New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-15


and his comrades of the Jeanette expedition He
gives a vivid picture of travel across the Siberian
plains and the difficulties and pnvations encoun'
tered, and describes the delay and annoyances un-
| dergono before q suitable vessel could be secured
and put in order for the voyage to the Arctic coast
LIEUTENANT HARBER'S LETTER.
YAKUTsK Siberia June %, 1882.
Our work in preparing for the search for Lieu
tenant Chpp and the other missing OF the Jeanette
last completed and this afternoon will sail for the
delta I'm ourlttle schooner the Search II my calc
atOns are correct reach the mouths of the
by July 3. All on board well. and prepared
to search the delta and the coast from the Oonek to the
Yana continuing the work If necessary until the
| falls When we left Ir1utsk April 13 found the
roads in fearful condition. but the weather fine
The melting the frost leaving the ground
the ice I'm tho rivers breaking and mud and deep
pools of water nearly everywhere. For the first
800 enjoyed the Governor Generals tarsntass,
which he kindly placed at my service After that
travelled in poswagons for 200 verss, and wrctched
time We had. Our constitutions were too ragged how
ever he greatly affected by the discomforts met
with although sleep almost stranger to day and
nigdt We pushed rapidly as possible, hoping to
reach good ice on tho Lena River b It doomed
TO disappointment. At every station told that
three stations ahead the ic" good aud the good ice
kept three stations away day after day AZ schgaloya
we exchanged p1st-w agOns for sleds AMI for
time orr road was over the stones on the riverblnk
over the mountains through mud where the face Of
| the earth was level. At times each sed drawn b.
six and ut all other times 1--WE horses used.
Travelling az night was exceedingly dangerous, hut
managed get started 10y 4 O'Clock the morning
and kept going un; II or u o'clock at night In tins
way distance OF over 100 vc:sts day made for
| several days. We managed now and thrn - travel
few the lee in the river but il very rotten
ana not SAFE for any great distance. After making
/ a in, z his cla
mounted horses. We had made many good ngt to Re-
tain slcds for with them could hours
day than with horses alone and thus make greater
distances NOW, however, there rivers AMI noun
ains cross. with only bridle-path through virgin
forests TO follow and travelling horseback became
necessary We in the saddles usually from sixteen
10 cilhicen hours day and day agcd by
travelling FROM 1 a ~ until 1890 o'clock at night 10
make sixty-four versts. Fortunately hal Only lit
tie 900 make in this way. II the distance
had been greater. would have been compelled 10
halt a This would have been hard to bear men
tally for pushing with ali possible speed, with
the hope OF reaching Necn in time to up the
bearing the name before travel Absolutely
stopped always is when the ice is hresngj That
hi gt inspect the steamoE General Simlinikoh, which
had chartered before leaving Trl1utsk.
At last, ON April 2s-aiter meeting with all sorts of
wca her, and narrowly escaping ~ least
n wcrtins from a rapid rise in the river caused
by tie sudden appearance Of great masses of ice
which no boat could have uthstood-we reached VI
tccm tired and There found in good health
and spirits Master Schcutzc and the who had
with him when the roads were yet good We told
that the season was Their far advanced thai would
be Impossible reach VorOnzofsky where the steamer
was for two three weeks. OF this disappont
ing news had to be confirmed in many ways before l
accepted II az true. The day went 10 Wis.,
ka, "A small settlement Viteem and there became
convinced that nothing would be gained by attempting
the almost impossible Journey to VorOnzOsky. although
only 40 distant Mr.. Scheuze, according TO my
instructions, had visited the steamer while travelling
was set possible and he quite sure she would not
answer our purpose. As compelled TO wait
I'll the river became navgablc 1 collected together
some who could chop wood called carpenters in
country and began the work OF building two Cape
Ann dorics also found boat 80 feet long and nearly
10 feet beam which with certain changes aud repairs
elieycd would make fairly serviceabe boat for work
Along the seacoast. bOuy ht this boat, and while
fitted her rigging made the sails, etc. the native
carpenters did the necessary wood work. When the
river opened, went to NorOnzOfsky reaching there
May - with Mr Scheutze. We made a voyage Of 40
vcrsts in the and made thorough inspection
Without going into details. will only say 1 found the
steamer only very weak and unfit for anything
excp, easy river service. but that her engines would
require large amount Of fuel that 1t would be i'm
possible to her in the Lena delta outside even
II she strong enough or course the vessel not
accepted.
in urging the carpenters In their work upon the
schooner. one who IL accustomed TO having things
done with proper speed can imagine, perhaps, my feel
ings morning, noon ana nighf when do what would,
the WORK dragged along with eNasperating slowness
When work schooner begun were assured that
all would be completed III two. or at mos three weeks
sary OF the crushing of the Jeanette the men stopped
work at . p M although had been solemny promised
that the schooner wouid he launched that day. As "A
steamer 10 Yakutsk the next day announced
that must take advantage of the opportunity and
ppfn oW fOr sOm l.,li u
ceedcd IN mastering forty men az the schooner aud or
SO and four gallons Of vodka they worked until l23O
a m. when the Search (as we named the boat was
noatedslmost year 10 the hour after the Jeanette
disappeared from the sight OF man. by soclock we had
masts III place and the stores on board ana were
dropping down TO the steamer We started before noon
and made The run to Nakutsk In -FOUR days a.,
Immediately upon arriving here called upon the
Engineer Melville had let Tor rlusk four days before
A. matter Of prccaution only mad le letters Win
the lspravnk OF Olekma FOR Melville felt sure ne
world get them bat there possibility OF his
missn- them Immediately procured courier's pass |
strong current. left MI scheuEe here in charge Of
the schooner and went up the Lena IN a small boat
fr rate Of seventy verSts day rate that would have
brought us together in ton days However, was |
spared such q long chase Tor on the thlu |
scon coming down the river near the oppo
size bank perhapa two miles away Several shots from
my revolver brought the boat the river and mad
the pleasure Of meeting Ensign Hunt OF the kodseI,
back by Lieutenant Berry ana Engineer MGVn!e 10 give
fuil particulars o. what nad been done ny heFhea
parties ana ldtf Whd hbN'@lh'ct ll'y 'ohu
The captain Of tine steamer had ,tructed 10 Keep
"a good lookout for me, but neyiiie passed I'd in tue
night. -,
While we were making final preparations here, tbe
Governor OF Yaku-k and the Chief OF Ponce were par
tcnarIy active and kid, AMI did many things wilch are
duly nppreciItoJ Tn conducting tElr search many
things have thought OF, and just whcFe 10 ogil
and nou to proceed que 1ious tina have been duy
considered My purpose present 10 10 sefch 10 inc
westward Of the Lena delta first, leaving tue NUik 20
the eastward ior August when will De thc bes month |
90 far az weather rIcd The FAC: ihd the worst
fears have been realized OF De Long ana 40
Marty has al upon In regard 10 Lieutenant
tpp and his men Il there be vesg- Of bis party or
continent within reach. shall hopet 10 nud IT, Oh coarse
our work will he governed III measure Nv me cohhuct