The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24 00:00:00

TIDINGS OF THE "JEANNETTE."

The following telegram has been received at the Paris Office
of the New York Herald from the Correspondent of the
Me raid in St. Petersburg :

"General Ignatieff has just received the following
telegram, which I transcribe literally, dated Irkutsk,
December 19, 655 afternoon :—` The Governor of
Jakutsk writes that on the 14th of September three
natives of Hagan Oulouss de Zigane, at Cape Barhay,
140 versts north of Cape Bikoff, discovered a large
boat, with 11 survivors from the shipwrecked steamer
Jeannette, who had suffered greatly. The adjunct of
the chief of the district was immediately charged to
proceed with a doctor and meslicines to succour the
survivors at Jakutsk and to search for the rest of the
shipwrecked crew. Five hundred roubles have been
assigned to meet the most urgent expenses.
" 'The engineer, Melville, has sent three identical
telegrams, one addressed to the London office of the
Herald, one to the Secretary 6! the Navy at Washing-
ton, the third to the Minister of the United States of
St. Petersburg. The p3or fellows have lost every-
thing. Engineer Melville says that the Jeannette was
caught and crushed by the ice on the 23rd of June, in
latitude 77 and 157 east longitude.
" ' The survivors of the Jeannette left in three boats
fifty miles from the mouth of the Lena. They lost
sight of each other during a violent gale and dense
fog. Boat No. 3, under command of Melville, having
reached the eastern mouth of the Lena on the 29th of
September, was stopped by icebergs near to the hamlet
of Idolaciro Idolatre on the 29th of October. There
also arrived at Bolonenga boat No. 1, with the
sailors Hindinann and Hoross, with the information
that Lieutenant de Long, Dr. Ambler, and a dozen
other survivors had landed at the northern mouth of
the Lena, where they are at present in a most distress-
ing state, many having limb 3 frozen. An expedition
was immediately sent from Bolonenza to make
diligent search for the unfortunates in danger of
death.

" Melville adds that money was urgently needed.
and should be sent, per telegraph, to Jakutsk and
Irkutsk. Will you urgently request 6,000 roubles be
transmitted immediately to the Governor of Jakutsk
for researches, assistance, and care, as well as for the
return and conveyance of the shipwrecked men to the
house of the Governor. There is a surgeon, who will
bestow upon them all possible care.
"'Signed, PRESIDENT PEDACEIENKO.
"1 Countersigned by the Minister of the Interior,
OBRESKOFF.'

It appears that the Jeannette, when in the neigh-
bourhood of the Lena river, where it Swill be remem-
bered it was reported some time since a steamer had
been seen, was in June last nipped in the ice, and
had to be abandoned by her crew, who effected their
escape in three boats, two of which have now been
heard of.

The Times of Wednesday said It is two years
and a half since the Jeannette left San Francisco on
her cruise of exploration. The exact object she had
in view has never been stated by Mr. Bennett, who
fitted her out, but it was inferred that, having
attempted to meet with Professor Nordenskjiild's
ship, the Vega, which was then missing, she would pro-
ceedby way of Wrangel Land to the north. The last
that was seen of her was in September, 1879, when she
%vac, .ightecl otcanaing tuwattls Wrangel -Land. The
anxiety which her prolonged absence naturally
caused induce the American Government and Mr.
Bennett to send a search expedition out this year, and
three ships were despatched, one of which is wintering
in the Arctic regions. Mr. Bennett, when in England
a few days since, after having consulted the prin3ipal
Arctic authorities in this country, catne to the final
determination of making another effort to recover the
Jeannette, and he expressed his intention of fitting out
an expedition for that purpose next spring."

A Reuter's telegram dated St, Petersburg, Dee 20, says :
"News has reached the Government of Jakutsk, in
Eastern Siberia, that on the 14th September last three
natives of the village of Onions, near Cape Barhay,
situate 140 versts to the north of Cape Bikoff, dis-
covered a large boat containing eleven strangers who
stated that they belonged to the crew of the Arctic
exploring steamer Jeannette. They had undergone
terrible suffering. On hearing the news, the Deputy
Governor of the district was immediately despatched
with a doctor and a supply of medicine to the help of
the shipwrecked sailors, whom he was instructed to
bring to Jakutsk. He was also to do all in his
power to leo )ver the remainder of the crew. A sum
of 5000 roubles was praced at his disposal to defray the
first expenses.
"Engineer Melville has telegraphed to the United
States Lt-gation here that the Jeannette was sur-
rounded and crushed by the ice on the 23rd of June,
in latitude 77 north, longitude 157 east. The crew left
the vessel in three boats, which, about 50 miles from
the mouth of the Lena, were separated by violent
winds and thick fogs. Boat 3, which Mr. Melville cona-
manded, arrived on the 29th of September at the
eastern mouth of the Lena, where-it was stopped by
blocks of ice near the village of Bolonenga, a hamlet in-
habited by idolaters. Boat 1 also reached the same
spot. The men in these boats state that Lieutenant
Delong, Dr. Ambler, and twelve other shipwrecked
sailors landed at the northern mouth of the Lena, and
are in a fearful condition, several suffering from frost-
bitten limbs. A party of the inhabitants of Bolo-
nengo. started off immediately to their assistance.
Nothing is known of boat No. 2."

A Reuters telegram, dated St. Petersburg, Dec. 20
(evening), says :
"A special supplement of the Official Gazette pub-
lished this evening states that in consequence of the
news of the discovery of the members of the crew of
the Jeannette the Government has given orders that
all telegrams from Engineer Melville shall be for-
warded as promptly as possible and that the
most energetic measures shall be taken for the dis-
covery of the remainder of the crew and of those who
were left on the ice at the mouth of the Lena
River."