The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-22

III 1913 the Stcam-yacht Pandora, then
returned from brief but successful Arctic
voyage, was purchased by Mr.. Bennett
and sent TO San Francisco to be fitted out
for IN expedition in search Of the North
Pole. One year later she was ready for sea.
and on the sth Of July, 1879, she sailed out
OF the Golden Gate, attended by great
number OF small boats bearing various
committees and delegates OF citizens. and
the honest God-speed Of the American peo-
pie. Her commander, Lieutenant G.. w. De
Long, had already seen service in the Arctic,
whittier he went in 1873, in the Juniata.
TO search for the survivors OF the Inflated
PolariS. The Juniata reached Upcrnavik,
the most northern settlement in Greenland,
but was unable TO progress any further.
So he organized and commanded an expe-
dition in a small steam-aunch and pro-
cceded northward. Here he fell under the
fascinating influence OF the northern
Sphinx, like Franklin and so many other
famous explorers who have essayed n solu-
ton of its mystery. There is a legend Of
the South that whoever drinks the water Of
the Rio Grande will return again to il be-
fore he dies, and there is another not
phrased, but MS truthful. that one who be-
holds the eternal ice will return again to
look al il. Lieutenant DE Long was Sc
lcctcd for the command Of the Jeanette
expedition on account OF his rare fitness
FOR such a work.
LAST ACCOUNTS.
Since the Jeanette left San Francisco. i'm
July, 1879, she has been heard of but twice.
and then through the Herald correspond
ent on board, who wrote from llliolionk
station, in the harbor OF OOnalaSka, and st.
Lawrence Bay, detailing the dOings OF the
party up 10 August 9th. In September of
the same year il was reported that the jean
nette had been seen in kOtZebue Sound,
but this was denied later i'm the year. In
1850, according TO Danish authority, a
steamers smoke was seen near the mouth
OF the Lena river by the Yakuts living
there, but in the transmission Of this story
from tribe to tribe, from the mouth OF the
Lena west TO the Kara Sea. where the wal
ruS-hunterS heard it, il was no doubt some
what damaged.
RELIEF EXPEDITIONS.
Notwithstanding that nothing was heard
OF the Jeanette Tor year and half no
grave apprehensions were entertained until
the spring OF the present year. News being
still forthcoming at that time il was deemed
action for the discovery Of the whereabouts
OF the ship and her crew. The United
States alone sent out five expeditions into
the Polar Basin, with instructions to seek
and succOr the explorers; England was
represented by private gentleman, Mr..
Leigh Smith, who CALAMITY took upon him.
self the duty Of searching i'm the region Of
Franz Josef Land, and another expedition,
under Dutch auspices. in the ship Wilhelm
BarentZ, volunteered TO make the search
for the Jeanette part Of its programme.
The next expedition in order was that OF
the Alliance, under the command OF Com
mander Wadleigh. The Rodgers and ALI
ance left America almost simultaneously
the first from san Francisco, the second
from Norfolk, Va. The Rodgers was sent
over the same route pursued by the jean
nette. in the hope OF finding on Wrangel
Land some record OF the progress OF the
party i'm Il cairn there, and the Alliance was
sent 10 the waters north Of SpitZbergcn on
the supposition that the party had made
their way across the Pole on Wrangell
Land.
OTHER EXPEDITIONS.
The other two expeditions were primari-
" for meteorological purposes. but each
was instructed 10 keep bright lookout for
the Jeanette, and TO consider it I'M impor-
tant part of their duty. The first OF these
was under the command Of Lieutenant
Greclv, with a station at Lady Franklin
BAY. i'm Smith Sound, and the second was
located at Point Barrow, the northern eX-
tremitv Of Alaska, under command OF Lieu
tenant Ray. From this it will be seen that
no such comprehensive scheme OF relief
was ever organized rs that instituted by
the United States Government Tor the
Jeanette. Four Of the most important
points of cgrcsS were cOvered-thc north
ern shores Of Siberia by Lieutenant Berry;
Point Barrow, on Alaska, by Lieutenant
Ray: Smith Sound by Lieutenant Greedy,
and SpitZbergen by Commander Wadleigh.
Nor was this all, for Mr.. Leigh Smith, in
his Yacht the Ezra, little craft OF about
three hundred and fifty tons burden,
promised, before he left Peterhead last
summer, TO keep a diiigent watch for the
missing Americans. Who can tell, since
he himself has not returned to relate the
history of the summers cruise, whether
his philanthropy did not lead him into
danger and prevent his return Some
Dowerful incentive must have made him
REGARDLESS Of that rare caution that for fiI-
teen vears has stood him in such good stead
in his Arctic Journeys. His cruising ground
was away TO the eastward OF the Alliance
i'm the region Of Franz josef Land, where
Weyprecht and Payer were cast away III
the Tegethof.
THE JEANETTE.
The Jeanette was a bark-rigged steamer
of 42O tons register. She was long, low
craft. with considerable rake. She was
ORIGINALLY built by the British Government
a. a dispatch-boat and tender TO the Medi-
terranean squadron. Having no use FOR
her after she was built the Royal Navy Of
fered her for sale, and she was purchased
bv Captain Allan Young, an enthusiastic
English yachtsman.
After Captain Young made one "TRIP III
her She was purchased by Mr.. Bennett, and
by special act OF Congress registered as an
American vessel under her present name.
She was what is called long-legged ship
that is, she had wedge-shaped floor, so
that il was supposed if she were caught IN
the zee She would be raised instead OF beng
crushed. rs is 50 common with ilat-hoored
or wal-sided ships.
lBy Telegraph
THE GOVERNMENT ORDERS PROMPT RELIEF
FOR THE SURVIVORS.
WASHINGTON, December 2l.-Ihe ioiioW-
inc was sent this afternoon: ~,
Hoffman, Charge, 81. PeterSoaT9; Inc
President desires you TO make provision
for the immediate relief and return oil tne
officers and men Of the Jeanette. cable
promptly the amount OF credi: you require
and ii will be provided by the Secretary OF
the Navy and myself. Also cable whaI
steps can be taken by this Government Tor
the recovery OF the crew OF the missing
boat. FRELlNohOfshN' 0e0i'''"''