The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-07-06
A TERRIBLE TALE OF SUFFERING,
'in.e strugglea through the Snow and
-'ing ON Dog Meat, GIycerine, AL
cohoi and Arctic Willow Leaves.

AAAE VE SUffEKlNGs
desperate Struggle, through the Snow and
Ace-hving on Dog Meat, GIycerine. Al.
cohoi and Arctic Willow Leaves.
Inc Navy Department has received
from Engineer Melville, of the "Jean.
hette," the ship sent out by the New
ork Herald to discover the North pole
anu which was wrecked in the Arctic
Seas last year, detailed account of The
4nding of the dead bodies of Cant. De-.
long, the commander of the expedition
ana his men. Accompanying the renort
IS copy of Belongs note book. which
is a record showing the starvation of The
party and their death one by one until
out tnree remained, of whom DeIonp
was one, who seemed to have all died at
once as no entries appear in the book
alter belongs ceased.
Inc notes We're begun on SATURDAY.
october l, 1881, and the first entry is !:
Ilith day, and a new month. Called
All nands as soon as the cook announced
col'lng water, and at Gas had our break
n 1ast-haif pound of deer meat and ten.
Inc doctor resumed the cutting away of
poor Erickson's toes this morning. No
uouot IL Will have to continue till half of
us ieet are gone or death ensues, or we
eet 10 settlement. Only one toe left
now. ihe note book also gives an ac-
count OF each days experience from that
GATE onward, but towards the last hia
notes become very short.
Under date of Monday, October Sd
DJeLong writes that his party thought
they saw but, but upon reaching The
spot found only mound. A camp was
MADE In hole in the bluff, and roaring
hre was soon drying land burning) their
clothes, while tho cold wind ate into
their backs. '"''
EATING THE DOG.
And now for supper nothing remained
but the dog. therefore ordered him
killed and dressed by Ivorson, and soon
alter stew was made of such parts as
could not be carried, of which everybody
except. the doctor and myself eagerly
partook. To us two it was nauseating
mess, and-but why 90 on with such u
dlsagreeable subject. had the re.
malnder weighed, and 1 am quite sure
we mad twenty seven pounds. The ami
mai was fat, and rs he had been fed on
pemmican presumably clean. Collins
and Gortz had taken some alcohol. but 7
could not get it down. Cold weather.
with raw northwest wind impossible 10
avoid or screen, our future was wretch
ed, dreary night. Erickson soon became
delirlous, and his talking was horrible
accompaniment to the wretchedness of
our surroundings. Warm we could not
get, and getting dry seemed out of the
question. Every one seemed dazed and
stupefied, and feared some of us would
perish during the night. How cold it
was don't know, as my last thermom-
eter was broken by my many falls upon
the ice, but think it must have been
below zero. A watch was set 10 keep the
ire going and we huddled around it, and
thus our third night without sleep WAS
passed. If Alexia had not wrapped his
sealskin around me and sat alongside of
me to keep me warm by the heat of his
body, | think l should have frozen to
death. AS it was steamed end shiyere
and shook. Erickson's groans and RAM
| bling talk rang out on the night air, and
such dreary, wretched night I hope I
| shall never again see.
IN a HUT WITH SHORT RATIoNs.
TUESDAY, October 4-114th day.
AT the first approach of daylight we all
began to move around aud the cook was
set 10 work making tea. The Doctor
now made the unpleasant discovery that
Erickson had got his gloves Off during
the night and that now his hands were
frozen. Men were at once set at work
rubbing them, and by a. M. had 80 far
restored circulation rs to risk moving the
man. Each one has hastily swallowed a
cup of tea and got his load in readiness.
! Erickson was quite unconscious, and we
lashcd him on the sled. A southwest
gale was blowing and the sensation of
cold was intense. But at 6 a. m. we
started, made a forced march of it, and
at s a. m. had got the sick man and our
selves, thank God, under cover of hut
large enough to hold us. Here we at
once made fire and for the frat time
since Saturday morning last got warm.
| The Doctor at once examined Erickson
and found him very low indeed. His
pulse was very feeble. He was quite un-
conscious, and under the shock of last
nights exposure was sinking very fast.
| Fears were entertained that he might not
upon every one to join me in reading the
prayers for sick person before we sought
any rest for ourselves. This was done in
quiet and reverent manner, though
fear my broken utterances made but little
of the service audible. Then setting a
watch we all, excep; Alexia, lay down to
sleep. At 10 q. m. Alexia went off to
hunt, but returned at noon wet, having
broken through the ice and fallen in the
river. AT 6 p. m. we reused up, and /
considered it necessary to think of sorne
food for my party. Half pound of dog
meat was fried for each person, and q
cup Of tea given, aud that constituted
our days food, but we were 80 grateful
that we were not exposed to the merciess
southwest gale that tore around us that
we did not mind short rations.
ERIcKsoN's DEATH.
THURSDAY, October 6-116th day
Called all hands at 7.30. Had cup of
third. hand tea, with half an ounce of
alcohol in it. Everybody very weak.
Gale moderating somewhat. Sent Alexia
out to hunt. Shall start Nindermann
and Noros at noon to make the forced
march to Ku Mark Sinka. AT S.45 our
messmate, Erickson, departed this life.
Addressed few words of cheer and COM
fort to the men. Alexia came back
empty.handed-to much drifting STOW.
What In Gods name is going to become
of us? Fourteen pounds of dog meat
left and twenty-five miles to possible
settlement. AS to burying Erickson, l
cannot dig grave, for the ground is
frozen and we have nothing to dig with.
: There is nothing to do but bury him in
the river. Sewed him up in the flaps OF
the tent and covered him with my flag.
Got ten men ready, and with half an
ounce of alcohol we will try 10 make out
10 bury him, but VIC are all 80 weak do