Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-27

| lsrxcrAL By TELEGRAPH TO TuE RECORD UNIoSI
WASHINGTON, June 26th-The Navy De.
partment is in receipt of report from En- |
ginee- Melville, giving In detail the story of |
his search for De Long and party, and the
discovery OF their dead bodies. Following are |
EXTRACTS FROM DE LONGS NOTEBOOK.
Under date of Monday, October 81. De
Long. writes that his party thought they saw
hut, but upon reaching the spot found only |
mound. A camp was made in hole in the |
bluff, and a roaring Ere was made, soon dry. |
ing and burning their clothes, while the cold |
wind ate into their backs Nothing was left |
to eat but their dog, which was killed and |
dressed, and stew made of such parts |
as could not be cured. All took the
stew except De Long. The Doctor and Alexy |
were sent to examine what they thought |
was hut, and came back at night with a |
favorable report. 1t was decided to wait |
until morning before leaving. 1t was then |
CO. below zero. A watch was set to keep the |
fire from going out, and all huddled around |
it, and thus the third night without sleep was |
passed. If Alexy had not wrapped his seal
skin around De Long, and kept him warm by |
the heat of his body, he (De Long, thinks he
would have persisted, as he violently shivered |
and shook. At A. NJ. the party reached |
hut large enough to hold them, and for the |
first time since Saturday they managed to |
get warm. Erickson was very low, and |
prayers were read for him before the others |
sought rest. At 10 A. NJ. all excep. Alexy
laid down to sleep. Ale1y went off to hunt.
and at noon returned vet, having fallen into
the river. AZ P. II. they reused up and |
had
A POUND OF DoG-MEAT FOR EACH PERSON
And cup of tea-the days allowance but
posed to the terrible gale which was raging
that they did not mind short ratiens. On
Wednesday they thad tea and dog-meat for
breakfast Alexy again went off hunting,
and came back with nothing. On Thursday |
they had q cup of third-hand tea with half an
ounce of alcohol in it Alexy was again sent |
out to hunt, and Erickson died while he was
gone. Alexy returned emp.y-handed.
The notes at this point say What in
Gods name is going to become of US, Four
teen pounds of dog.meat left, and % miles to
possible settlement" They could not dig
grave for Erickson, IS the ground was frozen
too hard, and they had nothing to dig with
so they sewed his body up in the laps of the
tent, covered him with their fannels, and
buried him in the river. Three volleys from |
their Remingtons were fred over him.
Under date of October 9Th the notes say
The 117th day breakfast consisted 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 and two quarts of
alcohol. However, trust in God, and be-
lieve that he who has fed us thus far will not
suffer US to die of want now.
The party left record in the hut, which
was found by Melville, as already reported.
They got under way at $50 A. NJ, and pro-
ceeded until 1l:20 A. NJ, by which time they
had made about three miles, and were sll
pretty well done up They had half an ounce
Of alcohol in the pot of tea for dinner; went
ahead, and soon struck what seemed to be the
main river again. Here four of the party
broke through the ice in trying to cross, and
fearing frost bite, fire was built. Alexy
was sent off to look for food, being directed
not to go far nor stay long. He came back
at $50 with one ptsrmigan, of which soup
was made, and with half an ounce of alcohol
made their supper.
"Called all hands at $50. Breakfast of half
an ounce of alcohol and pint of hot water.
The alcohol proves of great advantage, keep
ing off the cravings for food, preventing gnaw-
ing of the stomach, and has kept up the
strength of the men, who are given three
ounces a day. Went ahead until 1880, and
after five miles struck the big river again,
! L. l. L. n. :. i 1
of one mile. That night had cold camp,
but little wood aud half an ounce of alcohol.
On Sunday, the 9th, called all hands at 1880
had half an ouocs of alcohol read divine
service; sent Ninderman and Noros ahead
for relief. They started at Z o'clock cheered
them on their way. At o'clock crossed q
creek, broke through the ice and all were wet
up to the knees. Dried the clothing, and got
under way again at 1870. At l o'clock struck
the river bank. Had salt for dinner, with
half an ounce of alcohol. AlexY shot three
ptarmigans. of which we made soup. We are
following Ninderman's track, although he Is
long since cut of sight. Found canoe, and
lay our heads in it to go to sleep. On Mon
day, October 10sh used the
LAST HALF OUNCE OF ALCOHOL
At $50 At $50 sent Alexy off to look for
ptarmigan. Eat deer skin scraps. Yester-
day morning eat my deer skin foot tips.
UoG unQef way at . CLOCK, ana IN crossing a
creek three of us got wet. Built fire and
dried out. Went ahead again till IL o'clock,
and were used up. Built fire and made q
drink out of tea leaves and from the alcohol
bottle. On again at noon, and found it very
hard going. Ptarmigan tracks are plentiful.
At o'clock halted, used up. Crawled into
a hole in the bank. Alexy went in quest of
spoonful of glycerine:: All hands weak and
feeble, but cheerful. God help US. On
Tuesday, the 11tb, gale with snow
prevailed; unable to move; no game;
one spoonful of glycerine and hot
water for food; no more wood in our
vicinity. On Wednesday, the 18th, for
breakfast we took the last spoonful of gly-
handfuls of Arctic willow in pot of water,
and drank the infusion, every day getting
weaker and weaker, and hardly able to get
frewood I; gale with snow.
Thursday, the 13sh-Willow tea. No news
from Ninderman. We are
IN THE HANDS OF GOD,
And unless He relents we are lost. We can
not move against the wind, and staying here
means starvation. In the afternoon We went
ahead for mile. After crossing another
river, branch of the big river. we missed
Lee 4; went down in hole in the bank and
campsd; sent back for Lee he had laid
saying the Lords Prayer, and cried. After
supper a strong gale of wind came up, and
we passed horrible night
Friday-Breakfast of willow tea dinner,
half teaspoonful of sweet oil and willow
tea. Alexy shot one Polar widgeon; had
soup; wind moderated.
Saturday, October 15th-Breakfast on will
low tea and two old boots; concluded to move
at sunrise. Alexy breaks down also Lee.
Came to an empty grain raft halted and
camped signs of smoke at twilight at the
southwark.
Sun lay, October 16th-Alexy broke down
divine service.
Monday-Alexy dying; the doctor bap-
tized him and read prayer for the sick. Mr..
Collins birthday-forty years old. About
sunset Alexy died of exhaustion from starya-
ton covered him with the ensign and laid
him in the crib
Tu.sday-Calm and mild snow falling
buried Alexy in the afternoon; laid him On
the ice and covered him with slabs of ice.
Wednesday-Cutting up the tent to make
foot gear. The doctor went ahead to find
new camp shifted by dark.
Thursday Bright and sunny, but very
cold; Lee and Knach done up.
Friday-Knach was found dead about |
midnight between the doctor and myself. |
Lee died about noon. Read prayers for the |
sick when we found he was going.
Saturday-Too weak to carry the bodies OF
Lee and Knack out on the ice. The doctor,
Collins and myself carried them around the |
corner out of sight, then my eyes closed up. |
Sunday-Everybody pretty weak slept or
rested to-day, and then managed to get |
enough wood in by dark to read part Of the |
divine services; suffering in our feet; no |
foot gear.
Monday-A hard night.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, the 9th
the 18th day. Iverson broken down.