Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-13

herbert w. Leach Of Penobscot. Me. va.
one OF the Jeannette's crew. He was in the
boat with Melville, and escaped safely with
MS companions. His mother receutjv re.
ceived letter from him, dated Irkutsk. Feb
~ which the Ellsworth American prints en-.
tire, as follows
=, IRKUTsK, FEB "a. 1882.
MY DEAR MOTHER:
Your welcome letter came to hand l,s,
night was at party, enjoying myself as
ven as possible for me to do here, when one
Vi the BOYS came running in and gave me nine
,euers from home. Oh, mother. YOU should
nave seen me dance around the room. Tho
young ladies all thought I was crazy. They
were about right. After nearly three wear.
without hearing one single word from home
tne news. when it did come, quite upset me
wen. Will try try to give on account of
myself will begin at the beginning.
After passing through Behring's Strait we
$1,000 north until we struck the ice We ran
INTO 1t and it closed around US. We had SO
OF the best boys on board that ever walked a
ship,s deck. Poor fellows. only Is are left
10 tell the sad tale. After getting into the ice
we made preparations to spend the winter
expecting to get out the following summer.
We spent the winter very pleasantv-had
theatricals Christmas and New Year. 1t wa.
very cold, but we all enjoyed it tip-top. That
winter passed. and so did the summer, with
out any signs of our being released, so we
maoe up our minds to stay another winter
III passed quite pleasantly, although three
months Of the time we did not see the sun.
1t looked good when it did come up; 1 think
1t was worth waiting for.
We laid in the ice until June, when the
ship (our home) was taken from u.s. Then
our hardshIps began. Oh mother, you can
nave no idea OF what we went through. When
look back it seems more like a strange
dream than reality. But it is over now.
and we that pulled through are safe About
eight days before we reached the coast we
encountered heavy gale. which nearly put
an end to our sufferings. When it com
menced to blow the lieutenant put me at the
helm. 1t was very cold, and the boat was
nearly full of water all the time, in spite of
the mems bailing for dear life. sat at the
helm about IA hours before the wind abated
enough for me to be relieved. When the
time came, l rose up and fell flat into the
bottom Of the boat MY feet were frozen
stiff. and my legs were chilled up to my body,
so badly that think they could have been
taken off without my feeling it.
: When we got ashore l was in a tight fix
| could not walk and was in much pain, and
my feet had begun to putrefy. Bartlett, one
Of the men, took knife and cut out the cor
rupt places and cut about half of one of my
great toes off, leaving about half an inch Of
the bone sticking out of the end. About a
month ago found doctor who took it off
1t troubles me to walk now and | think that
it will for some time.
Guess | have written enough about my
trials. will tell you something about the peo-
pie | find here in Irkutsk. The ladies here
call me the saviour-they have heard about
the boat scrape. We are received by the
best families in town. They seem to think it
feather in their caps to have the Americans
call on them. / make myself as agreeable as
possible. The life is not altogether crushed
out of me if am little run down. BY the
way, they are going to form search party
and | think it is my duty to join it and search
for the poor boys that are left. l don't know
yet whether / shall go or not. If do you
must not worry about me for we shall not
start before spring, and will get back next |,
so you see it will not be long to wait and no
risk to run, and besides you want TO see your
son do by another as you would have another
do by him. Gracious, how / want to see the
folks at home! Give my love to Everybody
in town and out, keep the lions share for
yourself. and believe me,
Your loving son,
HERBERT,