Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-07-07

pretty well done up. They had half 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 frostbite, a fire was
built. Alexy was sent off to look for food,
being directed not TO 60 far nor stay long.
He came back at s.: 80 with one ptarlnigan
of which soup was made. and with half an
ounce, of alcohol, made their supper. Sat-
! urday, October s, the notes say: Called
all hands at S: 80; breakfast. half ounce of
alcohol and pint of hot water. Alcohol
proves of great advantages; keeps off crav
ings for food, preventing gnawing at the
stomach, and has kept up the strength of
of the men, who are given three ounces a
day. Went ahead until 1920, and after
miles.struck big river again; have to turn
back; halt at S; only made advance of one
mile. Hard luck; SNOW, S. S. E. wind
Cold camp. But little wood and half an
ounce of alcohol" Sunday. 9.-"All hands
at 4:30. Half ounce alcohol. Read Divine
service. Sent Ninderman and Noros ahead
for relief. They started at s. Cheered
them. Under way at s. Crossed creek );
broke through ice. All wet up to knees;
dried clothing and under way again at 10
80. At struck river bank. Halt for din
ner; half ounce alcohol. Alexy shot three
ptarmigans. Made soup Weare following
Ninderman's track, although he is long
since out of sight. Ice moving rapidly in
river to northward. Halt at 4:40 on COM
ing to wood. Found canoe. Lay our heads
lin it and go to Sleep" Monday, October
10-s'Last one-half ounce alcohol at $50.
At $50 sent Alexy off to look for ptarmi-
gan. Eat deerskin straps. Yesterday
morning eat my deerskin foot tips. Under
way at s. In crossing creek three got wet.
Built fire and dried out. Ahead again till
drink out of the tea leaves and from the
alcohol bottle. On again at noon. very
hard going. Ptarmigan tracks plentiful
At halted, used up. Crawled into hole
in the bank. Alexy in quest of game
Nothing for supper except spoonful of
glycerine. ALI hands weak and feeble, but
cheerful. God help u.s." Tuesday, IL.
Southwest gale with snow. Unable to
move. No game. One spoonful of glyce-
and hot water for food. No more wood
in our vicinity" Wednesday, 12 Break
fast: last spoonful of glycerine and hot
water. For dinner, a couple of handsful
of Arctic willow in pot of water, and
drank the infusion. Everything getting
weaker and weaker. Hardly able to get
firewood. SW. gale with snow" Thurs
day. .13- 'sWillow tea; no news from Min
derman. We are in the hands of Goo. and
unless he relents we are lost. We cannot
move against the wind, and staying here
means starvation. Afternoon went ahead
for mile. After crossing another river
or bend or bend Of the Big river, missed
Lee; went down in hole in the bank and
camped. Sent back for Lee. He had lain
down and was waiting to die. All united
in saying the Lords Prayer and Creed
After supper strong gale of wind. Horrible
night" Friday-''Breakfast, willow tea;
dinner, half teaspoonful Of sweet oil and
willow tea. Alexy shot one ptarmigan.-
Had soup. Wind moderating." Saturday,
October 15-'' Breakfast, willow tea and
two old boots; concluded to move at sun
rise. Alexy breaks down, also Lee. Come
to empty grain raft. Halt and camp
Signs of smoke at twilight to SD. y
Sunday, Oct. 16-'Alexy broke down.
Monday-Alexy dying. Doctor baptized
him. Read prayers for sick. Mr.. Collins
birthday; 40 years old. About sunset Al
exy died; exhaustion from starvation. II
Covered with ensign and laid him in crib. ~
Tuesday-'Calm and mild. Snow falling
Buried Alexy in the afternoon. Laid him
on the ice and covered him with slabs of
ice.'' Misunderstanding up tent to
make footgear. Doctor went ahead to
find new camp. Shifted by dark" Thurs
day-"Bright and sunny, but very cold
Lee and Kaack done up" Friday
'Kaack was found dead about mignight
between the doctor and myself. Lee died
about noon; read prayers for sick when we
found he was going" Saturday. Too
weak to carry the bodies of Lee and Kaack
out on the ice. The doctor, Collins and
myself carried them around the corner out
of sight. Then my eyes closed up.'' Sun
day-"Everybody pretty weak. Slept or
rested to-day, then managed to get enough
wood in before dark. Read part of Divine
service. Suffering in our feet. No foot
gear.' Monday-"A hard night" Tues
day, Wednesday, Thursday, q, 18th day
-"Iverson broken down. Friday-"Iver-
son died during early morning" Satur-
day, 29-"Dressler died during the night -
Sunday, October 80, 14Oth day-"Boyd and
Gartz died during the night. Mr.. Collins
dying"
[Note.-This is the end of Lieut.. De
Longs diary. De Long, Surgeon Amber
and An Sam, the cook, must have died
seon after the last note was written.]
Who%o Nooo~or,a Nossr