Connecticut western news., 1882-04-19
THE "JEANNETTE."
Engineer Melville's Graphic Account
 of the Vessels Fate.

A letter has been received at the New York Herald office from Chief Engineer Melville. in which he gives an excellent account of the Jeannette's drift in the ice and the line of retreat of her crew. Af- ter describing the arrival at and depart. ure from Kolintschin Bay, Mir. Melville continues
 "On September Sd came up with the ice and on the 4th sighted Herald Is- land. Continued to work through the ice untif the 9th of September, when we became finally fixed in the ice. On September 13 an attempt was made to land on Herald Island, but it was un- successful and the travelling party re- turned to the ship on the 14th. We continued to drift with the ice toward the northwest, and on October 21st sighted Wrangell Land, bearing south. until November 25, when after several
 "We continued fast in close packed ice days severe crushing of the ice and nip- ping of the ship, she was forced into open water and drifted northwest with out control until the evening of the same day, when we brought up against solid foe piece and made fast, where we again froze in and remained until the vessel was evidently destroyed"
 Then follows an account of the con dition of the Jeannette, the discovery Of Jeannette Island and Henrietta Is- land, and the release of the vessel from the ice. In regard to the latter En- gineer Melville writes
 "The ship and ice continued to drift to the west and northwest. and the whole ice field being broken up in all directions. On the night of June 10 several severe shocks were felt, and the ship was found to have raised several inches in her bed. There was evidence of an approaching breakup of our friendly foe piece. At 12:1O a. m., June Il, the ice suddenly opened alongside the ship, completely freeing her, and she hoated on an even keel for the first time ln many months. The ice con- tinued in motion, but no serious injury occurred to the ship until the morning of the 18th, when the ice commenced to pack together, bringing tremendous strain on the ship keeling her over to starboard, and forcing the deck seams open. This continued during the day at intervals until evening, when it was evident the ship could not much longer oldstogether. The boats were lowered on the ice, and provisions, arms, tents. alcohol, sledges and all necessary equip ment for retreat securely placed on the foe. By p. m. the ship had en- tireiy filled with water and lay over at a angle Of 22 degrees, being kept from sinking by the opposing edges of the foe. On the morning of the 18th of June, about 4 o'clock, the ice opened and the ship went down with colors fly ing at the masthead.
 "We remained six days on the ice, or ganizing our system and line of march south, during which time we had re- sumed rapid drift to the northwest. On June A, having marched south one week and obtained observation for po- sition, we found we had drifted to lati- tude " deg. 42 min. north-a loss of twenty-four miles northwest"
 Here occur description of the visit to Bennett Island, the passage along the New Siberian islands, the separa- tion of the boats, and the safety of the Melville party.