Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-02
The Mex, Arctic Exploring Expedition.

THE JEANETTE AND HER COMMANDER PREP
ARATIoNs FoR THE cRUIsE-THE ROUTE TO BE
TAKEN-A SEARCH FOR TIE SWEDISH voYA-
GERS
The New York Tribune furnishes some in
teresting particulars concerning the plans of
Lieutenant George w. De Long, who has
been detailed by the Government to command
the Jeanette on the Arctic expedition, the
expense of which is borne by james Gordon
Bennett Lieutenant De Long has had an
experience of eighteen years in the navy, and
in 1873 was navigator of the Juniata, that
went with the Tigress in search of the POlaris.
1t is his opinion that little could be hoped for
from such an expedition that now contem-
plated unless it were taken out Of the posi-
ton of private enterprise, clothed with alb
solute governmental authority and carried ont
under naval rules and discipline. In these
views Mr. Bennett agreed with him The Jean
nette has become for the time of the eXplora-
tons part of the United States Navy the
Washington authorities will assign naval of
Ulcers to her and will hold them responsible
for the conduct of the expedition and the
only difference between the cruise of the
Jeanette and that of a man-of-war will be
that money to meet the expense will be drawn
by order on Mr.. Bennett
The Jeannette-formerly II. NJ. S. Pandora
is vessel of 1870 tons burden, 143 feet long
% feet beam, and draws l3 feet of water when
fully loaded She has three masts, rakishly
set, and in rig is what the English call bark
antine, with rolling topsails, and will be easy
to manage. She is provided, besides, with
boilers and screw, which viii enable the nav
gators to make all possible speed, compati-
bic with safety, within the brief season Of
Arctic summer. She has room only for a
limited supply of coal During the sail of 100
days from London to San Francisco she
steamed eighteen days during calms and
through the Straits of Magellan. Lieut.. De
Long will husband the coal for the ice re-
gions where he expects to use steam almost
altogether.
The most important duty will be the selec-
ton of a crew-33 men all told % forward
and abaft. Every officer and seaman will
be volunteer. Lieut.. DE Long has received
letters from enough applicants to man feet
| and enough experienced seamen to man a
| frigate. These exhibit features interesting
| and ludicrous, and have been. received from
| all kinds of men and school boys. Lieut. De
Long will give the preference to American
seamen for national reasons, and thinks that
he has already made suitable choice of men
without yet engaging them. Some will come
from Boston, others from New York, and a
very few perhaps will be chosen in San Fran
cisco, where they will be shipped under naval
rules 1t is expected that the Jeanette will
be newly fitted out by June l. Her cargo
will be food and fuel intended for n three
wears cruise. Bulk is a great consideration.
| Articles of outfit and travel, such as sledges,
| tents, ice-anchOrs and ice-tows were bought
| in London Sailing June u, the Jeanette
will touch at st. Pauls Island, in Behring's
| Sea. and at St Michael's a trading-post in
| Alaska, where dogs, and dried fish for their
| eood F,r olotbing and mora glpdpas will he
| taken aboard Then she will touch at st.
| Lawrence Bay, on the Siberian coast. At the
| two last places Esquimeaux will be engaged
| to act as dog drivers and interpreters. Lieu
| tenant De Long expects from that point ia
proceed northwesterly from the Straits in
search of Prof Nordenskjold the Swede who
| sailed from Stockholm last July to make tho
| never-accomplished northeast passage through
| the Siberia Seas. If the natives are to be be-
| ieyed he has had wonderful success, having
they report, reached KOliutchin Bay, not
MANY hundred miles distant from Behring',
straits where he is frozen in, and probably
| perfectly safe. He can scarcely eXtricatt
| himself before the Jeanette approaches thai
| mort in the middle of July. If he is found
| and cannot get through, Lieut.. De Long ex
| meets TO bring back tidings to Alaska. But il
| he can be his own herald the Jeanette viii
| steam as far north of Behring's Straits as pos
/ sible, and stay until the provisions nearly give
out or some worthy discovery is made. Ii
this direction, probably, the list parallel hA'
never been passed. whaler, Captain Long
reported land to the westward about this lati
| tude. which has been named Kellet Land
Lieutenant DE Long hopes to winter in the
inlet along this supposed island or continent
| like Greenland and make a dash for the poll
the following summer He does not wish t.
express any opinion about an open sea, be
leving that polar conditions vary greatly ac
cording to marked climatic variations of thu
same season in different years. and is satisfied
to report what he finds after he gets back.