888 THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



As to burying Erickson, I cannot dig a grave, for the ground 

 is frozen and we have nothing to dig with. There is nothing 

 to do but bury him in the river. Sewed him up in the flaps 

 of the tent and covered him with my flag. Got ten men 

 ready, and with half ;in ounce of alcohol we will try to make 

 out to bury him, but we are all so weak I do not see how 

 we are going to travel. At 12:40 read the burial service 

 and carried our departed shipmate to the river, where a hole 

 having been cut in the ice he was buried, three volleys from 

 our Remingtons being fired over him as a funeral honor. 

 A board was prepared with this cut on it : 



"In memory of H. H. Erickson, October 6, 1881. U. 8. 

 S. Jeannette.'' And this will be stuck in the river bank 

 almost over his grave. 



His clothing was divided up among his messmates. Iver- 

 son has his Bible and a lock of his hair. Supper at five 

 P. M.,half a pound of dog meat and tea. 



FRIDAY, Oct. 7th 117th day. Breakfast, consisting of our 

 last half pound of dog meat and tea. Our last grain of tea 

 was put in the kettle this morning, and we are now about 

 to undertake our journey of twenty-five miles with some old 

 tea leaves and two quarts of alcohol. However, I trust in 

 God, and I believe that He who has fed us thus far will not 

 suffer us to die of want now. Commenced preparation for 

 departure at ten minutes past seven. One Winchester 

 rifle being out of order, is, with 161 rounds of ammunition, 

 left behind. We have with us two Remingtons and 243 

 rounds of ammunition. Left the following record in the 

 hut: 



"FRIDAY, Oct. 7th, 1881. The undermentioned officers 

 and men of the late United States steamer Jeannette are 

 leaving here this morning to make a forced march to Ku- 

 mak Surka or some other settlement on the Lena River. 

 We reached here Tuesday, Octobe-r 4th, with a disabled 

 comrade, H. H. Erickson, seaman, who died yesterday morn- 

 ing and was buried in the river at noon. 



