Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-10-27
DeLoug's Sad Fate.


ry yesterday said son the morning of Au-
gust 9th we left Bennett Island, embarking
in the boats and crossing a wide lead, and
about noon hauled up on some ice for din
ner. August 7th the provision sleds were
abandoned, and all the provisions slowed
i'll the boats. We advanced that dav
through lead and had much trouble with
the dogs, as they wished to Jump out and
run away upon the ice On the 10th we
made about fifteen miles south and west.
and Mr.. Collins killed two seals. From that
time till the 10th the boats were working
through leads 1t was often necessary to
haul out and drag the boats across foe pie
ces. The extent of these foe pieces varied
from 200 to ZOO yards in width Consider
able game was seen-walrus and seal, one
species of the latter, the Shong seal, being
especially numerous. Birds also were nu-
merous. On the 10Th of August the ice was
not so thick, and the surface was smoother.
A long range of water was seen in all direc-
tlons and heavy water sky to the south
east
About l:30 the captain ordered the boats
to stop and fill up everything with snow
from the highest pieces of ice that could be
found. 1t was evidently with the expecta-
ton of soon reaching open water. The
boats then stood southwest under sail. and
about 1880 p. IN. the ice suddenly came TO-
gether and nipped the second cutter. she
being the last boat of the three. The first
cutter usually led, and was followed by the
Whaleboat and second cutter. In Il number
OF Instances previous to that day the second
cutter had barely escaped such an accident.
y hole was stove in her bow, and she was
transported over the ice about half mile
to where the other boats were awaiting her.
The three again got under way and stood
on till about s p. m, when it was found i'm
practicable to proceed. A piece of ice large
enough Tor Il camp was found and the party
went into camp. On the Goth we broke up
q sled for fuel and divided the stores among
the three boats. The last bread was con-
sumcd the day before. On the 21st three of
the men were very sick. About this time
land was in sight, bearing from south to
west northwest true, and estimated to be
twenty miles distant On the 23d the ra-
tons were reduced to one and Il quarter
pounds of fpemmican per man. Ninderman
killed small seal on that day. On the
24th we were in eight fathoms with mud
dy bottom. Several seals were killed on
the following days and on the 29th we left
the ten-day camp. as il was called, got un-
der way about p. m, and about dark
hauled up on drifting ice foe. We en-
barked ut a. m, pulled around the head
land and coasted the island until about 4 D.
m, when we landed with difficulty, owing
to shallow water, and camped UP on plane
above the beach. a large party was sent
out hunting. Numerous deer tracks were
seen. and an old destroyed hut was found.
Human footsteps made by civilized boots
were also reported. The next morning we
got under way at a. m. and tried to land
about p m, but the water was too shallow
and we stood off the southwest with the
shore under our lee. We passed a very
rough night, there being fresh breeze and
the boast constantly getting aground in shall
low water. About midnight we stood off to
the southwest, and at daylight, September
l, the second cutter was not in sight. The
first cutter and whale boat parties camped
on q snail piece of ice to wait for the second
cutter to come up. A few minutes later the
captains tent was washed out by q sea
breaking over the ice and we again manned
our boats At that moment we sighted the
second cutter, and when she came up Mr..
Chipp reported that everything was all
right, but they had had very rough night.
The three boats then stood to the south
ward, and about l p. m. came to large
water-hole (space.l across which we were
unable to see the ice on the other side.
When we reached the ice on the other side
we went into camp and had supper. Re-
mained in camp till September 2. and at 6
p. m. on that day black flag was hoisted
as a signal for the second cutter On the
Sd land was visible to the westward. On
the 4th the second cutter was sighted about
one and three-fourths miles distant.
On September 4th Mr.. Chipp brought his
party to assist in getting the 1st cutter and
whaleboat into the water. Finally two boats
were transported to the position of the Sec
ond cutter. a number of the people fell
overheard during-thc progress of this work.
We then embarked and reached the south
east end of kotello Island that evening
and encamped there. We remained there
until a. N. September 9th. Parties were
sent out hunting, but the reindeer had all
run to the mountains There was desert
ed Russian hut, with traces of the iyory
hunters, about 4 mile from the camp. On
the 9Th we coasted the Island and at night
camped near the south end on some high
bluffs. September 7th we got under way at
Z a. N. and coasted the Island until 8, when
we took our departure from the south point
and steered so as to pass in sight of Stolbo-
boy. Sept. 10th Semonovski Island was in
sight. We rounded it to the southwark and
stood along its western coast. At noon we
hauled in for dinner and to rest the men,
who had been pulling all the morning. The
captain and others went ashore and found a
number of deer tracks tending to the south
ward.
A party of hunters was then sent ashore
to move to the southern end of the island
in order to intercept the deer The boats
meanwhile proceeded to the south end of
the island to pick up. the hunters. A deer
11.oc shot nrd tho hnats rot11rnnd ,,ada q