Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-10
THE JEANETTE.
start of the Expedition-The Last of the
Vessel-COmmander De Longs Fare
well.
Me,v York Tribune. Oct. 4.

] q T.
Lieutenant John W. Danenhower. of the
| Arctic exploring expedition. spoke 10 a
large audience In the BROOKLYN Academy OF
Music last night. Beginning with the re-
eeption and fitting out OF the expedition,
Lieutenant Danenhower gave 8 history of
the Congressional action, the rechristening
OF "Mr. Benefits Arctic yacht" as he
called the Jesnnette, and the detailing Of
the officers and men who were to 90 with
her.
The departure took place on July s, 1879,
the party consisting of five officers Of the
regular navy. two scientists, and twenty
three men, under command of Lieutenant
De Long. At the first stopping place they
round the natives "quiet and inoffensive,
hut fond OF spirits and fond OF dancing. y
Inc next stopping place was st. Michsel's,
where they procured their dogs and sledges
snd the two Indians who were subsequently,
0f so great service. They were told that
Indians would be all right so long as there
was smooth sailing, but when danger came
they would desert with the dogs and sledges
The conduct of their two Indians and their
loyalty and heroism TO the death, proved
how they had been maligned.
The newspapers had had good deal to
say OF the unseawOrthy condition of the
vessel in the first storm that they encoun-
tered. Their statements, the lecturer said,
were incorrect, for the Jeanette had be-
haved admirably. The speaker related an
incident to show the generosity of the ma
tlves 70 their wives. A pruDe pie was given
10 an 1udian, which he greedily devourei
while his wife stood by. After he had crack
ca me stones and eaten the kernels, he
Kindly presented the shells to his wife,
which she gratefully received.
one OF the first objects, continued the
lecturer, OF the expedition having been
accomplished In obtaining news of the ex-
plorer Nordjenskold, the Jeanette bore
away to the north through Behring's Straits,
the objective point being to explore Wran.
CELLS Lend, of which but little was known.
August 81 the winter quarters OF the Vega
were reached. September 6, after sighting
Herald Island, a large lead was entered
which appeared to divide the Siberian aud
North American pack ice. An ineffectusl
attempt was made to IRAN" the ice. The
weather becoming extremely cold, it was
the misfortune of the Jeanette to be caught
In the mass OF fee, in which she subse-
quently drifted many months.
Inc frequent mention of the Jeanette
caught IN the Iceberg is entirely Incorrect" I"
said Lieut.. Dsnenhower, ''fOr there are no
lceoergs in that part of the Artic The lines
FROM Greenlsnd'sicy mountains, however,
are no poetic license, for there are there ice.
oergs OF great height and of unknown
deDtn. But there is no such fee north of
Siberia, wnere we were. The Jeanette was
never among the fcebergs; but she was
caught in more formidable ice, the winter
formation, from which there is no escape.
which moves to and fro IN currents. What
In the world could Withstand hundreds OF
square miles OF Ice, eight or ten feet IN thick
ness, with that vast mass in motionY"
In this position for weary months. during
an Arctic night of seventy-two days, the
Jeannette, wedged IN on either side, was
drlIted by currents and counter currents
between Herald Island and WrangeIls
Land. The party were prepared for what
ever might come, expecting at any time
that they might be left without a ship-
ready for a moments Jump" After a
time they were set free, only to be almost
Immediately frozen in again, this time in
Inc Jeannette's final resting place. To pass
the time with any comfort was very irving.
and the daily routine was necessary to keep
up the spirits and health OF the men. The
allowance OF coal was not sufficient to keep
the cabin comfortably warmed, but s'econ-
omy was prscticed from the word 60"
The daily routine included two hours on the
ice, the time devoted to the meals, reading,
music and games. There was also ga great
deal of hunting done. but very little game" "
such game as there was included seal, wal
rus and bear. The Arctic night was not so
bad as many people supposed, but was gen
erailv the darkest from to 10 a. m
The aurora was not so brilliant as have
seen 1t In Chicago" said the speaker, " and
elsewhere In this country. When it appear
| ed, II was In arches, or as curtains OF chang
ing colors in green and blue. The first
Christmas passed very pleasantly, but in
January the great ice-fracas began again.
Sometimes the sound of it was like the ex-
ploslon Of large hydraulic engine-it was
all over at once, only leaving the sullen
echo dying away In the dstanceU
The ship. January 10, was found to be
badly leaking, but It was finally stopped
after the greatest difficulty. All winter the
Jeannette drifted back and forth near the
1SOth meridian. The diet included canned
vegetables and canned meats, and the game
shot. On Wednesday the men were served
with pork and beans and "duff." "Ours
was temperance expedition" added the
Lieutenant, "for 1t was only on HOLIDAYS or
special occasions that we had a little wine
or strong drink.n
In Januarv, 1881, the Jeanette was be-
tween Herald ls!10d aud the 180th meridian
going In q northerly snd westerly direction.
The second Arctic night lasted eighty or
ninety days, but the second winter was
passed In comparative comfort-"or as
comfortable as we could be under the cir
eumstances." June IL the fee began break
Ing up; at 5:3O the last supper was eaten on
board; at 6:l5 the ship was abandoned; and
at a. m. the following morning "With
great crash, the vessel sank in thirty-eieht
fsthoms OF water-and that was the last of
the Jeanette"
The retreat began on June 18th, the ami |
versary Of the battle of Bunker Hill. The
story that the Lieutenant told of the iour-
ney OF 800 miles, from where the ship went
down 10 the point or landing, was followed |
by the audience with uDfagging interest to |
the end. 1t was on Monday, September 12. !
In heavy sea and strong wind, at z O'Clock, |
that "the Captain stood up in his boat and |
waved his hand. We understood that we |
were to look out for ourselves and not trv |
to keep together. II either boat had gone |
down, no help could have been rendered. 1t |
was growing dark. That was the last we |
saw Of the Captain"
The speaker said that he did not think # |
likely that any traces Of Mr.. Chipp would |
ever be found, but he thought II a good |