Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1882 — Probable Fate of Lieut. De Long. [ARTICLE]

Probable Fate of Lieut. De Long.

Interesting information concerning the fate of Lieut. De Long, commander of the Jeannette, comes from Lieut. Danenhower at Irkutsk. The record “cached” by Lieut. De Long shows that his party, consisting of fourteen officers and men, reached a deserted hut Sept. 28, and from thence proceeded in their endeavor to reach some settlement on the Lena river. Later records were found showing that on the 9th of October two men were sent ahead for relief, and that after marching south for fifteen days they were found in a starving condition by natives and taken to a settlement Efforts to find Lieut. De Long’s party had to be abandoned by reason of the refusal of the natives to go on further, and a Russian force was then organized, and is now searching. There is reason to fear that starvation may have been the fate of the De Long party, as they had but two days’ provisions, and there was nothing to depend upon for subsistence but the precarious supply of game afforded by that desolate region. Secretary Hunt has selected Lieut. Giles B. Harber and Master W. H. Scheutze, of the navy, to proceed to Siberia and assist Lieut Danenhower in his search for the miming explorers.