Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-03

Lieut. DanenhOwer's Narrative Com
tinued.

tinued.
THE SECOND YEARS DRIFT-IN THE ICE PACK-THE
SHIP GOES DOWN.
Another interesting chapter of the story Of the
Jeanette, gathered from the narrative OF Lieut.
Eisenhower, is included in the New York Herdlds
correspondence from Siberia. The part OF this
narrative printed last week gave the incidents and
impressions of the ships first year Ice bound. The
present story ends with the destruction of the
outset OF the second year the condition of the yes
selw practically the same as it had then been
for many months.
IN A BED OF FLOATING ICE.
'The ship was firmly imbedded," says Danen-
however sin Ice of about eight feet in thickness;
but there were immense masses showed under
her keel. and the bows were lifted so
that the keel was inclined about one
degree. the ship at the same time heeling
TO TO starooard two degrees, and so firmly held
struck his anvil in the firerOOm one could see
the shrouds and stays vlbrate, and they were not
very taut. The ice was piled up under the main
chains and as high as the pl inkshecr" Such was
her position ami such it seemed likely to remain,
when, as the autumn came on, which was the best
period for travelling over the ice, the captain had
to determine whether he would adventure the
possibilities OF another winter in a vessel hope
lessly beset or abandon her and endeavor to make
his way by sled ana boat to the Siberian
coast Naturally the apprehension OF the COM
mon gravity Of second winter In the Arctic night
tn at Was assumed In the voyage There was,
however, this consideration always before him.
that while his ship remained beset all he could
hope to do was to discover the Arctic drift and
there was reason to believe that the best he could
nope Tor was that she might remain beset, since
the fearful pressure and grip of the ice had proba-
bly, so damaged her that II once set free she would
not float Through all these difficulties the cap
tain was guided by the instructive sentiment OF a
sailors duty to stand by his ship. It was heroic
determination in such circumstances. Danen-
mower regards the long night OF the second winter
1.-THE MOST FEARFUL PART OF THEIR EXPERIENCE"
Mental strain, the oppression OF the constant
gloom, the thought that from moment to moment
the ship might be crushed by the gigantic forces
In operation about her-all this wears upon brain
and nerve, and when these fail In their functions
the exhaustion of the human capacity for resis-
lance Is imminent. 1t is not strange to read,
therefore, that ''on May DR.. Amber reported the
physical condition OF the crew rapidly deteri-
Grating, and six or seven were placed on whisky
and quinine TO tone them up" But this was
already season OF hope. The winter was over,
and here succeeds in the narrative the cheering
cry or "Land ho!" 1t is evident that the discovery
of4he two islands, to the neighborh0od of Which
the ship had driited, stirred up the whole COM
effect upon everybody. This part OF the story is
told in extracts from the log. which was kept at,
the period by the captain. himself.
THE CLOSING SCENES.
De Longs last entry in the log Is June H. What
they thought on board when the breakup OF the
ice became imminent Is told In a few Of Danen-
hOwer'S graphic phrases: "We knew that the i'm
portant moment was coming when the Jeanette
would be liberated from this cyclopean vice and
that her future would be more hazardous than
While IN the monsters grip, Tor it was impOSsi bic
TO shape course and she would be momentarl.y
liable to be crushed by the impact OF the antagOn-
isic foe pieces, which sent immense masses OF ice
INTO tne air, and among which the Jeanette
would 0e like glass toy ship in railroad coils
lon" At night on June TO- 1881, the Ice parted and
lett open water On one Side OF the SHIP, and she
slipped from her cradle ana floated on an even
Keel. She was found to be all sht. But on the
18th the ice came together again and squeezed her
with such eject as 10 open her timberS, and she
Degan TO I'LL rapidly. 1t was evident that whv n
the zee should again relax its pressure and leave
her Id open water she must inevitably go down,
and therefore the order was given to abandon her
ana 10 get out the supplies that had been prepared
Tor this occasion. This order was given about six
p. m, June IL, and the ship was abandoned and the
crew took refuge on the Ice foes.
THE SHIP GOES DOWN.
The final scene is then described by Lieut. Dan
enhower: ABOUT four O'Clock was awakened by
Seaman Kuehne calling his relief, Fireman Bart
lett, who was In our tent Kuehne called to Bart
lett that the ship was sinking, and the latter
jumped to the tent door and saw the Spars OF the
Jeanette after the hull was below the surface.
We heard the crash, but those were the only two
men who saw the yes ST. disappear. 1t was said
that the Ice first closed upon her, then relaxing
the Ice and broke off, but being held by the Hits
and braces were carried dOWn-depth, thirty-eight
fathoms, as l remember The next morning the
captain and others visited the spot and found only
remained of our old and good friend the Jeanette,
which for many months had endured the embrace
OF the Arctic monster. The Jeanette sank about
four O'clock or the morning OF Monday, June 18th"