The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-06-29
ARTIC HORRORS.
The Usual Ending Of Polar
G Expeditions.
The MOurnful Diary Detailing the Suffer
.ings and Death Of DeLOng and
His Brave Companions.

story of his search for belongs party
and the discovery of their dead bodies.
The following extracts are from De
Longs note book. Under date of Mon
day, October Sd, DeLOng writes that his
party thought they saw hut, but upon
reaching the spot found only mound.
A camp was made in hole in bluff
and roaring fire was soon drying and
burning their clothes, while the cold
wind eat into their backs. Nothing was
left to eat but their dog, which was
killed and dressed and stew made of
such parts as could not be cured. All
partOOk of the stew except DeLOng.
Doctor AleXy was sent off to examine
what they thought was hut, and came
back at night with favorable report.
1t was decided to wait till morning be-
fore leaving. 1t was then 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. If AleXy had not wrapped
his sealskin around DeLOng and kept
him warm by the heat of his body he Ode
Long, thinks he would have perished, as
he was steamed and shivered and shook.
At a. m. the party reached the hut. 1t
was large enough to hold them, and for
the first time since Saturday they man.
aged to get warm. Erickson was very
low and prayers were read for him before
the others sought rest. At 10 a. m. all
except AleXy laid down to sleep. AleXy
went off to hunt and at noon returned
wet, having fallen into the river. At 6
D. m. they reused up and had pound of
dog meat for each person and cup of
tea, the days allowance. But they were
so grateful that they were not exposed
to the terrible gale which was raging at
times that they did not mind the short
ratiOns On Wednesday had tea and dog
meat for breakfast. AleXy again went
off hunting and came back with moth
ing. On Thursday had cup of third
hand tea with half an ounce of alcohol
in it. Alexy was again sent out to hunt,
and Erickson
DIED WHILE HE WAS GONE.
Alexy returned empty-handed. The
notes at this point say: what in Gods
name is going to become of us? Four
teen pounds OfdOg meat left, and twenty
five miles to a possible settlement
They could not dig grave for Erickson,
as the ground was frozen too hard, and
they had nothing to dig with; so they
sewed his body up in the laps of the
tent. coSered him with their flags, and
buried him in the river. Three vOlleys
from their RemingtOns were fred
over him. Under date of October 9Th,
the notes say:
117th Day.-Breakfast consisted of the
last half pound of dog meat and tea. The
last grain of tea was put in the Kettle
and we are now about to undertake a
journey of twenty-five miles with some
old tea leaves and two quarts of alcohol.
However, trust in God, and believe
that he having fed US thus far, will not
suffer us to die of want now. The party
left a record in the hut which was found
by Melville, as already reported. They
la-. - O.lO
ceeded until 30 by which time they
had made about three miles and were
all pretty we'll done up. They had an
ounce of alcohol in a pot of tea for
dinner; went ahead and soon struck what
seemed to be the main river again. Here
four of the party
BROKE THROUGH THE ICE
in trying to cross, and fearing frost bite,
a fire was built. Alexy was sent off to
look for food, being directed not to go
far or stay long. He came back at $50
with one ptarmigan, of which soup was
made, and with half an ounce of alcohol
9Th, notes say: Called all hands at $50
to breakfast of half an ounce of alcohol
and pint of hot water. Alcohol proves
of great advantage and keeps off the
cravings for food, preventing the gnaw-
ing of the stomach and has kept up the
strength of the men who are given three
ounces day. Went ahead until 1920,
and after five miles struck the Big River
again, and will have to turn back. Only
made an advance of one mile. We have
a cold camp, but little wood and half an
ounce of alcohol.
Sunday, 9th.-All hands up at 4:3O.
Half an ounce of alcohol. Read Divine
service. Sent Nindermann and NOrOs
ahead for relief. They started at z;
cheered them under way. At 8 crossed
the creek, broke through the ice, all wet
were under way again at 10:30. At l
struck the river bank; halted for din
ner of
HALF ON OUNCE OF ALCOHOL.
Alexy shot three ptarmigans and we
made soup. We are following Ninder-
mons track, although he is long since
out of sight. Found canoe; laid our
heads in it to go to sleep.
Monday, Oct. 10th.-The last half
ounce of alcohol at $50. At $50 sent
Alexy off to look for ptarmigans. Ate
my deer skin root tips. Under way at 8.
In crossing the creek three got wet;
built 9 fire and dried out; ahead again
till IL; all used up. Builta fire and made
drink out OF tea leaves and from the
alcohol S>ttle. On again at noon; very
hard gong. Ptarm1gan tracks plentiful.
At halted, used up. Crawled into a
hole in the bank. Sent Alexy in quest
of game; nothing for supper except a
spoonful of glycerine. All hands weak
and feeble, but cheerful.
GOD HELP US.
Tuesday 11th.-Gale with snow, un-
able to move, no game. One spoonful Of
glycerine and hot water for food. No
more wood in our vicinity.
Wednesday 12th.-Breakfast of the last
spoonful of glycerine and hot water.
For dinner couple of handfuls of Arc
tic willow In a pot of hot water and
drank the infusion. Everybody getting
weaker and hardly able to get fire wood.
Gale with snow.
Thursday, 13th.-Willow tea; no news
from Ninderman. We are in the hands
of God, and unless he relents we are lost.
We cannot move against the wind. and
staying here means starvation. This
afternoon went ahead for mile; after