Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-19
THE JEANETTE.
FINDINGS GF THE BOARD OF TNQUI-
RY is TO HER Loss.
Their Good Discipline and Bravery Mr..
Collins Ignored.

| WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.-The Jeanette
court of inquiry reports the following facts
as deemed established by the evidence ad-
duce concerning the loss of the Jeanette
and the death of belong, and other of
her officers and men: Although the weight
of evidence shows that the Jeanette was
not specially adapted in strength or model
for Arctic exploration, the fact that an ex-
perienced explo or had made two cruises
in her / the Arctic seas, sustains the judg-
ment and care shown in her selection.
When she was last purchased she
was strengthened and improved
and the condition of the vessel on
her departure from San Francisco was
good and satisfactory to the officers and
crew, except that she was unavoidably
deeply loaded, a defect which corrected
itself by the consum ptiOn Of coal, provis-
ions and stores. The evidence relating
to the management of the Jean lette up to
the time OF the loss, shows the chances of
reaching Wrangle land, were sufficiently
good to justify the commander III attempt
ing to reach it, rather than return to
some southern point and pass the winter in
idleness. Had ne done otherwise than he
did, h Eig., easily have been thought
wanting IL me high qualities necessary to
an explorer. Throughout the expedition
every opportunity was improved for gain
ing scientific information, and three
islands were discovered, two of which were
visited, explored and taken possession of
in the name of the United States.
In the management of the Jeanette, up
to the time of her deser-
ton, Commander De Long, by his
foresight and prudence, provided measures
to meet emergencies and enforced wise
regulations. The fact of the ship having
passed the second winter in the ice without
the appearance of scurvy on board attests
the excellence of the sanitary arrangements
and reflects great credit upon the surgeon
aboard. As to the circumstances of the
loss of the vessel the court attaches no
blame to any officer or man. and report
says the provisions made and plans adopt
ed for the several boats crews
upon their leaving the wreck
were judicious. 1t is shown
that forty days after the destruction of the
Jeanette, the officers and men were in
fair condition, notwithstanding their ter
rife journey. The story of the retreat from
the vessel, with the accompanying suffer
ings, disappointments and difficulties and
delays, the death of De Long and his com
panions, and the subsequent discovery of
their dead bodies is recited
at considerable length, and the conclusion
reached that everything possible was done
by the various officers to insure the safety
IF fhoir of obo
and the relief of other parties. A list of
the officers and crew of the Jeanette is
given, showing their assignment to the
boats on the retreat, their final fate or dis
position. The general conduct, and merits
of each and all the officers and men of the
expedition is summed up as fellows:
''There is conclusive evidence that, aside
from trivial difficulties, such as occur on
shipboard even under the most favorable
circumstances, and which had no influence
in bringing about the disaster of the expe-
dition, and no pernicious effect upon its
general conduct, every officer and man so
conducted himself that the court finds no
occasion to impute censure to any member
of the party. In view then, of the long and
dreary monotony of the cruise, the labors
and privations encountered, the disappoint-
ment consequent on want of important re-
suits, and the uncertainty Of their fate, and
apart from the natural desire to tread
lightly on the graves of the dead, the
general conduct of the personnel o. the
expedition seems to have been marvel Of
cheerfulness, good fellowship and mutual
forbearance, while the constancy and en-
durance with which they met
the harships and dangers that beset
them merit great praise. Beside
the mention already made, however, spe-
cial commentator is due to Lieut.. De
Long for the high qualities displayed by
him in the conduct Of the expedition, to
Chief Engineer Melville for the zeal, ener-
gy and professional aptitude which elicit
ed high encomiums from his commander,
and for his subsequent efforts On the Lena
Delta, and to Seaman Nindermann and
Sweetman for the services which
induced their commander to
recommend them for medals of
honor. Finally it should be stated there
are several survivors of the Jeanette who
have not yet returned from Siberia, and
whose testimony might not modify the con-
illusions set forth in this report"
The incidental allusion to trivial difficult
ties is the only thing in the report that
can be considered as reference to the al
legged troubles between De Long and Col
Inns. In fact the only mention of Collins
is in the following words: "Mr. Jerome J.
Collins, meteorologist, died in the Lena
Delta"
ALE. AROUND TIL Il GLOBE,