The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-03-30
NO.. g..
THE JEANNErTEs COMMANDER.
The Search for Lieutenant De Long and
His Men,.

The Search for Lieutenant De Long and
His Men,.
The United States secretary of the navy has
received an official report from Engineer Mel
| vile Of the Jeanette, dated Yakutsk January
! g. and containing narrative of his adventures
| and his search for Lieutenant De Long since
the dispersion of the Jeannettes boats on the
night Of September IL, 1881. At that time the
three boats containing the crew of the aban-
doned ship were only fifty miles northeast
of Bonkin, their destination. gale arose,
blowing from the northeast, and the boats
were separated. Tho story Of Melville's land
ing on September 10, and his search for De
ferent times in the newspapers and 50 the
report does not contain great deal that
is new. He transmits various records
left by Lieutenant De Long in huts
at places where he and his party stopped
in their search for settlement. From
| these records he is able to trace the course OF
Lieutenant De Long up to October O. A let
ter was found in a hut near the mouth Of the
Lena, where Lieutenant De Long landed on
September 10. Various articles left by the
including cast-of clothing, two broken
rifles, q box of specimens from Ben
nett Island, two cook stoves, four log
books and other things. The letter is signed
by Lieutenant De Long and the thirteen other
members of the party, and is copied in six lam
ward it to the secretary ofthe navy at Washing
ton. After speaking of the separation of tho
boats on the night of September IL, Lieutenant
De Long says:
my boat made the land on the morning of
the 10th instant, and suppose we are at the
Lena delta. have had no chance to get sight
for position since left Simonatki Island.
After trying for two days to get in shore with
out grounding, or to reach one of the river
mouths, abandoned my boat and waded ~
m r. O1rr md f1pitb
We must now try, with Gods help to walk to
a settlement, which believe to be niuety-five
miles distant. We are all well; have four days
provisions, arms and ammunition, and ale
carrying with us only ships book and paperF,
and blankets, tents and some medicines; there
fore our chance of getting through seems
good"
A second letter was found in hut on the
Lena delta, twelve miles from the head of the
delta, by Yakut hunter. 1t was dated Sep
tember 26, and recorded the arrival of Lieuten-
ant DeLong and his party there and their de-
parture for the southwark. Another record
left by Lieutenant DeLong was subsequently
found by a Yakut hunter in a hut on the Lena
delta, and dated September 81. A request,
copied in six languages, that it be forwarded
to Washington, was found with it. In this
letter Lieutenant De Long says
My boat having weathered the gale made
the land on the morning of the 10th Instant,
and after trying to get in shore for two days,
auu DelHS prevented by BnOdl water, we aDan-
doned the boat and waded to the beach, carry
ing our arms provisions and records, at q
point about twelve miles to the north and east
of this place. We had all suffered somewhat
from cold, wet and exposure, and three of our
men were badly lamed; but having only four
lays ,ovisions left, reduced rations we we're
forced to proceed to the southwark. On Mon
day, September 10, we left pile of our effects
near the beach, erecting long pole where will
be found everything valuable, chronometer,
ships log books for two years, tent, etc., which
we were absolutely unable to carry. 1t took us
fortye ght hours to make these twelve miles,
owing to our disabled men, and those two huts
seemed to me good place to stop while /
pushed forward with the surgeon and Ninder-
man to get relief for u.s. But last night we shot
two reindeer, which gives us abundance of food
for the present. and we have seen 60 many
more that anxiety for the future is relieved
As soon as our three sick men can walk we
shall resume our march for q settlement on the
Lena river.
SATURDAY, September "a, SAM Our three
lame men being now able to walk, we are about
to resume our journey with two days rations
deer meat and two days rations pemmican and
three pounds tea. "
The latest record found was dated October /.
Yakut hunter discovered it in hut on the
Lena. At this time all of Lieutenant DE
Longs party were yet alive. They had two
days supply Of provisions but had no fear Of
the future, as they had all along been able to
get game. EricksOn's toes had been ampu-
tated in consequence of frost bite. The psIty
was about to cross to the west side of the
Lena. From the two men sent ahead by Lieu
tenant De Long on October Melville learned
something of the wanderings of the lost men
lIl5""rlenu. W inc west bank at summer
hunting lodge called Usterda. Erickson WAS
carried in an improvised bed drawn by his
comrades. They proceeded south slowly for
two days, and crossed small branch of the
Lena, which they had to wade. On October
they stopped at small hut, where Erickson
died the next day, and was buried in the Lena.
BY lhs time they were in deplorable con-
dtion, having eaten their last allowance of dog
meat and being ON an allowance of three
ounces of alcohol per man per day.
Thy pushed south until October 9, when
Lieutenant De Long decided to send two men
ahead 10 seek relief. The feet OF Ninderman
md NOros were better than those of the others,
aud they were supplied with their blankets and
Remington rides, forty Wounds of ammuni-
tton and six ounces OF alcohol, which was per
capita division of the whole stock of the lat
ter. They were ordered to proceed south on
the west bank of the Lena, and to send re-
lief il found, being told that the others would
follow their footsteps. When the two
men started the party was ct halt on the
north bnk of large western branch OF the
Lena. The two men ascended that branch
about five miles to make crossing and then
Travelled east to a hut situated on the Lena
bank. After fourteen days of intense suffering
and slow progress they reached Belcour and
were found by three natives, who supplied
them with food and transported them to Belun
| by deer slels, arriving at that place on Sep
| tenbcr 81.
| Melville visited the place where De Long
| crossed the Lena in November. His party suf-
fercd greatly, and got back to Belumon No
vember 27 in nearly exhausted condition.
| Concerning the further search for Lieutenant
| De Long, Melville says:
From my knowledge of the country, and
from the evidence OF Noros and Ninderman, l
am convinced that Lieutenant De Long and
party are somewhere to the westward OF the
| Lena, and between Sixteraneck and Belcour,
which are 'parated by an extent of about $50
versis of barren and desolate region devoid
OF sub tsnce. To reach that region large
force will i.e required, with proper authority
from the Russian official / therefore came
10 this place to communicate with the Uni
ted States and Immediately with the aid of
the authorities, to organize searching parties.
In the meantime the commandant of Belun Is
searching with all the force his small town al
fords. The governor of this province has sen
a general order throughout the entire region
IRON the Lena TO Kolyma, to search for and
render assistance to both parties that arc
missing. am now completing my arrange
ments, and will start north in few days"