Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-03-25
THE SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS.

Letter from Assistant Engineer Melville
Detailing His Programme for the Search
for the Missing Parties of the Jeannette
Exploring Expedition.
WASHINGTON, March 24.-Secretary Hunt
George W. Melville, under date OF Yakoutsk,
Eastern Siberia, January Sd, copy Of the let
ter of instructions sent by him (Melville) to
the Ispravnik local governor Of verkhoyansk,
as follows:
1t is my DESIRE and the wish Of the govern
ment of the United States OF America and of
the projectors OF the American expedition,
that dilgent and constant search be made for
my missing comrades OF both boats. Lieut.
belong and bis party. consisting of twelve
persons, will be found near the west bank Of
the Lena river. They are west Of the small
hunting station which is west of the
house known among lie Yakouts as
Quirna. They could not possibly have
marched as far south as Bulcome. Therefore,
be they dead or alive, they are between Quirna
aud Bulcome / have already Travelled over
the ground, but ] followed the river Lena.
Therefore, it is necessary that q more careful
search be made on the high ground back from
the river for short distances as well as loag,
from the river.
l examined many huts and small honses,
but could not possibly examine all of them.
Therefore it is necessary that every house,
large or small, be examined for books or pa
pers or persons OF the party. Men withoutfood
and with but little clothing would naturally
seek shelter in huts along the line of march,
and il exhausted might be in one OF the huts.
They would leave their books and papers in
hut II unable to carry them further. If they
carried their books and papers south OF that
section of country between Motvai and Bull
come they will be found piled up in the heath,
and some prominent object reared near them
| to attract the attention of searching parties
A mast Of wood or q pile OF wood would be
erected near them II not on top Of them. In
case books OF. papers are found, they are
resident at St.. Petersburg. II they
are found In time, and can be forwarded to
me before leave. Russia, forwarded them to
me. II the persons are dead, wish to have
| them carried to central position most con-
veniert of access, to be all placed inside of
| the small houses, arranged side by side for
| future recognition. Make them securely
closed and banked up with snow or earth, and
| let them remain so until the proper person
arrives from America to make fual DISPOSE
| ton of the bodies. In banking
| ND hut, have it done in such manner that
animals cannot get In and destroy the bodies.
| Search for small boat containing eight per.
| sons should be made from the west mouth oil
| the Lena to and beyond the east mouth of the
/ Sana river. After the separation of the three
boats no information has been received con.
corning the small boat, but as all three
| boats were destined to Barkes, and thence
| to GO to the mouth of the Lena river, 1t is
natural to suppose that Lieut.. Chip directed
his boat to Barker, if he managed to weather
the gale, but if from any cause he could moi
| fiud the mouth of this Lena he would continue
along the coast from Barker west for the north
mouth of the Lena, or south for the eastern
entrance or mouth of the Lena river. II still
unsuccessful in getting into the Lena river he
might from stress Of weather or other cause
| be forced to follow the coast toward the Jams
river.
Diligent and constant search is to commence
at once and continue until the people, books
and papers are found, care being taken thai
yigilant and careful examination OF that sec
| ton of country where Lieut.. DeLong ani
party are known to be is made in the
early spring time, when the snow be
| gins to leave the ground and before the spring
| floods begin to overflow the bank. One OF
more American officers Will in all probability
be in Belum In time to assist in the search
but the search mentioned In these instruc
tions is to be carried on Independently of any
| other party, and be entirely under the contro
of competent authorities Of Russia.
(SignedI GEO. W. MELVILLE.