Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-10

A Survivors, Description OF How the
Good Ship Went to Pieces.

and taxidermist on the Jeanette expedition.
He is native of Salem, Mass, and was appoint-
ed to the position he held at the instance Of Pro-
lessor Baird, Of the Smithsonian, for which ms
titution he was sent In 1878 to the Banks of New
foundland to collect specimens of natural history
and for other general scientific objects Mr..
Newcomb Is one OF the few survivors Of De-
Longs Inflated expedition and sends to the
New York Herald from Irkutsk graphic &C
count OF the recreatiOns Of officers and crew
during the long months on the ship and their
subsequent hardships. He thus tells how the
Jeanette went to pieces:
"soon after the return of the island party the
Ice about the ship cracked in a lively manner
and on the 9th she was atiOat. On the 18th the
ice was comparatively quiet. The ship Law
alongside the foe with ice anchors out On
the 18th the ice came together. the ship was
heavily nipped and careened to Is degrees but
the pressure relaxing she righted again. All
hands were on the alert for duty Between
five and SIX p. m. the pressure was heavy, rails
ing the ship by the bow and settling her by the
STERN She again hepled to starbOard and the
snip s.; showed the pressure, groaning and shaking
In the ice kings grasp. The humming sound
throughout the vessel. with the cracking of
deck seams and the dancing of the
whole upper works, was a sad evidence
of the situation. / can never forget the
manner in which the gang ladders leading
chucks and danced on the deck like
drumsticks on the head of drum In the
midst of this wild scene a crash was heard.
man came up from below and said: The ice is
coming through the coal bunkers.' The old
Jeanette was doomed. She had fought good
fight, as her battered sides showed but this
last hug was too much for her. After the
smash no sound save the silent rush of water
The silence after the unearthy humming was
the saddest part of ALL She had been stabbed
n hnr vi fol md fact
worked with WILL everybody did; life hung
in the balance. Seaman Star. noble fellow.
stood below with the water up to his waist
passing out provisions until ordered out by the
captain: To-day know not where he is. The
Jeanette contained many such men in her
crew. Good Seamen all. But silence and OBJ
liviOn, like the waves, have rolled over them.
and none can tell the story of their en6'
After getting boats and provisions on the ice
about midnight camp was pitched, watch set
and the tired party turned in soon to be turned
out again by the opening of the ice under the
sleepers in the captains tent All hands helped
Shift to safer place, and about 100 a. M,
June IL. turned in again. At this time the
Jeanette was heeled over, so the yardarms
were against the ice and starboard rail under
water About twenty minutes before the watch
from our tent was called heard noise which
must have been the ship as she went down. |
looked out soon after and she was gone her
requiem being the melancholy howl of a single
uOS. Ohiy lew HOdtiLS htlCleS HdFkeU the
place. insignificant as the Jeanette was in
comparison to the ice, her disappearance made
great change in the scene. During her exist
ence there was always something animated to
turn to and look at, but now all is a dreary
blank. l have seen far heavier grinding than
that which crushed the Jeanette, but the ship
is not yet built that can stand such hugging.
Next morning our camp presented the APP
pearance of a family who had broken up house
keeping in hurry, as in fact we had. But ex-
cellent spirits prevailed. One of the sailors
handed some stuffed decOys OF mine to the cook
for the captains party. He commenced pluck
ing the feathers before finding out the Joke. Our
life for the next week was spent in getting ready
for our retreat. Much of the time was spent in
sewing and some drOll looking but very sensi-
BILE costumes were completed. Our tents were
numbered, and over the door of ours was the
word Welcome The boats and provision
sleds were named. The first cutter was named
the Jeanette. and bore beautiful silk ensign.
The second cutter, Mr.. Chipp's boat, was named
Hiram, and Mr.. Danenhowers boat was named
Rosy. Our sleds were named Syve, Eta L.,
Lizzie. and Maud. One other bore the motto,
In hoe signO vinces.' In consequence of the
stronger light during the day it was decided to
march nights and sleep daytime. This was &C
cOrdingly done, and proved good things and
many comfortable sleep l enjoyed after hard
nights wsrk. either dragging with the men or
a1terward with pick and shsvel building roads"