Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-25
IN The ARUrio REGIONS.
Experience OF one of the Jeans
hetteis Survivors.
LsrIslon Ms.l Rvsnlnr Journn.

Lewiston NMe.l hvenlng Journal.
Herbert w. Leach, Of Penobscotl
Me-, was one of the Jeannette's crew
He was 10 the boat with Melville, an,
escaped safely with his companions
His mother recently received a lette
from him, dated Irkutsk, Februar,
"a, which the Ellsworth American
prints entire, as follows:
IRKUTsK, February "a. 1SS2.-M,
Dear Mother: Your welcome lettei
came to hand last night. | was at
party, enjoying myself as we'll as posi-
BILE for me to do here, when one Of thu
boys came running in and rave m,
nine letters from home. Oh, mother
you should have seen me dance around
the room. The young ladies all
thought | was crazy. They were aboui
right. After nearly three years with
out hearing a single word from home
the news, when it did come, quite
upset me. Well, | will try to give an
account Of myself. | will begin at the
beginning.
After passing through Behring's
Strait we stood north until we struck
the Ice. We ran into it and it closed
around us. We had thirty-three oil
the best boys on board that ever
walked a ships deck. Poor fellows,
only thirteen are left to tell the sad
tale. After getting into the Ice we
made preparations to spend the win
ter, expecting to 90 out the following
summer. We spent the winter very
plasantly-had theatricals Christmas
and New Year. 1t was very cold, but
we all enjoyed it tip top. The winter
passed, and so did the summer, with
out any signs of being released, SO we
made up our minds to stay another
winter. 1t passed quite pleasantly,
although three months OF the time we
did not see the sun. 1t looked good
when it did come up; | think it was
worth waiting for.
We laid in the ice until June, when
our ship, our home, was taken from
US. Then our hardships began. Oh,
mother, you can have no idea Of what
we went through. When [ look back it
seems more like a strange dream than
a reality. But it is over now, and we
that pulled through are safe. About
eight days before we reached the coast
we encountered a heavy gale. which
nearly put an end to our sufferings.
When it commenced to blow the
Lieutenant put me at the helm. 1t
was very cold, and the boat was nearly
full Of water all the time, in spite Of
the mems bailing for dear life. | sat
at the helm about fourteen hours be-
fore the wind abated enough for me to
be relieved. When the time came |
rose up and fell fat into the bottom
of the boat. My feet were frozen stiff
and my legs were chilled up to my
body so badly that | think they could
have been taken off without my feel
ing it.
When we got ashore l wasi in a tight
fix. l could not walk, and was in
much pain. and my feet had begun to
purify. Bartlett, one Of the men
took out a knife and cut out the cor
rupt places, and cut about half of one
OF my great toes of, leaving about half
an inch Of the bone sticking out Of the
end. About a month ago l found a
doctor who took it of. 1t troubles
me to walk now, and | think that it
will for some time.
Guess | have written enough about
my trials; will tell you something
about the people | find here in
Irkutsk. The ladies here call me the
savior-they have heard about the
boat scrape. We were received By
the best families in town. They seem
to think it a feather in their caps to
have the Americans call on them. |
make myself as agreeable as possible.
The life is not altogether crushed out
of me if | am a little run down. By
the way, they are going to form a
search party, and | think it is my duty
to join it and search for the poor boys
that are left. | don't know yet wheth
er | shall 60 or not. IF | do you must
not worry about me, for we shall not
start before spring and go back next
fall, so you see it will not be long to
wait and no risk to run, and besides,
you want to see your son do by an
other as you would have another do
by him. Gracious. how l want to see
the folks at homel Give my love to
everybody, in town and out, keep the
lions share for yourself, and believe
me, your Loving son. HERBERT.