Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-07-12
Dc Longs Story.
TRAGIC STORY or SUFFERING AND
DEATH.


DEATH.
Tho tragedy of the Jeanette is now full
ly detailed. Engineer Melvlle's copies
from the note books of the dead lieutenant,
found by his side, have reached the secro-
tary Of the navy's Office and been furnished
10 the press. Engineer Melville upon his
return arrived at Bulun on the delta of the
Lena, the only point which can be called
a point in the geographical sense, on the
18th of February. Moving about from
point to point in that inhospitable region,
often detained for days by storms so terri
BILE that neither dogs nor men could live
in them, and living at such times in huts
without windows or chimneys and on the
coarsest food. At length, after finding De
Longs trail and following it, he struck
upon the 24th of March point which
Nindermann recognized as having once
passed over, and where large fire had
been built. Melville continues the mar.
rative:
turned the point TO 90 north, and
about 1000 yards from the point | noticed
the points of four poles lashcd together
and projecting two feet ou, of the snow.
drift. under the bank. dropped from
the sled, and going up to the poles saw
the muzzle of a Remington rifle standing
eight inches out of the snow, and the gun
strap hitched over the poles. set the
natives digging out the bank, and Ninder.
mann and myself commenced to search
the bank and high ground walked
south, Nindermann walking north. had
gone about 800 yards when | saw the
camp-kette standing out of the snow, and
close by three bodies partially buried in
snow. | examined them and found them
to be Lieut.. DE Long, DR.. Amber and All
Sam, the cook. found De Longs note
book alongside of him, copy of which
please find enclosed, dating from October
l, when at Usterdor, until the end.
Under the poles were found the books,
records, etc, and two men. The rest of
the people lie between the place where De
Long was found and the wreck of flat.
boat, distance of 500 yards.
De Longs last entry was on the 30lh of
October, and he did not live many hours
after probably. Nindermann and Noros.
who had started for Bulun or Bolonenpa
on the 10th, did not reach there till the
29th, and it was clearly impossible for
them to have got back with succor. But,
If wo remember Alright. Melville and Dan
enhower reached the same point on the 18th
II days before Lieut.. De Long died As
they did not know whore to look for De
Long until tho arrival of Nndermann and
Noros and the country was almost impass-
able from the depth of the snow and the
tierceness of the climate there will be lit
tic disposition TO criticise harshly the brave
men who found themselves in desperate
straits for not moving more promptly in
tho search for their comrades.
From Dc Longs note book, it is oasy
to sketch the history of tho party from
September 2S, 1881, when it consisted of
II officers and men. lying in hut on
tho Lena with two days provisions. hay.
ing como alon. the river from its mouth,
where they landed about the 10th. Ali
were woll except Erickson, whose toes
had bcon amputatci from frost. On tho
lst of October l'e Long makes entry of
what he calls tho "lllth day" that is
from tho day tho Jeanette was crushed
in the ice, juno II, 1881, from which
time they had bocn crawling over ice
and boating toward land. Temperature
at 7 80 A. N. was lS0. lie saws;
The doctor resumed tho cutting away
of poor Ericksen's toes this morning, No
doubt it will have to continue until his
feet are gone, unless death ensues or we
get to some settlement. Only one toe
left now.
They crossed the river that day on ice.
dragging the sick man on a sled Meat