Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-12-29
TIE lEAKNErTE.
The Arctic Exploring Vessel, andsthc yoy-
ayers.

The steamer Jeanette, totally de-
stroyed in the frozen regions of the
Arctic, had been lost to the civilized
world for over two years, not trace Of
her fate or whereabouts having been
found since September IL, 1879, some
two months after her sailing from San
Francisco, whom she was seen by
whaler in the neighborhood of Herald
island. She was bark-rigged vessel
of but 439 tons register, and was built
at the Portsmouth dock-yard, in Eng
land, in 1861. to act as tender for the
Mediterranean feet and a dispatch
boat for the British government She
was called the Pandora, constructed Of
heavy English oak. carried an engine of
200.horse power, and spread, when all
sails was get, 6,85S square feet of can
vas. She was 150 feet long, with
breadth Of beam OF twenty five feet,
and her speed was ratel at this time at
from seven to eight knots an hour.
After engaging in the service Of the
government for twelve years she was
purchased by Sir Allan Young, who was
convinced that the last survivor Of
the i'll fated Franklin expedition had
buried in some cairn in the north the
records of that expedition, and showed
his iaith by starting out to find them.
He sailed from England in he Pandora,
which was well adapted by its size to
navigate among the icebergs and foes
Of the Arctic, in 1873, and after two
years Sc nch for the missing records re-
turned to England without them. The
expedition had proved failure, but the
little Pandora had behaved well in the
frozen seas, and justified the belief OF
her owner that small vessels are prefer
able to larger ones in Arctic navigation.
In 1878, when Mr.. James Gordon Ben
nett determined to send an expedition
in search of the North pole, he pur-
chased the Pandora to serve as the
transport for his company. She was
then seventeen years old, but it was
thought that she could be SO streng tn
ened and improved as to make her
practically as good as new. and as the
expedition was to start as early as pos
sible, SO as to push well on to the North
before the winter cf 1879 closed the
road to advance, it was deemed advis-
able to waste no time in building new
vessel. The Pandora was renamed the
Jeanette, at Havre, and sent around
Cape Horn to San Francisco at once.
Congress was appealed to to give the
sanction of the nation to the polar ex-
pedition. and the Jeannetts was regis
tered as an American vessel by a spe-
cial act, while officers of the navy
were given permission to join the ex
petition and take command of the
Jeanette.
The work Of preparing her for the
long and dangerous journey which she
was t3 make was done at the Marc
Island navy yard. opposits Vallejo,
Cal, under the personal supervision Of
Lieutenant George ". De Long, who
was to command the expedition. He
had had some experience in Arctic
navigation, and whatever he asked in
the wayof proper preparation for the
Quincy was promptly accorded. Money
was expended freely in strengthening
and fitting out the little craft, which
was to be the home Of the brave party
of explorers possibly for years. The hull
was strengthened by bracing from the
inside, 50 as to make it as nearly solid
as possible, AMI give it all the power
practicable to resist the crushing of the
ice which it was liable to encounter.
The braces were many, and occupied all
the space not absolutely required for
the accommodation Of the crew and the
cargo. New boilers were put in, and
new and improved machinery substi-
tnted for the old which had seen SO
much service. The cabin and forecastle
were heavily padded with thick layers
of felt to exclude as much of the Arctic
cold as possible. Small boats OF differ
ent models and adapted TO meet any
ordinary emergency in which boats
could be Of service were provided with
extra sails and two extra propellers to
provide against accident. The equip
ment OF the Jea nette included every
thing that the. history of past polar ex-
peditions or the foresight of old and ex-
perienced explorers In the frozen seas
of the North could suggest. She was
provisioned for three full years, and
carried 1876 tons Of coal, which was all
that could be slowed away in her
bunkers.
On the 9Th Of July, 1879. the jean
nette sailed from San Francisco on her
voyage to the North, from which she
was never to return. 1t was great day
at the Golden Gate, and probably no
vessel ever sailed from the Pacific
coast carrying with her SO many god
speeds and hearty wishes for success.
The boats Of the San Francisco Yacht
club covered the bay, filed with ladies
and gentlemen anxious to escort the
heroic band Of explorers to the Golden
Gate and wave them last farewell.
Telegraph hill, from which the moving
boats could be seen, was crowded with
spectators. and some 10000 men, women
and children thronged the wharves and