Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-08
A Tragic Tale Of the Discovery Of a
Survivor Of Chipp's Cutter.
THE STORY TOLD BY AN ARTIST.
A Man Rendered Insane by Hardships
and Suffering.
FEET AND ARMS ROTTED OFF.
The Story Diseredited by an Old ST.
berian Explorer at Washington.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.


copy of letter written by Mr.. D. L.
West, the painter, toa friend in Pittston,
which is certainly one of the most unex-
pected contributions to the Arctic history
that has ever appeared. The letter was
received some time in September. 1t was
shown to several parties, who came to the
conclusion that the castaways found by
Mr.. West were doubtless from some
English whalers, so the letter was not
given out for publication. few days
ago, however, the gentleman who received
the letter called on a friend and pointed
out the similarity between the names of
the shipwrecked parties, as ascertained by
Mr.. West, and the names of the men in the
boat of Lieutenant Chipp as contained in
the presidents message. Remarking on
this similarity and noting that the gulf of
Khatanga is near the point where the re-
mains of De Long and
his men were found, the gentle
men concluded that it was possible
that Mr.. West has discovered the men lost
from Chipp's boat. Accordingly, it was
given out for publication. The original
letter will be given to Senator
Dawes, to make such disposition of
as he may see fit. The Bible referred to
will be sent to the United States minister
in Paris. The letter is dated Filliposki,
Siberia, July 81, 1882, and after describing
trip to the Sgerma mines, in search of
brsther-in-law who had just left, describes
how he was lost on the gulf of Khatanga.
This letter then continues:
$40 add to my confusion that evening, a
blaze of fire broke out in the northern hor
lion, and constantly increasing long
flames of fire, now red and anon green,
gave jeweled change to the Aurora. 1t
was scene never to be forgotten. I
climbed a high cliff and watched the boreal
blaze until it faded and the sun came
forth in glory not one-half SO grand.
The sunbeams cast their slant
on the crested snow and on the
opposite side Of the cliff, upon which
I was they revealed bowl-like snow val
ley. Looking down upon the sloping
sides, I could see that the crust was broken
by footsteps. If I could have known that
1 had before me Yakout snow hut, I
should have been glad, but I feared that
the valley might be the abode Of savages
Observation-Disclosures would have been
only too glad to have robbed me of cloth
ing and dogs. The evidences of human
life were skin boat lying upon the snow,
and the presence of that strong odor
which marks the residence of man here at
the north. At tho opposite side of the
| bowl was evidently the door of snow
hut, and half expecting to see grizzlsd
Yakout appear there, I was on the point of
retracing my steps when my eye was at
tracted by pole planted above the en-
trance to the hut, and at he top of the
pole a faded piece of bunting. I did not
stop to reason about the meaning of this
impromptu flag, but was soon at the
snow hole, and looking into the cavern
that opened there, gun, some boxes, an
ak, and other odds and ends, met my gaze.
A smouldsring fire was distinguished, and
pushing aside curtain Of raw-hide, I en-
tered the cairn. Among some furs and
blankets lay two mon asleep. I could not
see their faces, but it was apparent they
were not natives. Touching one of the
sleeping forms with my foot, he awoke.
I saw before me the grimy face of white
man. On the features was look of such
despair end terror as one seldom witnesses,
aud which, then witnessing, can never
efface from my mind. The pinched lips
moved with broken and sickly attempt
at smile, and the great blood-shot eyes
that looked out from the sunken face
cleaned with the fire of ferocious beast.
An unkempt beard, long, shaggy hair, and
hideously disfgured nose seemed to be-
long to a demon, rather than
to a man or beast. FOR several min
utes those eyes were fixed on mine,
and then as the silence was becoming
embarrassing, asked in English who he
was. In answer he only stared. I repeat
ed the question in French, in German, in
Russian. No answer. But at length the
man took his eye from my face and
glanced at his comrade. thought that
the other man, if awakened, might per-
haps be more communicative and turned
my gaze on the sleeper. Stepping to his
side l started back. The stranger was far
away, and the frozen body was at rest in
its last sleep. The man grinned in the
most diabolical grin in return for my look
of horror, and 1 sprang away from his
| eyes, weak and tottering, he struggled
to rise. AS he partially shuff1ed off the
bag in which he had slept, was more
horror stricken than before to see that he
had no feet, and that his right arm was
missing"
Mr.. West then describes how he re-
manned with the man until he died, but
was not able to get any information from
him. He then goes on to say:
II performed the last sad Offices for the
dead one. His feet and arm had dropped
off after freezing, from the effects of gan
creme. How he must have suffered His
companion had apparently been dead
some days. Both had been young men.
Both were terribly frozen. Looking over
their effects found nothing to indicate
the identity of those who had been lost.
Something impelled me as was leaving
the hut to turn back and take last look
with the idea of finding some memento of