Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-24

PORTLAND (0e), December 2Si.-A re-
porter of the 0regonian had an interview this
evening with Lieutenant Fred. Schwaska at
Vancouver concerning the Jeanette. lie
said:
The Jeanette was crushed in the ice, as
shown by the dispatches, about midway be-
tvesn Behring's Straits aud Nova Zsmbla, 400
miles from the Siberian coast. and about 100
miles from the nearest one of the Siakhon
Islands. in a northeast direction from them.
She was, think, keeping two Arctic pro-
bleus in view-ths accomplishment of the
northeast passage and the route to the Pole
Had she only the former 10 view she would
have kept to the southwark OF the Siakoo. or
New Siberian Islands. The latter object has
kept her as far to tbs northwarl as the ice
would allow, and NO doubt
AN UELUcKY STORM
Has repeated with her the fate Of the Hanss,
Fury and many other Arctic discovery
ships. think it probable that she
wintered at the Siakhon Islands, or
near by on the Siberian coast, and her
route thereto took her south of WraDgell
Land, which would easily account for no
traces of her being found by the Corwin or
Rodgers on that island. Her previous dis
coveries cannot be inferred from the position
in which she was crushed, and they may be
extensive and interesting. She may have
reached much higher latitude than "
degrees during the summers of 1879 and 1850,
or even during this year before she was lost
The position where the three boats became
separated, only fifty miles off the mouth of
the Lena river, show very reasonable hopes
that the missing boat No. 2 will soon be heard
from. have the utmost faith that Lieu
tenant De Long has done
ALL THAT MAN COULD DO
To make his expedition success, and its de-
tails will be doubIy interesting as the first
attempt to reach the pole from the Pacific.
If De Long did not follow the axis Of the
warm Japanese current north of Behring's
Straits, this should be done before this
avenue is condemned rs impracticable. As
to the return of De Longs party to the
United States, the route will make little diff
ference after falling into the hospitable
hands Of the Russians; but those suggested
by KEENAN,, the Siberian explorer, seem
the most sensible of the many given. My
previously published opinion, which was also
that CT Captain Hooper, of the Corwin-
that De- Long should be sought On the out
lying northwestern Islands of the Parry
Archipelago-is so far out of the way from
the position where he actually met with his
loss, that it viii probably be very interesting
to know whether any attempts were made by
hiu to reach the Pole by that direction. 1
think that his instructions or intentions to
keep the northeast passage in view as
secondary tbject has prevented his examining
that quarter, even in the early part of his
voyage The direction he was taking when
asst seen, on the Sd of September, 1879,
would also confirm this. It has been very
ortunate that
THE JEANETTE WAS sTANcH VESSEL,
Built expressly for ice navigation, for had
abe been of the usual class Of Arctic boats, l
believe that belongs whole party, under
such circumstances, would have been lost.
His retreat with boats and sledgss distance
of about 500 miles, after two winters sojourn
in the Arctic, in lsuch short time, shows
it to be ore of the most mastery managed
escapes made in the history of the many
abandoned Polar vessels. The prompt rescue
AMI relief of two boat parties by the Rus
SLAMS at the mouth of the Lena river, at
much expense and hardship, adds another
debt TO the many that we owe that country.
put no faith whatever in the Geographic
reports that the Russian officials in Siberia
havesecretly withheld information concerning
the Jeanette from the public for long time
before disclosure. The date and place of
rescue, and the methods of transportation
from there to Irku;sk-the nearest tele-
graphic station during the winter season
makes such an idsa untenable. Belongs
failure north of the Siberian coast will be
SEVERE CONTRADICTION
To the many who believed that this would
give the best Polar route. by taking advan-
tage of the channels through the ice of the
Arctic Ocean by the great Siberian rivers
during the summer eeason and the polynia of
the Gulf stream and other OCEAN currents.
His catastrophe shows that the only untried
route to the Pole up to the time OF his expe-
di ion ia as hazardous and uncertain as those
already tried. His fate leaves but little doubt
as TO that which must have befallen the
American whalsrs-the Vigilant and the
Mount Wollsston-a fate which is as terrible
rs the imagination can conceive. Should the
loss of the Jeanette have coupled to it the
loss Of the English exploring yacht Eira, un-
der Leigh Smith not unlikly fate,
vie we'd 10 the light Of present circumstances
the tendency of Arctic advocates of expiora-
tion will be to look with better favor on
the more hazardous, but more probably
successful, methods of aerial navigation,
which are now being strongly advocated 10
England aui America. Ds Lolgs Inflated
also do much to prevent prospective coastiDg
commerce to the mouth of the Lena river,
which seemed likely to spring up as a result
of Nordenskiold's voyage through the north
east passage in 1873 70, and it's consequent
resulting from an unusually
open season at that time. 1 do not believe
that De Longs disaster will have any deter
ring influence on future Polar exploration,
but rather viii assist in changing the meth
DDS, there being less faith placed in ships to
accomplish the main object of the expedi-
ticn, and consigning them to their proper
places as secondary basis of supply and
transport TO the readily accessible points in
the Arctic.
FURTHER ACTION or THE GOVERNMENT.
WASHINGTON, December 23d.-The follow
ing was sent to-day:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, December 2Sd.
Hoffman, st, Petersburg: Convey the thanks of
ths President to the Imperial Government for its
liberal and generous action in advancing the neces
sary funds to render assistance to the members Of
the Jeanette expedition, and inform Mr.. Degiers
that YOU are auth 0rized TO draw me TO reimburse
thst Government il it will kindly inform you OF the
amount FRELINGHUYSEN.
GRoTHBs RRsoRr FROM JAMES GORDON