River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-12-29
JEANETTE.
Found At Last. Two R0at Leads of
Survivors Reach the Russian Coast.

The Jeanette was crushed in ice
June 18th, in latitude ~, longitude
157 east. The crew embarked in three
boats, but were separated by wind and
fog. Number three, with eleven men,
Engineer Melville commanding, reach
ed the mouth of the Lena, September
10Th. subsequently,, number one, with
Captain belong, DR.. Amber and twelve
men, reached Lena in pitiable condi-
ton. Prompt assistance was sent them.
Number two has not beer heard from.
tSigned) HOFFMAN,
ST. Petersburg.
In response to the above, the follow
ing was transmitted
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 20. 1881.
To Hoffman, Charge d.Afaires, 81. Peters
burg:
Tender the hearty thanks of the
president to all authorities or persons
who have in any way been instrument
tai in assisting the unfortunate surviv-
ors from the Jeanette, or furnishing
information to this government.
(Signed) FRELINGHUYsEN.
Sec'y of State.
LONDON, Dec. 21.-The Times under
stands that the British foreign office
telegraphed to St. Petersburg for con-
frmatioa of the news and further de-
tails about the Jeaonette.
The Nelcs in leading article says:
If any spur were needed to hasten her
majesty to help LEIGH Smith, it is pro-
vided in the news about the Jeanette,
that the sympathy with such ventures
is widespread and deep, as is proved
by the heartfelt relief experienced in
the news that majority of the party
are alive.
The Post says; In every quarter of
the globe, the news that these brave
sailors have reached port of refuge,
will be received with heartfelt satisfac-
ton.
LONDON, Dec. 21.-The Standard
says: Though the Jeanette suffered
obstruction, the Americans have added
additional glory to that they have al
ready won in the frozen regions.
THE HAGUE, Dec. 21.-Geo. Kennon,
of this city, who some years ago, travel
ed thousand miles or more up the
river Lena, at the mouth of which
Lieut.. belong and survivors of the
crew of the Arctic Steamship Jeanette
recently landed, says where the jean
nette was lost, is 100 miles northeast of
the Island New Siberia, and 300
miles from the nearest part of
the Siberian mainland, and little
more than 500 hundred miles from the
mouth of the river Lena 1t is proba-
| BILE that Lieut.. De Long, after abandon
| ing his ship, made for the nearest
point on the Siberian coast. passing
eastward and southwark of New Siber-
ian island and striking the mainland
between the mouth of the Indiginka
and the mouth of the Lena. If he
reached the coast early enough in
summer he ought to have found Rus
sian and native fishing stations on the
Yana, Indiginka and other small rivers
that flow into the Arctic ocean in that
vicinity, aud thus have obtained succor
much better than on the Lena. 1t is
possible, however that he did not reach
the mainland until all the fishing sta
| tons had been abandoned and the fish
ermen returned up the rivers to their
winter villages, which, as a rule, are sit
uated some distance inland. At the
mouth of the Lena there is permanent
| settlement, and this seems to have
| been appointed as rendezvous for all
| the boats. If the third boat failed to
reach,the rendezvous agreed on, the con-
clusion by no means follows it is lost;
the crew may have found an inhabited
station nearer than the mouth of the
Lena, or been picked up by Russian
fiSh &c nd nor nd 0r
| guided to some other place of safety
In such case they might not be heard
| from for month or so after the arrival
of the other boats The third boats
crew should not be given up as lost I'M
til we have heard from the the village
of Yana and Indiginka, and from Nizhri
and Kolyma, which places Of refuge is
quite as near and quite as accessible as
the mouth of the Lena The retreat
Of the boats 800 miles across the Arctic
sea to the Siberian mainland is re-
markable achievement, and one which
is paralleled in the Arctic history only by
the retreat of Barent's and his men
from the northern extremity of Novoya
Semblia, and TegetthoH from FROM
Joseph's Land; the fact that belong
and his men were three months at sea
and on the ice in open boats before
they reached the mouth of the Lena,
is fact which of itself tells a mournful
story of hardship and suffering, and
one which more than accounts for the
pitiable condition in which we are told
belongs crew at last arrived in. The
Jeannette's crew at the mouth
of the Lena, would be well
cared for on any Russian settlement
on the whole of the Siberian coast; they
would fiDd warm earth in "Yourts,"
abundant clothing, and food and SYM
pathy and care, of warm-hearted, hos
pitable people. As soon as winter came,
road was established, and when the
crew were strong enough to travel
they would probably be brought up the
Lena on dog sledges, to Yokowtch,
which is p large Russian town of about
5000 or 5000 inhabitants.
Engineer Melville forwarded by ma
tives long dispatches to Mr.. Bennett, OF
the New York Herald. For want of
funds they have been forwarded by
post, addressed to Gen. Ignatiff. On
Oct 29th, Nindeman and Noyes, sea-
men, who were in boat No. /, joined
their comrades, and stated Lieut.. De
Long, DR.. Amber and twelve others
had reached the mouth of the Lena
and were starving. An expedi-
ton was at once sent out to rescue them.
The survivors lost everything. Engineer
Melville says money is urgently needed
and should be sent by telegraph to Ja-
kutsk. He has urgently requested that
5000 roubles be transmitted immedi-
ately to the governor of Jakutsk for
the return and care Of the shipwrecked
men.
The party would have all the COM
forts and many of the Injuries of the
Russians. The governor Of the pro-
vince would furnish them with trans
portation across the mountains of
Okhitska, where they could be called
for by one of the vessels of our Pacific
squadron, or up the Lena to Yakoutska,
thence overland to st. Petersburg.
They will have no serious Diff
Guilty in getting home from
the mouth of the Lena. Jcurneying up
the river from the Arctic sea coast
would be hard on account of the severn
ty of the climate, but ought not to oc-
cupy more than a month or month
ard half, and is not attended with
any danger to men of fair powers OF en-
durance.
News received to-day from the mouth