782 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



Saturday, October 1, 1881. 



Fourteen of the officers and men of the U. S. Arctic 

 Steamer Jeannette reached this hut on Wednesday, September 

 28th, and having been forced to wait for the river to freeze 

 over, are proceeding to cross to the west side this A. M. on their 

 journey to reach some settlement on the Lena River. Ws 

 have two days' provisions, but having been fortunate enough 

 thus far to get game in our pressing needs, we have no fear 

 for the future. 



Our party are all well, except one man, Ericksen, whose 

 toes have been amputated in consequence of frost-bite. Other 

 records will be found in several huts on the east side of this 

 river, along which we have come from the northward. 



[List of party.] 



George W. De Long, 

 Lieutenant U. S. Navy, Commanding Expedition. 



At 8.30 we made the final trip, and got our sick man 

 over in safety. From there we proceeded until 11.20, 

 dragging our man on the sled. Halted for dinner ; one 

 half pound meat and tea each. At one went ahead 

 again until 5.05. 



Actually under way: 8.30 to 9.15, 9.30 to 10.20, 

 10.30 to 11.20, 1.00 to 1.40, 1.50 to 2.10, 2.20 to 2.40, 

 3.00 to 3.25, 3.35 to 4.00, 4.15 to 4.35, 4.45 to 5.05. 

 Total, 5h. 15m. At least two miles an hour. Distance 

 made good ten to twelve miles. 



And where are we ? I think at the beginning of the 

 Lena River at last. " Sagastyr " has been to us a myth. 

 We saw two old huts at a distance, and that was all, 

 but they were put of our reach, and the day not half 

 gone. Kept on ice all the way, and therefore I think 

 we were over water, but the stream was so narrow and 

 so crooked that it never could have been a navigable 

 water. My chart is simply useless. I must go on 

 plodding to the southward, trusting in God to guide me 



