The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-06-07
TIE ICE.BOUND JEANETTE.


Lieutenant Danenhower, in his re
cital OF the Jeannette's Arctic voyage
gives the following account OF how tn,
doomed vessel finally went to the bot
tom after long imprisonment in th,
ice:
The Jeanette was finally released
from her icy fetters after an imprison
ment of twenty-one months-that il
almost the entire duration of our voy,
age-and during which time we had
been drifting with the pack. The i'm.
portant point of this drift is that we
traversed an immense area of ocean, at
times gyrating in almost perfect circles,
and it can now safely be said that land
does not exist in that area. OF course
the depth and the character OF the ocean
bed and the drift were also determined,
as we'll as the animal life that exists in
this part of the world, also the charae-
ter Of the ocean water and many
other facts of interest which were
finished with the discovery of
the two new islands. At this point We
had feeling of pleasure and pride that
our voyage had not been entirely in
vain, aud we felt sure that we could add
considerable to the knowledge of this
region of the Arctic, and if we could
have got out safely without loss of life
the voyage would have been q grand
success. Captain De Long, in my
opinion, entered the ice boldly and de-
liberately, with the intention of trying
the most hazardous route to the pole
that has ever been contemplated. When
spoken to on the subject within few
days after We found ourselves impris-
oned, stated that to be my opinion,
and that he had undertaken the most
daring and magnificent venture on
record.
To return to the Jeanette. She
was floating idly, but. of course, could
not proceed, being hemmed in on all
sides by almost limitless masses of ice
In close contact and having only small
pool in which she could bathe her sides.
The starboard half of her old cradle re.
NAMED, so she was hauled into it and
secured with ice anchors on the bow
and quarter to await her chsnce to
escape. The ru6der had been previ-
ously shipped and the screw propeller
had been found to be undamaged, so
every preparation was made to move at
a moments notice. On June IL Hen
rietta island was seen for the last time
to the southeast OF us.
/ will now describe the supreme
and final moments in the life of the
Jeannette. At this period of the cruise
l was able to spend one hour on deck,
three times day, for exercise, the last
relapse of my left eye having taken
place month previous. 1 went on
deck at o'clock in the afternoon and
saw the hunters start out. The day
was clear and beautiful; there was
light wind from the northeast, and in
some quarters of the horizon it was
misty and very much like in the trade
wind regions of the Pacific. A large
party was sent out to get seals and
guillemots if possible. My hour was up
and still fingered on the quarter deck
for the ice on the port side, some twenty
five yards distant, had commenced
to move toward us, and 1 was fas-
clnated by the dangers of the situation.
The captain was on deck and imme-
diately hoisted the hunters recall,
which was big black cylinder at the |
main truck. They began to come in |
one by one, and the last ones were Bart |
lett and Anequin, who were Sdragging a |
seal with them. At the time of their |
arrival the ice was in contact with the |
port side of the ship, and she was heel |
ing about twelve degrees 10 starboard |
with her port bilges heavily pressed. |
The two hunters approached on the |
port side, passed their guns to me and |
came up by a ropes end that 1 had |
thrown to them. The pressure on the |
ship was terrible, and we knew that she |
must either lift and be thrown up bod
lily upon the ice or be crushed. During |
the whole cruise provisions, tents and |
boats with sleds were kept ready for |
immediate use, and at this time every
step was taken for the impending catas-
trophe.
One watcn went TO supper at $50, |
and the officers had bread and tea in |
the cabin at 6. was on the sick list, |
with eyes bandaged, but told the doc |
tor that could get the charts and in |
struments together and be of assistance. |
He said he would ask the captain. Each |
officer kept his knapsack in his room |
and most of us thought it was time to |
have them on deck; but we woufd not |
make the move until ordered for fear of |
attracting the attention OF the crew, |
who were at work on provisions and |
boats While l was taking tea saw |
Dunbar bring his knapsack up and put |
it in the cabin. Feeling that the moment |
had arrived went for mine, and at the |
head of the ladder on my return the |
doctor said to me: "Dan, the order |
is to get knapsacks." 1t seems that |
he had stepped below and found |
water in the wardroom, which
he reported to the captain, and |
the order was then given to abandon
the ship. The national ensign was
hoisted at the mizzen and Captain De
Long was on the bridge directing the
work. Lieutenant Chipp was confined
to his bed. I threw my knapsack over
the starboard rail and returned for
clothes, but on stepping into water when