Connecticut western news., 1882-12-13
ESCAPING DE LONGS FATE.
A LUCKY CHANGE THAT SAVED THE LIVES OF NINDERAAN
 AND NOROS.
Finding Food and Shelter While Their Mates Were Dying, Forty Miles Away-Natives Who Would
 Not Heed n Sailors
 Pleading.


 told in his testimony how, on October 22, 1881, some fifteen days after parting with his comrades, the first native they had seen opened the door of the hut in which Noros and he were resting When Mir. Ninderman saw that 1t was native he threw his rife into 8 corner and begged him to come in. He was shy, but came in after while.
 They offered him something to eat, but he shook his head, meaning that it was not good food. They looked at his sleigh, but found nothing to eat there. They tried to make him understand they were in search of assistance but could make him understand but ittle He brought in deer skin and held up three or four fingers, as much as to say he would return in three or four hours or days.
 He started ill his deer sled to the west ward along the river. Ninderman ex- pressed sorrow that they had let the man go, fearing that he had been frightened by the rife and would not return. Noros, however, thought he would come back. About six o'clock the native re- appeared, followed by two others. One brought ill some fish, which was given them. Before they had finished eating the natives made some signs that 1t was time to start, and going out brought in some deer-skin coats and boots.
 TThau ,,,1t ho+b Noroe and o,, on the sleighs and started southward to- ward the mountains. They kept on until about midnight over the mountains, when ravine was reached, where they came to couple of tents. The natives then took Noros into one tent and Min derman into another, and offered them something to eat. In Ninderman's tent there were five men and two women, and in Noros's tent two men and one woman. One of the women offered Ninderman water to wash. He washed his hands, but when he tried to wash his face his fingers bent so that he could not wash it. The woman took pity on him and washed him, He tried to make them understand that he was sent by the Captain to get assistance. They wanted to know what he had in his possession, and took 8 rouble bill from his pocket. He tried to make them understand that they had plenty of money in the ship, but it all went down; if they would give assistance they should be well repaid Whether they understood he did not know. When they were ready to retire they stood up and crossed themselves, directing him to do so too. Next morning Gust one week before De Long is believed to have died) Ninderman, on awakening, found breakfast ready. During the meal he tried to talk to the natives again. After breakfast everybody went outside to catch the deer.
 The man who appeared to be head man sat down, and witness drew for him chart on the snow showing the land, marks he had seen. Sometimes it ap. peared as if the man understood, and again as if he didn't get any idea. After the deer were caught they were harnesse6 | twenty-seven sleighs and over 100 rein deers. The natives then broke camp and all started over the mountains to the southward. About noon halt was made to rest the deer. The head man made signs to Ninderman to come on the mountain. They walked 500 yards, whe1 he pointed out prominent landmark il the Lena which he had noticed. The man wanted to know if that was where they had left their comrades Ninderma1 tried to tell him that they were probably twenty miles north of that place. The man shook his head as much as to say ht was sorry, and returned to the sleds ant they started again.
 They travelled southward all the nex day and in the evening came to some huts, where many people on the rive bank stood to welcome them. Every body stared at the two seamen, talked about them, and probably wondered where they came from. Ninderma tried to talk to them, but found he coult not make them understand, as there wer, too many people in the hut doing noth ing but feasting. Next morning afte breakfast he again talked by signs, an( it seemed as if one person got some ide' of where they came from and what the, wanted. He spoke to @ boy, who wen out and returned with model of yaw boat. They tried to find if the shi] was like the model. Witness shove, them 1t had masts and was 0 steamer He then took some ice and showed then how their vessel was crushed away to tn north, how many boats belonged to tn ship, how many men were in each boat Ninderman then made a chart of tn coast, and explained that they met 8 gale that one boat went here, another there but he didn't know what had become c them.
 He showed on the chart where the, had landed. He showed their cours along the river by & pencil mark. H showed where Ericksen died, and every body shook his head as if expressin sorrow. He explained that couple ( days afterward they had left the Cal tain, and by dropping his head an closing his eyes a number of time showed how many days they had bee separated. They seemed affected, bu did not seem willing to offer assistance Sometimes witness thought they did nc understand. All day the seamen trie to make them understand, but in vail Next morning Ninderman was sitting o his bunk, thinking, when he "brok ! down O yucpoon # ,,,J o,.-1-