Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-04-06
the Search for the Missing Explorers,

WASHINGTON, March g.
Secretary Hunt this afternoon received the
following:
1RKoUTsK,, January 10, 1882
1he Hon. SECRETARY of the Navy, Washington,
DC:
SIR: have the honor to submit the follow
ing plan for Il search for the missing people of
both boats; also schedule of provisions. list
of outfits and other articles necessary for six
months, and, if compelled to remain at the
Lena delta for the river to freeze over before
being able to return to Irkoutsk, supplies to
be duplicated by the Russian authorities at
Irkoutsk 1t may be web to state at this time
that all supplies used at Belun or the Lena
delta are carried on pack-horses or reindeer
sleds for distance of 2 200 versts, and travel
from Belun to Irkoutsk is only practicable in
the winter time. Thereforeit may be possible
we may be obliged to remain at or near Belun
until November, 1882. The search will be car
ried on by three parties, as follows:
propose to establish a depot at Belun for
all supplies; center OF operations at Two
Crosses, near Mount Jai; one party to 90 as
far north as Sisteranke and back to Two
Crosses; one party to work south halfway to
Bulcour; one party to work from Bulcour
north to Two Crosses. These three parties
should be able to search the whole of the
country between Sisteranke and Bulcour in
This being completed, the depot will be
moved to Cath Conteric, between Ssteranke
and Quivina, one party to follow the southern
and western branches Of the Lena as far as the
River Aouek; the second party to follow the
Northwestern Branch of the Lena and work
up toward Upper Belun; the third party to
work from Upper Belun, on the northwest
coast, southwest to meet the second party.
This will complete the search for Lieutenants
De Long and Chipp, as far west as the inner
Alouek.
This being completed, establish depot at
Provarnia No. 6, two parties to start from the
Provarnia, and one party to follow the North
Branch of the Lena, the other to follow the
coast line east and west until they meet,
both returning across the country to the Pro-
varnia.
Move the depot to Provarnia No. IS, one
party to entirely circumscribe the southern
portion of the country from No. IS, first
southeast, then north, turning southwest,
then turning east back to the Provarna
Two other parties to search the coast as far as
Barkin and west as far as branch leading
southwest to Usterda
Move the depot to Bucoff and search all the
coast-line from Bucoff southeast to Birht Of
the Day Two PARTIES to go east from Bucoff
to the coaSt-iine and party TO work north
and east to North Cape and then back to Bu-
coff; the other party to go south and meet
the first party, both returning to Bucoff This
can be ACCOMPLISHED before the snow-hoods
set in. 1t viii BE- necessary to await the melt
ing OF the ice OF the river before attempting
to work along the coast in a boat toward lana
River.
From the position of the three boats before
separation, only fifty miles northeast of Bar
kim and the gale coming from the northeast,
it seems impossible for the second cutter to
be driven to the eastward of the lana.
BY the advice and consent of General
Tcbeniroff I have hired Bukohoff for 100
rubles per month, and the Cossack Sergeant,
Peter Kolenkin, at fifty rubles per month;
also to supply them with food and clothing
during our absence. I have telegraphed to
Mr. Siberikoff owner Of the steamer Lena, to
detail Captain Guenbeck, of the Lena to &C
company me to the Lena delta to assist in
the search.
The three travelling parties will be arranged
as follows: Passed-Assstsnt-En Mel
vile and Captain Guenhreck, with YalSut
dog-sled and driver: second party, William
G. F. Ninderman and Bukohoff, with Yacut
dog-sled and driver; third party, James H.
Bartlett, first-class fireman, and Cossack, Ser
geant Koenkin, with Yakut dog-sled and
driver
Reindeer flesh and fish can be procured
during the summer at the Lena delta.
will be at Belun by February Is and the
as the spring storms will permit.
General Tcheniroff has guaranteed to have
all the supplies at Bclun by February -. Ny
party vii leave soon as possible. and live on
such food as the country affords. l have the
honor to be, ETC., GEO. w. MELVILLE,
P. A. Engineer, U. S. II.