Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-07-05
COLD AND STARVATION
LAST DAYS OF DE LONG AND PARTY

last DAYS OF DE LONG AND PARTY
| WASHINGTON. June 26.-The Secre-
tary of the Navy has received report
flom Engineer Melville. dated at Lena
Delta. March 25, 1882, in which he
gives a detailed account Of his finding
the bodies of De Long and his COM
rades (about the same as heretofore re-
ceiyed by cable and published), and en-
| closes a copy Of the log-book ofLieuten-
ant De Long. De Longs notebook
was found beside him, aud copy OF L
Lis enclosed, dating from October lst till
the end.
THE NOTES MADE BY LIEUT.. DE LONG
were begun on Saturday, October l,
| 1881. The first entry is '111th day and
q new month. called all hands as
soon as the cook announced boiling
watel. and at Gas had our breakfast
| half pound Of dear meat and tea. The
doctor resumed the cutting away ol
poor Erickson's toes this morning. Nc
doubt it will have to continue until hall
his feet are gone or death ensues, or we
get 10 a settlement. Only ore toe lett
now.~ Lieutenant De Long leaves an
account of each days experience from
that day onward, but toward the last
his notes are very short.
| BURNING AND FREEZING.
On Monday, October Sd, they thought
they saw hut, but upon reaching the
spot found only a mound. A camp
was made in hole in the bluff. A
roaring fire was soon drying (and
5urning) their clothes while the cold
WIG ale into their backs.
NOTHING TO EAT BUT THE DOG.
Nothing was left to eat but the dog,
which was killed and dressed, ard a
stew made ofsuch parts as could not
be cured. All partook of it except DE
Long and the Doctor. Alexy was sen'
of 10 examine what they thought was
a hut, and came back at night with
favorable report. 1t was decided tC
wait until morning. 1t must have been
BELOW ZERO.
A watch was set TO keep the fire
going, and all huddled around it, and
| thus the third night, without sleep, was
passed. II Alexy had not wrapped hi;
seal-skin around De Long and KEEP
BIN warm by The heat of his body hi
(De Long, thinks he would have per
ished. AS it was, lie steamed, anc
shivered, aud shook. IN the morning
Erickson was unconscious, and he was
lasLed 10 the sled. At s 4: NJ. the,
reached a hut large enough to hold all
and for the first time since Saturda
they got warm.
| ERICKSON w AS NEh1 1<N"i
and PRAYERS wero read for the sick per
son before the Others sought rest. A
10 A. NJ. all except Alcxy lay down t
/, sleep. Alexy went off to hunt, and a
noon returned wet, having broke
through the ice and fallen into The river
AtGP.M. they reused up, and ha
: half pound of dog-meat for each person
and cup OF tea, the days food bu
they were so grateful that they were nc
: exposed to the terrible gale which was
: raging that they did not mind sbo
ra.lons. On Wednesday tea and dog
meat for breakfast. At Q A. NJ. Alex
again went off hunting, and came bacl
having seen nothing. Cn Thursda
had cup Of third-hand tea with hal
ounce OF alcohol in it. AleXy was sen
out TO hunt.
ERICKsoN's DEATH.
At $3.50 Erickson departed this III
Alexy came back empty-handed. w h;
in Gods name is going 10 become
US? Fourteen pounds Of dos-meat lie
and twenty-five miles 10 a 2ossib
tt ne,tlement.' Could not dig grave Il
T Erickson, as the ground was 50 froze
aud nothing to dig with. Sewed hin
in the flap of the tent, covered hl
with the flag, and buried him III tn
lrlyer. Three volleys from their Rem
iingtons were fired over him.
TRUST IN GOD.
/, Friday, October 6th--1l7th day
ibreakfast consisting Of the last ha
pound OF dog-meat and tea. The la
grain of tea was put in the kettle, al
}. we are now about to undertake Jou
nav of twenty-five miles with some ol
tea-leayes aud two quarts OF alcoho
% However, trust in God, and belle
that He who has fed us this Tar W
not suffer US TO die of want nov. Le
| q record in the hut, which was atte
ward found, 1t will be remembered
= Got under way by $3.50 and proceed'
sr until ll:2O, by which time had ma
er .bout three miles-all pretty well dol
ot Sst nm. Had hall-ounce of alcohoi IN |
or of tea for dinner. Went ahead a
aoon struck what seemed to be the m'
m. sooh ''l.'"
river again.
-. BROKE THROUGH THE ICE.
,pi- Here four broke through the ice
Si acS tryiog TO cross. and fearing ffost'blt
~ sss fire vas built. Alexy was sent on
par look for food, being directed not to
80 r. 1850 l>ontx a,