FEARFUL SUFFERINGS OF ARCTIC EXPLORERS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3506, 2 October 1882, Page 4

FEARFUL SUFFERINGS OF ARCTIC EXPLORERS.

A Washington despatch states that the Navy Department ha 3 received from Engineer Melville a report giving in detail the story of his search for De Long and his party, and the discovery of their dead bodies, together with the dead commander's notebook. After describing the wreck of the Jeannette, and subsequent sufferings of the explorers in the frozen regions through which they attempted to escape, the illfated De Long, under date October 3, 1881, writes : — l A camp was made in a hole in the bluff, and a fire was soon drying and burning their clothes, while the cold winds ate into their bones. Nothing was left to eat bufc the dog, which was killed and dressed, and a stew made of such parts as could not be cured. All partook of the stew except De Long and the doctor. It was then below zero ; all huddled round the fire ; and the third night without sleep was passed. Next morning Erickson was very low, and prayers were read for him. Afc 6 p.m. a pound of dog meat and some tea was served out for the day's allowance. A terrible gale raged during the night and the next morning. They had tea and dog meat for breakfast. On Thursday they had a cup of third-hand tea and half-an-ounce of alcohol in ifc. Alexy again went out to hunt bufc returned empty-handed. Erickson died to-day.' The notes at this point say : —' What in God's name is going to become of us? They could not make a grave for Erickson as the ground was too hard, so they wrapped him in their flag and buried him in the river. October 6.—l7th day. Breakfast consisted of the last half-pound of dog meat and tea, the last grain being put into the kettle, and we are now about to undertake the journey of 25 miles with tome old tea leaves and two quarts of alcohol. However, I trust in God, and believe that he who has fed us tlius far will not see us die of want now.' On the 7fch, Bth, and 9fch boiled tea leaves and half-an-ounce of alcohol was each man's daily allowance. On the 10th he writes :— ' Last half-ounce alcohol. At 5.30 sent Alexy off to look for ptarmigan ; eat deerskin scraps. I eafc my deerskin foottips. Ahead till 11 A.M. Used up. Nothing for supper except a spoonful of glycerine. All hands week and feeble. God help us.' Tuesday, llth.—' Gale with snow ; unable to move ; no game ; one spoonful glycerine and hot water for food.' 12th—' Last spoonful of glycerine and hot water for breakfast; for dinner a couple handfuls Arctic willow in a pot of water. Everybody getting weaker and weaker.' 13th.—' Willow tea. We are in the hands of God, and unless He relents we are lost. Afternoon went ahead a mile ; crossed another river ; went down in hole in the bank and camped. Lee laid down and died. All said the Lord's Prayer and cried. A horrible night.' On the 14th they had willow tea and balf-a-teaspoonful sweet oil ; on the loth willow tea and two old boots ; on the 16th willow tea ; aud on the 17th Alexy died, having been previously baptised by the doctor. On the 18th—' Snow falling; laid Alexy on the ice and covered the body with slabs of ice.' On the 19th and the 20th they had nothing bufc willow tea. On tho 21sfc Eaacko died in the morning, and Lane about mid-day. 22nd —' Too weak to carry the bodies of Lane and Kaaeke out on the ice. Doctor Collins and myself carried them round a corner out of sight.' On the 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th, the 137 th day, 'my eyes closed up. Suffering in our feefc ; no foot gear ; iversion breaking down.' 28th —' Iversion died during the early morning. 29 —'Dressier died during the night.' Sunday, October 30th, the 140 th day—'Boyd and Gaitz died during the night, Mr Collins died on his 40th birthday.' This is the last entry in the diary. De Long, Surgeon Ambler; and Ah Sam the cook, must have died soon after this was written.