CHAPTER XXII. 



THE FINAL SEARCH. 



Mr. Melville makes Preparations at Yakutsk. — Russian Assistance. 

 — Rendezvous at Bulun. — Mr. Melville at Geeomovialocke. — 

 Depots Established at Kas Karta and Mat Vai. — The Explor- 

 ations from these Points. — The Discovery of the Bodies. — The 

 Removal to Mat Vai. — The Entombment. — The Search for Lieu- 

 tenant Chipp's Party. — The Three Search Parties. — Nindemann's 

 Journey. — Bartlett's Journey. — Mr. Melville's Journey. — Meet- 

 ing at Geeomovialocke. — Mr. Jackson and Noros. — The Journey 

 to Yakutsk. — Lieutenant Berry and Ensign Hunt. — The Return 

 Home. — Lieutenant Harber's Search. — The Alliance. 



As soon as Lieutenant Danenhower had left Yakutsk 

 for Irkutsk, January 9, 1882, Mr. Melville began his 

 preparations. He was fortified with a dispatch which 

 he had received from the Secretary of the Navy, which 

 read : — 



" Omit no effort, spare no expense in securing safety of men 

 in second cutter. Let the sick and the frozen of those already 

 rescued have every attention, and as soon as practicable have 

 them transferred to milder climate. Department will supply 

 necessary funds." 



When Tchernieff, the Governor of Yakutsk, saw this 

 dispatch, he recognized that it was an official telegram 

 from the United States government, and informed Mr. 

 Melville that the whole force of Russia at the command 

 of the Governor was at his service, and that there was 

 no limit to the demand which he might make for money, 

 provisions, or people. It was necessary to have tobacco, 



