Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-20
THE JEANNETTE PEOPLE.
SEARCH FOR LIEUTENANT DELONG.

SEARCH FOR LIEUTENANT DE LONG.
FULL REPORT OF ENGINEER MELVILLE.
RECORDS OF THE MISSING COMMANDER.
Lieut.. Belongs Last Order.
HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO ENGINEER MELVILLE WHEN
THEY ABANDONED THE JEANETTE.
The Secretary of the Navy this morning re-
| ceived full report from Engineer Melville. In it
he fncloses the following order given by Lieut. De
| Long upon leaving the Jeanette:
"CAPE EMMA BENNETT ISLAND, !
Lat. 76.39, n. long las. 20 e., August 5, 1881.
ave shall leave this island tomorrow, steering
course tover ice or through water, as the case
may be), south magnetic. In the event OF our en-
barking In our boats at any time after the start,
you are hereby ordered to take command of the
whale boat. Every person under my command ct
the time, who may be embarked in that boat at
any time, is under your charge and subject to your
orders. and you are to exercise all care and dill
gence for their preservation and the safety OF the
close to the boat in which shall embark, but If
unfortunately we become separated, you will
make the best OF your way south until you make
| the coast OF Siberia, and follow it along to the
westward as far as the Lena river. This river is
the destination OF our party, and without delay
you WILL in case OF separation. ascend the Lena to
the Russian settlement from which you can COM
municate, or be forwarded with your party to some
place OF security and easy access. II the boat in
winch am embarked is separated from the other
boats, you will at once place yourself under the
orders of Lieut. c. w. Chipp and so long as you
remain In his company obey such orders as he may
GEO. W. DE LONG,
Commanding Arctic Expedition"
MelviiIc's Report.
HIS ACCOUNT OF EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO THE DIS
PERSIoN OF THE BOATS.
The following is the report OF Engineer Melville
to the Secretary of the Navy:
YAKUTZ, SIBERIA Jan'y 6, 1881.
Sfr: have the honor to report my arrival at
this place on Goth December, 1851, and submit the
following report of events subsequent to the dis
person of the three boats of the Jeanette on the
night Of september IL during heavy northeast
gale. and when only fifty miles northeast OF
Bouktn our destination. COPIES of Lieut.. De
Longs records prior to that date are encloSedD
According to orders OF Lieut.. De Long proceeded
to the Lena river made the land ON September IL,
found three natives on the 18th, ana reached a
making in the river, and the natives In
formed me that we could not proceed south until
In about IS days. The next day 1 made an effort
TO get up the river with three native pilots and,
aIter grounding very often, the pilots insisted on
returning, and the condition OF the party did not
warrant me in advancing, for most OF us were very
much exhausted-were suffering from frozen feet
and legs and Lack OF food, the majority being un-
able TO walk. The natives gave US quarters and
limited quantity OF fish and uecayed geese. On Oc-
tOter Sth Russian exile named KooSmah Guymoy-
".
all the food his scanty supply allowed and agreed
to go to BeIun to inform the cOmmandant of that
place OF our presence, and to obtain food and
transportation. He started on October Is, and was
to have returned in five days. but he did not return
until October g. when he brought a small supply
OF food, and reported that the commandant would
be at Bukof on November 1st, with deer and sleds
10 carry the whole party to Belun.
NOTE FROM TWO OF THE FIRST CUTTERS CREW.
On his way back On October 26 Koasmat met two
OF the first cutters crew at Kumouk Lurka, and
they gave him this brief note:
"Arctic steamer Jeanette lost on the 1Ith OF
June; landed on Siberia on 25th September or
thereabouts: want assistance to go for the cap
WIN. c. F. N1pEMAN,
,,no.,- seamen Y: s.N.
Immediately started with dog sleds for Belun,
hoping TO intercept the commandant on the way,
but he had reindeer and Travelled by different
route.
MASTER JNO. W. DANENHOwER,
having recovered the use of his eyes, was placed in
charge of my party with orders to follow me to
Belun as soon as transportation could be obtained
| arrived at Belun at pm: November 2d, and
found the two men in very exhausted condition.
From them learned the following particulars of
what uansp1red, subsequent to October 1st
THE LATEST OF DE LONGS RECORDS.
The party crossed the Lena to the west bank on
October 1st, at summer hunting lodge called Uc-
terda. The toes Of Seaman Erickson having been
sled which was hauled by his comrades, several of
whom were hardly able to walk, owing to frozen
feet and legs. They proceeded south slowly for
TWO days, and crossed small branch of the Lena,
which they had to wade. On October 9th they
stopped at small hut, where Erickson died the
next day and was buried in the Lena. BY this time
they were In deplOrable condition, having eaten
their last dog meat and being on an allowance of
OF DAY. They
Long decided to send two men ahead to seek
relief The feet OF Nindeman and Norros were
supplied with their blankets, one Remington rife,
40 rounds OF ammunition, and six ounces OF alco-
s9 wnch 6 ih WAS per eaap dsoion Of the whole
south on the west bank OF the Lena, and to senti
relief If found, having been told that the Others
started the party was at a halt On the north bank
of large western branch OF the Lena. The two
crossing, and then Travelled to the southeast to
uated on the Lena bank. After .'' four etur
they reached Bulsaur and were found by three
natives, who supplied them with food and trans
nace e to Bel1n 5y der seds arriving at
Belun took good care Of them, but was unable to
understand them. He gave them material and
American minister at st. Petersburg, which the
commandant took with him to Bonkoff. Mr..
Danenhower Immediately sent it to me by special
courier, together with an order from the COM
mandant to subordinate at Belun to furnish me
with han an outfit and appointing Banarlok as rem
L
mainder Of my party on November 5th.
THE TRIP TO RELIEVE DE LONG.
Had consultation with commandant ordered Mr.
DanenhOwer to proceed south with all the party
except JAS. a. Bartlett, irst-class fireman who was
to remain at Belun to communicate with me, and 1
started north on that evening, November 5th, to
the relief OF Lieut. De Long, having with me two
natives and two dog trains, with provisions for
ten days. Stopped at Kurneuck Surka, November
5th: Travelled 50 versts November 9Th, and reached
Bulcour. Found two deserted houses and traces OF
the two men, Nindeman and Norroa Weather
bound November 9TH. Travelled 65 versts November
9Th: Examined the small hut where the two men
had slept, and where q number of sleds were
stored. Slept in snOwbank that night November
9th, Travelled 66 versts, visiting the huts at the
"tw0 crosses" the shoal at AstOlera, and reach
Ing Nat raj after midnight
HUT IN WHICH DE- LONGS PARTY Had SLEPT
The next morning we found in the hut a waist.
belt which had been made on the Jeanette and
there were good Indications that one or two OF
Lieut. De Longs party had slept in the hut On
November 10, our provisions running short, de-
cided to go to Upper Beiun distance OF 40 versts
TO northwest, in order to renew them. Reached
Rnlun Ah0ut mtdniOnf n n n