New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-09
DRIFTING IN THE ICE.
THE JEANETTE IN ARCTIC on


Board Of Inquiry this morning. the witness said ~
Ing the remainder Of the winter the Zoe about N, -,
| was comparatively quiet. During the latter nav,
April, 1881 the foe began 70 give signs Of BREAKING -
and by May 10 there were numerous lanes OF open w.t.
In sight and continual humping against the bottom
| the ship by under running ice. May 10 or IT land -
sighted TO the north by Mr. Dunbar There had been
cations of land to the westward for some time ana
breaking OF the foe led look for land or sho.
| the direction In which drifting Mr. Dunh.
had been steady occupant OF the crowsnest for sev
| days previous. AT this time we were RAPIDLY dd,,,
past tho island to the northwest The island was A -,
distant and the fee broken that the CAPTAIN A.
not deem It prudent TO attempt landing on this ssra
May "a or % other land sighted The drift Of ~
ship stl b the northwest full upon this secons
island. We had drifted pasrthe frat island and aho,
May 30 ths captain asked me II thought was stron.
enough to reach the land, which estimated "a
be about fifteen miles distant. At this time Mr. CHM
the executive officer. sick from lead -poisonps
Mr.. Danenhower had been sick with his eyes for soma
time, and several others board were also sick fo
| ead-pOisoning.
May 81 Captain De Long gave me orders 10 tai.
charge OF sled party with sixteen dogs and seven day
| provisions, and accompanied by MI Dunbar seams,
Erickson and Nindermann, Fireman Bartlett and Coal
HEAVIER Walter sharyen. effect landing build earn n,
prominent point, erect flagstaff leaven record and
name the Island Heretta Island and claim as portion
tf the territory of the United States The sled and boa,
were fully equipped with arms and ammunition tent
sleeping bags cookstove. medicine chest provisions
etc The party landed on the island june 3. carried
out my Instructions and made hurried survey Of one
island than twenty-fOrr hours. remained abOl,
twelve hours and made sketches Of the promontOries
found with the ships record On June or
| returned TO the ship During this TIP Ice
and Seamen NindeTmann and Erickson were badly az
feoted by cramps. supposed 10 he due to the lead
poisoning The ice In the vicinity OF the ship impngng
these Islands broken up IN large masses and the
whole pack seemed to be alive Lines OF water appeared
in all directions but closed again SO that would have
been impossible worked the ship through am Of
them. About May general order was issued .namine
one on which my party landed-Henrietta Island. tho
latitude and longitude OF each being recorded at the time
the movement Of the ice that all preparations weFs
made Tor abandoning the ship IN case she should DO
crushed.
AT this time the ship Embedded in small island
of lee which protected from the direct crushing Of the
fee against her sides but there continual humping
OF under running ice. ON June H. after midnight
IL my watch TO read the thermometer and insru-
mCnts nj the observatory on the lee. As passed
the ships side the ice parted and the ship fOated and
suddenly rghed. starting al hands from their beds and
articles the Zee gotten on board. The ship
moorcd to the foe one side. The lead opened tos
gether again About a. IN. June l2. the ice cams
alongside the ship and she hauled ahead into hoe
where it Thought she would be protected from the
inpingng ice. Tie hole resembled little dock.
Witness nSked Did the boilers and engines OF the
Yes sir
Q-What was the appearance OF the Zee when the ship
first entered the pack A.When first came mp TO
the ice much broken and the pack to the eastward
seemed to be all I'm motion but as We entered the pack
Q. Were all alike subjected to the physical examine
lions by the surgeons Ayes, sir Tue captain was
first examined. There some expressed objection NJ
first the part OF some or the officers. Captain Do
Long asked me II had any objections say ing mat wa.
no objection the younger officers ought 10 raise none
relied that hnd mo- objection whatever and considered
a med igul IA
tire Of the examination 10 which all were subjected. In
private In the captains quarters IN reply 10 further
Of preparation of the ship for the winter season TO insure
the safety ship and the health and comfort OF the
officers aud men, and he heard adverse criticisms from
any source. During the first winter every one was
parativc cheerful and happy but during the secvnd
winter the people were well cheerful butt
do not think at time anyone was despondent OF the
In the feelings of the people due the prolonged
imprisonment II was but natural that should get
would become stale and stock of conversation more or
less exhausted. our aniisemens were not general
A the people had in become tired Of each other
there was not so much general cordially and individuals
had begun to select their companions for their walks and
During the month OF August 1880, IT became evden,
that second winter must be passed IN the pack Divine
services were held every sunday PIayeIs were read
nv the commanding officer the ship or the ice every
sunday from the time OF leaving San francisco M our
were Of coal remaining on board the ship. Tho
expenditure for heating ana cooking was about $50
nonls Der day in the winter and 10 pounds per day
during the summer When the ship went down, there
W
estimate after measurement two day before the ship
went down there were twenty-five tons on board
When the ship first entered the pack In September
1879 the commanding officer told me that he had over
heard adverse criticism and Tor that reason he tod
reaching Wrange Land. that the season was still early
aud thai there prospect that the tall gales woaf
hreoL m the pack that would have difficulty In
reaching land. That ii impossible, In the Arctic
Ocean. TO reach any point without encountering The
o.-Hac you any other conversation with the com.
mauling officer either before the ship was beset In the
pack in relation 10 his purpose IN entering The packer
afterward as to his purposes expectations Of getting
free Al never had any conversation with the com
but aerward had many conversations relative 10 ths
possibilities and probabilities OF getting free from me
lee. At one time he was very hopeful that tae sMp
would be caught in the counter current that sets aoe
the coast siberia and by this means get free OF the
my regret having put the ship in the pack nor DOL
remember to have heard him express any opinion
again under the same circumstances.
Q.-Was there fair prospect apparently when yoi
and reaching Wrangel Land A.-Wrange Land was
too far distant to form opinion We could only expect
to work from lane to lane ana pond 10 pond tahhs
every advantage OF the openings and leads ~.
Q.-Was 1t the custom 10 start on huIredy TOM ,ni0n
shin In pursuit OF game without special permlSNonI
No sir IL was not Iinyaiiatl y got The IerussVn
OF the commanding ocer when wished 10 leave e 'P
oWas there fair prospect on September g. 1873
wien the ship entered the pack of getting her out agSn
Who composed the officers mess OF the Jeannctts
ACaptqn De Long LieItsnant capP M N5 coins p
mcteor0logiSt. Mr. Ne ycomb naturalist MI puH"~f
ice pilot and my self making eight In all.
Tie Court adjourned till 1920 a m. tomorrow
The following extract from Captain DE Long Janns.
now I'm the custody OF the Navy Department. soN%,
mens Chief Engineer Melye's very modest uecou s
sl,dge trp to Henrietta Island: The island heni ~,
is "A desolatc rock surm0uuted bya snowcap WIsnI
several dlscharging glaciers on it, east ace pysm
nesting the face OF the rock are the only ssn " s
A little moss. grass and nandu u l re
brought back as trophies The ellis are lh. 60 mi,
because OF their steepness The ice between S t FER
and the island something frghtfnl; road
ryng and its attendant loading and un,oa9n,s' ipr
breaking haus and panc-sTicken dogs made ,nel va,
ney "A terribly severe Near the Island no ar
All alive and Melville left his boat and sappues % al
ryins only one days provisions and MS lsIun e,',
the peril ms l.fe through the terrible nJ
ally dragging the dogs. which from fear reiuseo W."
low their human leaders 80 ,-,. an sos