The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-03-25

MeIVille's instructions for tae
Search for De L0ng and
ChfRp and CreWa.

Chfpp and Crews.
Washington, 24.-Secretary Hunt
has received from Past Assistant
Engineer Geo. w. Melville, under
date of Yakoutsk, Eastern Siberia
January 8, copy of letter of in.
structions by him (MelvilIe), to the
Ispravnik, local governor of Verker.
hOwansk, as follows: ut is my de-
sire and the wish of the government
of the United States of America.
and of the protector of the Ameri--
can expedition that diligent and
constant search be made for the
missing comrades. Both the boat
of Lieut.. De Long and party, con-
sisting of twelve persons, will be
found near the west bank of the
Lena River. They are south of the
small hunting station which is
west of the house known by va
kouts as Quivina. They could not
possibly have marched as far south
as ButcOm. Therefore, be they dead
or alive, they are between Quivina
and ButcOm. | have already trav-
cid over the ground, but / followed
the river bank; therefore. it is
necessary that more careful
search be made on the high ground
back from the river for short
distance, as well as along the river
bank. l examined many huts and
small houses, but could not possibly
examine all of them. Therefore, it
is necessary that all, every house,
large or small, be examined for
books and papers or persons Of the
party. Men without food and with
but little clothing would naturally
seek shelter in the huts along the
line Of march, and if exhausted
might be left in the huts. They
might have left their books and
papers in the huts if unable to carry
them farther. If they carried their
books and papers south Of that sec
ton of country between Motvai and
Bulcom, they will be found piled
up in heap and some prominent
object raised near them to attract
the attention of searching parties.
A mast of wood, or pile of wood,
would be erected near them, if not
on the top of them. In case books
or papers are found they are to be
sent to the American minister
resident at st. Petersburg. If they
are found in time and can be for
warded to me before l leave Russia
forward to me. Persons, if dead. /
wish to have carried to Il central pO-
sition most convenient of access TO
Belun, all placed inside a small
house, arranged side by side for
future recognition, the hut then
securely closed and banked up with
snow or earth, and to remain until
the proper person arrives from
America to make a final disposition
of the bodies. In banking up the
hut have it done in such manner
that animals cannot get in and de
StrOy the bodies. the search for
the small boat containing eight per-
sons should be made from the west
mouth of the Lena to and beyond
the east mouth of the lana River.
After the separation of the three
boats no information has been re-
ceived concerning the small boat
but, as all three boats were destined
to Barkin, and then to go to the
mouth of the Lena, it is natural to
suppose that Lieutenant Chip di-
| rected his boat to Barkin, if he man
aged to weather the gale; but if,
from any cause, he could not find a
Lena mouth, he would continue
along the coast from Barkin west
for the north mouth of the
Lena, or south for the
eastern entrance or mouth OF
the Lena River. If still unsuccess-
ful in getting into the Lena River
he might, from stress OF weather or
other cause, be forced along the
coast towards lana River. Dillgent
and constant search is to commence
at once, and to continue until the
people, boats and papers are found
care being taken that vigilant and
careful examination of that section
ofc0untrylwhereLieutenantD eLOng
and party are known to be, is made
in the early spring,ime, when the
snow begins to leave the ground
and before the spring floods COM
mence to overflow tae river banks.
One or more American officers will,
in all probability, be in Belun in
time to assist in the search; but the
se+rch mentioned in these instruc-
lions is to be carried on In an indie
pendent way.
II