The National tribune., 1882-07-01
THE JEANNETTE,S VICTIMS.
Pathetic Record of Suffering and Death from
De Longs Motel Book.


De Longs N0ie.B Book.
The Secretary of the Navy has received a
communication from Engineer Melville giving
an account of the finding of the bodies of
De Long and his party in the Lena Delta. 1t
is the same narrative that was published in
the press dispatches of June 10, with the
entries in Commander De Longs notebook
added. The first of these entries was made
October1, 1881, and is rs follows: zone hundred
and eleventh day, and a new month. Called
all hands as soon as the cook announced boil
ing water, and at 6:45 had our breakfast-half
pound Of deer meat and tea. The doctor re-
sumed the cutting away of poor Eriekson's S
toes this morning. No doubt it will have to
continue till half his feet are gone or death
ensues or we get to settlement. Only one
toe left now"
On October 4th touching instance of the de-
votion of AleIy to his commander is noted.
The previous night was terribly cold, and
Alexy wrapped his scaskin around De Long
and kept him warm with the heat OF his own
body. In the m6rnng Erickson was uncon-
scous. He was Iashcd to a sled and the
journey resumed. a large hut was found and
for the first time in many days they were able
to make themselves comfortable. In the even
ing each one had half pound Of dog meat
and a cup Of tea. Erickson died Thursday
October ). The ground Was so hard frozen
that his surviving companions could not dig
a grave for him, so they seved the body in the
flaps Of tent, dropped it in the river and
fred three voleys from their rifles. On this
i 7 i,,b
Gods name is to become Of US? Fourteen
pounds of dog meat left and twenty five miles
to q possible settlement"
On the next day he made the following en-
try:
Friday, October Cone hundred and sew
enteenth day; breakfast consisting of the last
half pound Of dog meat and tea. The last
grain Of tea was put in the kettle, and we are
now about to undertake journey Of twenty
five miles with some old tea leaves aud two
quarts of alcohol. However, l trust in God,
and | believe that He who has fed Us thus far
will not suffer us to die Of want now
An entry made October shows that alcohol
is of great value in the absence of food. Com
mander De Long writes:
Saturday. October 7.-Called all hands at
$50; breakfast, half ounce of alcohol and a
pint of hot water. Alcohol proves Of great adj
vantage; keeps of craving for food, preventing
gnawing at stomach, and has kept up the
strength Of the men as given, three ounces per
day, in accordance with DR.. AmbIers expert
mcnts."
On Sunday, October 8, Noros and Ninder-
man were sent ahead to look for help, and, as
has been stated before, they fell in with Dan
enhower's party and were rescued. The brief
entries made by De Long after this simply re-
cord the suggestive stages of slow starvation.
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 star
walton. Afternoon went ahead for mile After
crossing another river or bend of the big one,
missedLee. Went down in a hole in bank and
camped Sent back for Lee. He had lain down
and was waiting to die. All united in saying
Lords prayer and creed. After supper strong
gale of wind. Horrible night"
The bill of fare for Friday, October ID, was,
"break fast, willow tea dinner, One-half spoon
ful sweet oil and willow tea" Alexy shot a
ptarInigan, and there was soup in the evening.
The breakfast on Saturday morning was will
low tea and two Old boots
Now and then AleXy, who was the hunter
for the party, shot ptarmigan, from which
soup was made but on October Is he broke
down. On the following day DIR. Amber bap-
tized him, and he died about sunset. His body
was laid on the ice on the river and covered
with slabs Of ice. Koch and Lee next sue
cumi,ed TO starvation and were laid up
prayers wefe read for the sick. kOck was
found dead at midnight, October q, as
he lay between Dr. Amber aud De Long
Lee died about noon OF the same day
De Long makes this pathetic entry "Too
weak TO carry the bodies Of Lee and kock out
ON the ice. The Doctor, Collins and myself
carried them around tho corner ont of sight.
Then my eye closed un."
Ivcrson died on Friday, October %. Dressler
died on Saturday night, October % The fol-
lowing is the last entry in the book:
SUNDAY, Oct. so, 140th day.-Boyd and
Gartz died during the night. Mr. Collins dy-
ing"
De Long, Surgeon Amber, and All Sam, the
cook, were still alive when this record was
made, but they must have died soon afterwards.