The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-10-23
THE JEANNETTE.
Lieut.. Danenhowers Testimony-C Gould
the Vessel have been Saved Under
Different Management.

Lieut. Danenhower's Testimony--Could
the Vessel have been Saved Under
Different Management.
WASHINGTON, Oct. q The exa naination OF
Lieut. Danenhower before the board of en-
glneers this morning comprised a series OF
questions by the court touching the abandon
meut of the ship, the direct narrative of the
previous days being Interrupted for that pur-
pose.
Q.-Was the abandonment of the ship an
ticipated, and we're preparations made prior to
June 12, 1881?
A.-Yes; sudden disaster was anticipated,
and, as / have previously stated, preparations
were made when the ship first entered the
pack.
Q.-Wbat was the physical condition of the
officers and men when they landed on the ice
June II, 1881?
A.-The physical condition was good, with
the following exceptions: Lieut.. Chipp was
disabled and prostrated by what was supposed
to be tin poisoning I was disabled by the
condition of my eyes and unable to perform
the duties of navigator, but able to do other
duty, and Alexey was affected with an ulcer l.
tion of one of his legs A number OF the mon,
among whom were Seaman Keuhne, Coal
HEAVIER Landerback and Steward Charles Tong
Sing, were also affected by the tin poisoning,
and were prostrated few days later.
Con the 12lh and 18th of June was the
pressure perceptibly greater than upon previ-
the vessels yielding to il?
Ayes, sir; we, recognized the fact before
she yielded to it, that the pressure was much
greater than anything she had before been sub
jected to.
Q-Was everything done that was possible
to avoid the loss of the Jeanette; and, if not,
what was omitted that might have been done?
A.-Eyerything that circumstances would
permit was done.
On your opinion, could any vessel have
been so constructed as to have lived through
the pressure the Jeanette was subjected to on
June IL and 13, 1881?
A.-The ice pressures are so different and SO
unforeseen that vessel could not be built and
fully insured, SO to speak, to go through such
an experience successfully. For example,
whatever the model of the ship, and however
well it may be adapted to rise under a theore-
tical pressure, when it comes to experience a
projecting tongue of ice under water might at
any time destroy her. The force which was
brought to bear on the Jeanette was sufficient
to crush any ship that could possibly be con-
structed, if she were held in the same position
as the Jeannette.
In reply to further questions, witness said:
The loss of the Jeannette is to be attributed
to the fact that sha was beseti in the polar pack.
Arctic cruisers seldom get in the vicinity of
Wrangel Land. They generally cruise off the
edge OF the pack, between Herald Island and
Point Barrow. OF late years they have been
in the habit of leaving this vicinity in the
month OF October, generally before the 10th,
to avoid being beset in the ice. 1t is necessary.
in order to make Arctic explorations, TO enter
the pack ice, and it is frequently done in some
localities, the Greenland, for example
Witness was asked what he would have done
ii he had been in command of the Jeanette
at the time she foed the pack, and replied he
should have tried to get it out of the pack on
the evening Of Sept 9th.
Q-What would have bsen the prospect of
your succeeding in getting clear of the ice at
that time?
A--Good
Adjourned till Monday.