The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-03-29
THE LOST COMMANDER.
Melville's Instructions to the Rus.
sian Authorities Concerning
the De Long Search.
,rELv1LLE,s INSTRUCTIONS

To the District Governor of Eastern Sibe-
ria Concerning the Search for De Long
and Companions.
WASHINGTON, March 24.-Secretary Hunt
has received from Passed Assistant Engineer
George w. Melville, under date of Yakutsk,
Eastern Siberia, January 5, copy of the
letter of instructions sent by him (Melvillel
TO the Ispravnik Territorial GOvernor) of
of Nerkhayansk, as follows:
II is my desire and the wish of the Govern
ment OF the United States of America, and OF the
protector OF the American expedition, that dill
igent and constant search be made for the missing
comrades of both boats Lieutenant DE Long and
MS party. consisting of twelve persons, VIII be
found near the west bank Of the Lena River
They are south OF the small hunting station
which is west Of the house. known among the
Yakuts as Quifna. They could not possibly have
marched far south as BulcOm: therefore, be
they dead or alive, they are between Quirna and
BdloOm. I have already travelled over this
ground, but followed the river bank Therefore
IL IS necessary that more careful search
IRON the river for a short distance as
well as along the river bank. 1 examined many
nuts and small houses but could not possibly ex-
anime ali, therefore It y necessary every house,
large CT small, be examined for the books or pa
pers OK our men Of the party. Men without food
and but little clothing would naturally seek shek
Ter in huts along the line OF march, and if ex-
hausted might be in one sf the huts. They would
leave their books and papers in the hut II unable
and papers south of that section OF county, be-
tween MAJ Val and BulcOm, they will be found
piled up in heap and some prominent object
reared nerT tnem TO attract the attention OF
searching parties. A mast of wood or pile of
wood would be erected near them if not on top OF
them.
In case the books or papers are found they are
to be sent t. the American Minister resident at
ST. Petersburg. II they sre found in time they
The persons, if dead, l wish TO have car ried to
"A central position most convenient
of access, say BulcOm. ard placed inside small
house arranged side o. side for future recOgui-
tion the hut then securely closed and banked up
with earth, aud to remain so until q
proper person arrives from America TO make
final disposition of the bodies. In banking ND
the hut have il done in such a manner that ami
mails can't get in and destroy the bodies.
The search Tor the small boat containing the
eight persons should be made from the
mouth OF the Lena 10 and beyond the east mouth
OF the Jan; River. After the separation of The
three boats no Information has been received
concerning the small bJat, bat aS all three boats
we've destined 20 Barken aud then so to the
mouth. o. the Lena. il is natural to suppose
Lieutenant Chip directed his boat to BaTkeD, If
he managed to weather the gale, but If from any
course he could not reach the Lena mouth he
would continue along the coast from Barken west
as Ear north as the mouth Of Lena, or
the Lena River. II still unsuccess-
ful iusEsetung into the Lena River he
Right from stress of weather be forced along the
coast toward the Jani River. Diligent and con-
slant search Is TO commence at once and to con-
hnue till the people, books and papers are found
eaye being taken that diigent and careful ex-
animation CT that section of the country where
Lieutenant De Long and his party known to
be is made in the early springtime. when the
snow begins 10 leave the ground, ana before the
spring floods commence 10 overflow the river
banks. One or more American officers will in all
probability be in Belun in time to assist in the
search, but the search meztoned In these instrue-
uOnS is TO be carried on independently of any
party and to be entirely under the control OF COM
petent authority of Russia
GEORGE W. Il sIVILLE.