Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-06-30
DE LONGS TERRIBLE FATE

THE STORY TOLD BY HIS MISUNDERSTANDING
AND DYING, ONE BY ONE, IN POLAR ICE AND
SNOW.
The Navy Department is in receipt of ad-
vices from Engineer George w. Melville,
dated Lena Delta, March %, 1882, in which
he gives a detailed account of his operations
up to that date and full particulars of the
finding of the remains of De Long and his
comrades He also forwards copy of the
logbook of Lieutenant De Long. The notes
made by De Long were begun on Saturday,
October 1, 1881, and the first entry is; "111ih
day and a new month-Called all hands as
soon as the cook announced boiling water,
and at g. 45 had our breakfast-half pound
of deer meat and tea The doctor resumed
the cutting away of poor Erickson'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" The notebook also gives an account
of each days experience from that date on
ward, but toward the last his notes became
very short. The terrible story from Oct. 10
on 10 the end is as follows:
monday, October 10-Last half-ounce al
cohol at $3.50. At 6. 80 sent Alexie off to look
for ptarmigan. Eat deerskin scraps. Yes
terday morning ate my deerskin foot.tips.
Under way at 8. In crossing creek three got
wei. Dullb hIG huu hhltu Oub hubHu again
till II. Used up. Built fire and made
drink out of the tea leaves and from the al
coho bottle. On again at noon. Very hard
going. Ptarmigan tracks plentiful. At 3
halted, used up. Crawled into hole in the
bank. Alexie in quest of game. Nothing
for supper except spoonful of glycerine.
All hands weak and feeble but cheerful. God
help us!
TUESDAY, 11th-Southwest gale with
snow. Unable to move. No game. One
spoonful of glyoerine and hot water for food
No more wood in our vicinity.
"Wednesday, 12th-Breakfast, last spoon
full of glyoerine and hot water. For dinner
couple of handfuls of Arctic willow in pot
of water, and drank the infusion. Every
body getting weaker and weaker. Hardly
able to get frewood. Southwest gale, with
snow
Thursday, 13th.-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 starvation. Afternoon, went
ahead for a mile After crossing another
river, or bend of the big river, missed Lee.
Went down in a hole in the bank and campod.
Sent back for Lee. He had lain down and
was waiting to die. All united in saying
Lords Prayer and Greed After supper
strong gale of wind Horrible night
"Frday-Breakfast willow tea dinner,
Tablespoonful of sweet oil and willow tea.
Alexie shot one ptarmigan. Had soup.
Weather moderating.
Saturday, October 15-Breakfast, willow
tea and two old boots. Concluded to move
at sunrise. Alexie breaks down. Also, Lee.
Come to empty grain-raft. Halt and camp.
Signs of smoke at twilight to southwark.
Sunday, October 16-Alexie broke down.
Divine service.
''Monday-Alexie dying. Doctor baptized
him. Read prayers for sick. Mr.. Collins
birthday; 40 years old About sunset Alexie
died; exhaustion from starvation. Covered
with ensign and laid him in crib.
"Tuesday-Calp and mild Snow falling
Buried Alexe in the afternoon. Laid him on
the ice and covered him with slabs Of ice.
"Wednesday up tent to make
foot-gear Doctor went ahead to find new
camp Shifted by dark.
"Thursday-Bright and sunny, but very
cold Leo and Kaack done up.
"Friday-Kaack found dead about mid
night between the Doctor and myself Lee
died about noon. Read prayers for sick wher
we found he was going.
'Saturday-Too weak to carry the bodies
of Lee and Kaack out on the ice. The doc
tor, Collins and myself carried them ArOunt
the corner out of sight Then my eyes closed
Sunday pretty weak. Slep
or rested to-day and then managed to ge
enough wood in before dark. Read part Of
Divine service. Suffering in our feet. NJ
foot-gear.
'Monday-A hard night.
TUESDAY Wednesday,
Thursday, 27th-137th day. IversoI
broken down.
'Friday-Iverson died during early morn
ing.
Saturday, 29th-Dressler died during
night.
'Sunday, October 30-14Oth day. Boy
and Gartz died during the night. Mr.. Collin
dying"
1Note.-This is the end of Lieutenant d
Longs diary. De Long, Surgeon Amber AM
Alb Sam, the cook, must have died soon afte
the last note was written.