The Evening critic., 1882-12-05
NiNpERMAN,s NARRATIVE
AS He Detailed 10 Before the Court
of Inquiry To-day.


of Inquiry To-day.
Seaman Ninderman resumed his narrative
this morning. Ho began with tho date OF oc
tober z, when IL was discussed that himself
and Noros should set out for Kamoskua or
BuluD. Tho weather was bad and the matter
was postponed. The party moved from their
camp, but made only slow progress during
the day, and they were compelled to halt sew
ernl times. on the morning OF the 9Th they
started again along tho west bank OF tho river
and marched southwark. About 10 O'Clock
they struck another river, but could not cross
II, because the Ice was too weak. They moved
TO the westward in search OF
A Safe Place TO Cross.
They made O crossing, halted and Ind
dinner and moved ON again. After they had
marched for about an hour they reached
nice sandy beach to the southwark. About
brief halt they moved on pretty FAST About 8
O'Clock In the afternoon they found small
river between the bank and sand strip. They
and they had to so back.
witness ana AIexie We're In the
Lead.
The rest OF the party rested for awhile, but
soon followed them closely. About that time
| tho witness saw that the Captain was nearly
| played out. Witness offered to assist Do Long,
| but tho latter said, 81 am all right; you go
ahead" witness proceeded ahead for about
half an hour aud then turned back again TO
offer Do Long assistance, but the latter ro-
| peated that he was all right. Halt an hours
| muIcn 1uftDor tho captain ana tnO
Doctor behind again. Witness was about
mile and half ahead. third time
He offered 10 Render Assistance.
II was refused, but witness was ordered to
| ind place of shelter to rest on the high rlvor
| bank. Tho party went on, tho Captain and
| Doctor remaining together In tho rear. They
finally struck place, but could only start a
very small re When the oaptaiin ana Doctor o
| II would be before they could ind q place for
dinner. Witness said about Ave miles, and a
halt was ordered for the night. Do Long then
Witness and NOros should be Sent
| Ahead
in the morning, but it was to DO kept secret
| from the men.
The night spent at this camp was terrible
| one. Tho IRE was so small that there was
| hardly room enough for the men TO gather
| around IL. Tho morning OF October opened
clear and bright. After prayers and broadcast
| De Long called witness ono side and said; W
think you Will havo to go only about twelve
believe that you and Noros will reach 1t In
| about three days." Witness did not think that
the journey could be accomplished 50 quickly.
Do Long ordered him TO do the best he could,
and added: "You see our condition.
DO what Won Can TO Send Us Assist
| nnce,
and II you fail to find the settlement you Will
be as well on as we are" De Long gavo wit
| ness written Instructions cautioning him to
proceed carefully on their Journey, and then
informed Noros that he was to accompany
l
i With small supply OF provisions they set
out, tho party In camp giving them three
cheers when they started on the journey.
Here the Judge. Advocate began to question
the witness. Tho latter said whom they landed
from the first cutter September IL, 1882, each
man had about six days rations. The Cap
tain declined TO allow Alexie to accompany
witness on the forced march October 8, 1881,
because Alexie was good hunter, and the
Captain knowing that witness was also, felt
satisfied that witness could take care OF him
self.
In reply 10 question as to tho physical con-
OF hss
Captain De Long and Leo were about the
worst of. The feet Of both had given out. In
answer to a flnal question tho witness added
that he had nothing further to say as to de-
tails of events occurring before he and Noros
separated from the party.
| In answer TO q question by Commodore Tenn
pie concerning the rounding to of tho first cut
ter in the gallo OF September IL, 1881, tho wit
| ness said that such an evolution would have
| the sea was running very high, Tho first cut
ter shipped great deal OF water where the sea
was aDeam. The mast was carried away nj
that time. The first cutter would not have
lived through the gale had she not have been
fitted with wnshboadrs. In reply to question
If any Of the party wished to accompany him
| on the forced march ordered by De Long, wit
| ness said he knew OF none.
The courAhore went into executive session
After the executive session recess wa:
| taken for half an hour.
| The witness, NInderman, then resumed
and gave detailed narrative of the expert
ences OF himself and Noros on the forced
march. They were furnished before starting
with chart by Do Long. on the first day they
found ruins OF two huts. They halted ant
| subsequently shot several birds. 1t hRd beer
n tough trip up to the time OF their halt. They
had broken through tho Ice in crossing {
river, and were very cold. Captain De Ions
had stated that the rest OF the party woulc
follow them, brs
witness Nor Noros Could See Moth
lug Of Chem
when they looked back. They halted tim
night near big bay and, building nre o
driftwood, made some tea and roasted and at
their bootsoles. They made bags Of thel
blankets and slept In them, each taking turn
then started to the westward About o'cloci
: 1t began TO blow and tho snow woulC
sec only fow yards ahead Of them
would go ahead. They found many SINAI
whenever they could. Their course unit
night was northwest by west. The coll
weather was still prevailing at night. Tho.
After hard walk they reached place on tn
bank OF n river, and there dug holes In tn
snow with their sheath-knives to sleep In.
1t was Midnight
| before tho holes were dug. When they crawle
| in they closed tho opening above them witt
snow. They got but little sleep, as both wer
soaking wet to the waist. Noros would occa
shake him up, advising him to knock his fee
| together TO keep them from freezing. The
, | found II difficult to crawl out the morning @
the 18th. They resumed their journey, how
/, | ever, and after hard marching found drift
J wood, made a fire and prepared TO take som
,, grog which the Captain had given them, bu
The Bottle was Broken.
, This was substituted by melted snow, an
i after warming they proceeded by the we:
. bank of the river. They encountered severe
| small rivers during the afternoon. The
crossed one and reached n hut about D O'Clock
| found wood and built n fire that lasted durin
the night. They found some vhalebone in tn
| hut, which they first burned and alto. Tho
i O'Clock that night on tho morning OF the lot
: Il gale was blowing from the southeast. Their
. | was o snowdrift, and, as they could sc
nothing, they were compelled
remain near the hut. During the day the
hunted up moro bones OF tho whale, burne
there was q slight Improvement in tn
weather. but tnoy could not SEQ far aheat
They resumed tho march and attempted I
reach hut on tho opposite side OF tho rive
but could not, as they were III
able 70 cross on the ice. The
continued until dinner.tlmo arrived
when they parook sparingly OF their ration
After short march IN tho afternoon they sa
and made another attempt 20 reach n hi
|, across the river. After some difficulty the
=; succeeded, landing near high bank, whic
they assembled, and found
The Hut Was Broken Down
Looking around they found n small hut
the southwark, In which were shavings, dee
horns and deer bones. There were two de
'. cayedlooking boxes In the hut also. Witnei
:, | broke open one box and found another box II
1 | aide which SuDaauunntlV discovered col