies. The
following extracts are from belongs
note book under date Of Monday, Octo-
Der 3. belong and his party thought
they saw hat, but on reaching the spoi
found only mound.
A camp was made in hole in the
bluff and roaring fire was soon drying
and burning their clothes, while the cold
wind went into their backs. nothing
was left to eat but their dog, which was
killed and dressed, and a stew made OF
such parts as could not be cured, all par
took Of the stew except belong. Doctor
AleXy WAS sent 10 examine what they
| thought was a hut and came beck at
night with favorable reports. 1t was
then decided to leave in the morning 1t
was then below zero. A watch was set to
keep the fire going, and all huddled
around it, and thus the third night,
without sleep, was passed. II Alexy had
not wrapped his stalskin around belong
and kept him alive by the hest of his
body, be (DeLoDg) thinks he would
have persisted. Rs he was steamed, shiv-
cred and shook. At s m. the party
reached large enough hut to hold them,
and for the first time since Saturday they
managed to get warm, Erickson was
very low, and prayers we're said for him
before the others sought rest. At 10 am.
all except Alexy laid down to sleep.
Alexy went off TO hunt, and at noon re-
turned wet, having fallen into the river.
At pm. they reused up and had a
pound of dog meat for each person and a
cup of tea, the days allowance, but they
we're so grateful they were not exposed
10 the terrible gale. which was raging,
and they did not mind the short rations.
On Wednesday they. had tea snd dog
meat for breakfast. Alexy and l again
went off hunting and came back with
nothing. On Thursday we had q cup of
third hand tea with hslf an ounce of al
cohol in it. Alexy vas sgsin sent out to
hunt, AMI 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 US?
Fourteen pounds OF dog meat left and
twenty-five miles to possible settle
ment." They could not dig a grave for
Erickson as the ground was frozen too
hard and they had nothing to dig with so
they sewed his body up in the laps Of a
tent and covered him with their flags and
buried him in the river. Three Volleys
from their Remingtons were fred over
him. Under date OF October 9th, the
notes say: The 1l7th day, breakfast con-
sisted of the last half pound Of dog meat
and tea. We are now without provis-
ions and are about TO undertake g jour
ney Of twenty-five miles with some old
tea leaves and two quarts Of alcohol.
However, I trust in God. and l believe
that he who has fec Us thus far will not
suffer US to die Of want now. The party
left the record in the hut, which was
found by Melville as already reported,
They get und way at $50 q. m, and
proceeded until lI.2G 8. m by which
Lirae they had made about three miles
and were all pretty we'll done up. Had
half al ounce Of alcohol in the pot of tea,
for dinner. Taey went ahead, and soon
struck what seemed 70 be the mouth of
Marble River. Here four of the party
broke through the ice in trying to cross,
and fearing frSst bite a fire was built.
AleXy was sent Of to look for food, be-
ing directed not to 60 far nor stay long
He came back at $50 with one ptsrmi-
gan, of which soup was made and with
half an ounce Of alcohol made their sup
per.
Saturday, Octobe: 9Th, tie notes say:
Called ali hands at $50; breakfast of
half an ounce of alcohol and q pint of
Tot water; alcohol proves Of great ed-
vantsge in keeping off the craving for
food and preventing gnawing Of the
stomsch; also keeping up the strength Of
the men who are given three ounces q
day; went ahead until 1880, and after
i've miles, struck Big River again; have
to turn back; only made an advance of
one mile; cold camp snd but little wood.
Sunday, 9th-Called all hands at 4.40;
half an ounce Of alcohol for breakfast;
read divine service; tent Nindecman and
NOros ahead Tor relbf; they started at Z;
cheered them under way; at crossed the
creek; broke through the ice and all
went ap to our knee; dried clothing ard
under way sgain; Ct TO- 80 we struck the
river bank; salt met for dinner; half an
ounce Of alcohol; Alexy shot three ptsr-
migsns; made soup; we are following
Ninderman'S track, although he is long
since out Of sight; found a canoe; lay our
heads in it and go TO sleep.
Monday, OCTOBER 10th-Lsst half
ounce Of alcohol at $50; at 6 80 sent
Alexy off to look fOrtptsrmigsns; we ca.
deerskln scraps yesterday morning: eat
my deerskin foot.tiDs; under way at s. /
In crossing the creek three got wet; built |
fire and dried out; went ahead again till |
used up; built fire and made drink !
out Of tea leaves and from alcohol; went |
on again at noon, very hard gOiag;
halted at O. clock, used up; crswled into |
3 hole in the bank; Alexy in quest of |
game; nothing for supper except spoon
full Of glyeerine; all hands weak and |
feeble, but cheerful. God help US.
Tuesday, Il-Gale, with snow; unable |
to move; no game; one spoonful of gly- |
eerine and hot water for food; no more |
wood in vicinity.
Wednesday, 12th-Fcr breakfast, the |
last spoonful of glycerine and hot wsteI; !
for dinner, a couple of hsndfuls of Arctic |
willow in pot of water, and drank 81
infusion every Day; getting weaker and |
weaker, AMI hardly able to get freWood; |
gale with snow.
Thursday, 13-Willow 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; in the at
ternoon went ahead for q mile; after
crossing another river, q kind of big river,
missed Lee went down in a hole In the
b "a Il. Raa Gov or