Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-03-20
Lieutenant Mellyille's Report

Aleutena0L hellyille6 Report.
Washington, d. O., March 90
The report of Lieutenant Melville to
the secretary of the navy is at hand, da-
ted Takutzk, Siberia, January 9th. Lieut.
Melville says:
We made landing at the mouth Of Lena
river on Sept 10th, four days after dis
persion. The Jeannette's three boats
reached settlement called Rukoff on
September 26th. On the next day
mado an effort to get up the river with
three days rations, with native pilots,
bat after grounding very often
the pilots insisted upon returning and
the condition did not warrant me in ad-
vancing, for the most of lis were very
much exhausted, suffering from frozen
feet and legs. and long lack of food, the
majority being unable to walk. The ma
tives gave us quarters and limited
quantity Of fish and dried geese.
On October 10th a Russian named Koos-
nah Guymayetf, discovered US accident
ally; he gave US salt and all the food his
scanty supply allowed, and agreed to go
to Belun to inform the commandant of
that place of our presence and obtain
food and transportation. He started
oSOooCA AOs 0"S WAo " uAN6 TeLuEueu III
five days, but he did not return until
October 29th, when he brought small
supply of food, and reported that the
commandant would be at Bukoff Novem.
Der lst with deer and sleds to carry the
whole party to Belun. On his way back
Oct. 26th, Koosmah met two Of the first
cutters crew at Kumouk Suaka and
they gave him brief note. l immedi.
ately started with dog sleds for Belun,
hoping to intercept the commander on
his way but he had reindeer and travel
ed by different route. Mr.. John w.
Danehower, having recovered the use OF
his eyes. was placed in charge OF my par
ty with orders to follow me to Belun as
soon as transportation could be obtained,
,. arrived at Belun Nov. ID
and found the two men
in very exhausted condition, and from
them I learned the following particulars
of what transpired subsequent to Octo
Der lst, the date of my latest OF Lieuten-
ant Delong records: The party crossed
Lena to the west bank October lst at a
summer hunting lodge called Usterda.
The toes of Seaman Erickson having
been amputated, he was placed upon an
improvised sled, which was hauled by
comrades, some of whom were hardly
able to stand, 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 three
ounces OF alchohol per man per day.
They proceeded south until o.
tober 9th. when Delong decided
to send two men ahead to seek relief. The
feet OF Ninderman and Norris we're bet
ter than those Of the others and they
were supplied with blankets and Rem
ington rifles, with forty rounds of am
munition aud six ounces of alcohol which
was the per capita division of the whole
stock of the latter. They were
ordered to proceed south
ON the west bank of the Lena and to
send relief. If found, being told that