The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-11-11
Danenhower's Account of the Loss of the
Jeanette.

WASHINGTON, October 20.-Lieutenant Danen-
hover resumed his narrative before the Jeanette
Board of Inquiry to-day. He stated that about
4 O'Clock in the morning he was awakened by q
seaman, who was calling his relief and saying,
Hurry up, for the ships going down" Wit
ness heard a crash and the remarks of the two
men as they watched her go down. That morn
ing, after all hands were called, the spot where
the ship sank was visited by the party, and a
cabin chair, a signal box and a piece of wood
were found. The witness was asked: "What
was the condition of the ice on the 18th of June?'
He replied: at was very much broken and
thrown up in ridges. The large foe in which
we had been drifting for ten months seemed to
be broken up by banking on Henrietta Island,
and swinging around to the northwest. The
width of the ice was about ten feet, and the
greatest draft of water of any piece 1 saw mea-
sured was 90 feet.'' In answer to a question as to
the condition of the Jeanette before the heavy
pressure of June 18th, witness said: 1t was a
very strong ship, and in the same condition as
when she left San Francisco, with the exception
that her forefoot was twisted
knowing her condition at that time, would
you, if you had been in command of the expe-
dillon, have deemed it expedient to continue the
expedition?"
"No; for she had been fitted out originally
for three years, and the supply of clothing, pro-
visions, etc, would not warrant another year in
the ice. The supply of coal also would have
been insufficient for the coming winter, as the
crew already had been exposed for two years to
the rigors of an Arctic climate. Furthermore, it
is the custom when II ship is fitted out for three
years for the Arctic seas to first return at the
end of the second summer"
In reply. to further questions, witness said
" Had IL been any other vessel, however perfect,
my judgment would have been the same"
The entry in the ships log for the last day pre-
vious to her abandonment was identified by wit
ness Us in the handwritingof Captain De Long,
and made part of the record. The court then
adjourned.
The Jeanette inquiry is likely to lead to some
rather interesting Developments, if reliance can
be placed on the prophecies of some persons who
ought to know the facts. According to their
story, Danenhower, in his original report, made
some charges of a serious nature touching the
character of the ship and action of the crew.
Secretary Chandler, on reading the report, re-
commended that it be modified in this particular,
and at his instance it was so revised. The re-
port has not yet been published, and when given
out will not contain the obnoxious portion.
WASHINGTON. October 25.-The examination
of Lieut.. Danenhower was resumed this morn
ing. He said travelling improved some about
July 4th, and about ten miles were made that
day. July 9th there was a great movement of
ice, and travelling became very bad. On the
18th the captain announced that he had made
% miles the past week against IS the previous
one. July l6thland bore south to southwest,
and our course was directed to it. On that day
Collius shot n seal, which furnished a good meal
for the entire party. July 18th, at Z P. NJ, the
weather cleared and land was plainly visible. We
shifted to an immense foe piece, advanced one
mile and a half toward land, and camped at IL
P. NJ. At 2 P. NJ. on the 28th a mountain sud
denly appeared, towering over the fog. The
party pushed for the shore, and after two hours
work got sleds and boats upon some fat pieces
inside the GU Ell line of grounded ice, and
camped for supper. This was at the foot of an
island, the land being too $ eep to afford a camp
ing place. At z p. NJ. that day the captain took
possession of the island, and with all hands
hoisted the American ensign and took possession
i'll the name of the President of the United
States, calling it Bennett Island, and ordered
Clapp to give the party all the liberty they wished
on American SOIL The next day parties were
sent out to shoot birds, and a large number were
obtained and distributed amongst the tents.
July 3lst Dunbar and two Indians were sent
out to explore the southeastern part of the
island. Divine service was also held. Dunbar
established a cairn August 9TH on the southeast
face of the island. At this time the weather was
foggy and raw, and several of the party were
sick with diarrhoea from eating birds, Up to
his time the dogs had been allowed one pound
of pemmican each per day. On this day twelve
of them, crippled and of no further use, were
shot and buried in the water, August 9th the
boats were launched and we started on our trip
from Bennett Island.