Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-03-03
ear Agents.

y. W. 0re0AIu.
". r. johnson. .Ouesso.
Miss Matte Wellington
10. A. Edmonds. Materloo
Ghsriio :; Dover
Eli IN.
3: M .d;n1:,
q. @: Farrent: .xel.y
THE LOSS OF THE JEANETTE.
No Censure Contained in the Re
port of the Board of Inquiry.
Officers and Crew Alike Commend.
Cd Highly for their Constaney
and Endurance.
WASHINGTON, February Is. The
report made by the court OF inquiry up.
pointed TO investigate the ciroumstan.
COS OF the loss of the Arctic exploring
steamer Jeanette 10 as follows:
In conformity with a joint resolu-
ton OF congress approved August O.,
1882, and III compliance with the Or
ders OF the honorable secretary OF the
navy dated September 20, 1882, the
court of inquiry has diligently aud
thoroughly Investigated ''ths circum-
stances of the loss OF the exploring
steamer Jean netts and OF the death OF
L~ieusensnt George w. DeLoHg and
others of her officers and men,"
The court has also carefully inquired
.'into the condition OF the vessel on her
departure, her management up 10 the
tims OF DER destruction, the provisions
maze ana plans adopted for the sever.
al boats crews on their leaving the
wreck, Che efforts made by the various
office S t. insure the safety OF
the rarti,s under their immediate
charges AID far the relief of the other
parties, and Int the general conduct
ana merits OF each and all the officers
and men of the expedition" And tho
court transmits herewith its proceed
Jugs, the testimony taken, aud after
mature deliberation reports thxt the
following facts are deemed established
by the evidence adduced:
First-As to ''the condition of the
vessel on her departure"
The Jeanette was originally Her
Britanic Majesty's ship Pandora, and
was purchased from the British gov
erLmeut in April, 1875, by Sir Allen
w. Young, who made two voyages in
her to the Arctic regions. and who
finally sold her to Mr.. James Gordon
Bennett in 1877.
By an act OF congress approved Feb
ruary ~, 1879, she was accepted un-
der certain conditions by the United
States government for the purpose of
making further explorations In tho
arctic regions and, although the weight
Of evidence shows that she was not
especially adapted III strength or mod
Of for that kind Of navigation, the fact
that an experienced arctic explorer
had voluntarily made two cruises in
her to the Arctic sea- sustains the
Judgment and care shown in her selec.
ton when last purchased. The vessel
was strengthened a. much as practice.
bic ct the navy yard, Marc Island.
CAlifornia, aud such other additions
and improvements were made Al we're
recommended by her commanding
officer, and the condition of the jean
netts on her departure from the port of
San Francisco was good and satisfactory
to her officers and crew, except that
she WAS unavoidably deeply loaded, q
defect which corrected itself by the con.
sumption Of coal. provisions and
stores.
Second-As to cher management up
to the time OF her loss"
The l~ateness OF the a when tha
Jeanette sailed from San Francisco
her want of speed and the delay oc.
casioned by her search along the Sibe
rian coast under orders from the navy
department for the Swedish exploring
steamer Vega, placed the commando.
a. q rroak 6iaaAHantaC 90 nm his masfing
with the pack-lce early in September
IN the vicinity OF Herald Island. Eth
er he had to return TO some port 10 the
southward aUd pass the winter ther;
in idieness-thus sacrificing all chance
of pushing bis researches TO the north
ward until the following sumner, 0,
else he must endeavor to force th,
vessel through 30 Wrangeli Land, ihei
enormously supposed to be a large cen
tiGent-to winter shers, and prosesu;t
his explorations by siedges. IN
chances of accomplishing this iattl
a~lterna,ite were suiiciently good :
the time to justify him in using il, 80:
,udscG HAD ne dove otherwise be migh
fairly hsve seen thought wanting il
the nigh Qualities Necessary for su ex
ploser. Tbs attempt, unfortunately
resulted iii the vessels becoming bese
IL the iee-pack within lass than Nv
mouths alter Ter departure frota S.
FTauci.ao, from when she was ROT re
lie sci until her destruction, more tba
twenty on coonghs later. Daring the
weary r.on.hs OF forced inac.i0n th
yesse! Gr5 her people were at tine
threa cue with great dangers. E.
r.o,aitu tvu. hn. I,afrs, ,t,n,, srn mi ,nu
Oh lamar, 10, 1880, when sl,e sprun
a leak tom Ice pressures, and fo
months alter that day she was KEEP
aaoat only BY skillful devices and ardu
Gus la bor.
1t may be here mentioned tbs
throughout the expedition every oppol
tunity was improved for gaining SC
snti6c Information, meteorological an
astronomical observations, temper,
ture and deusity of the sea water, an
s0undIngs we're taken and preserved
studies Of the character aud action
the ice were noted, specimens of Il
bottom and Of such fauna and flora
could be procured were examine
Three islands were discovered, two
which were visited, explored and TAX.
possession OF in the name of the Unit,
States.
The arrangements to abandon Il
ship at q moments warning and
guard against fire were all that cou
be desired, and the evidence shov
that III the management of the Jea
nstte up to the time of her d%estructi,
Lisutenant-C Commander George '
belong. by his foresight aud prudenc
provided measures to meet emerge
cies and enforced wise regulations
maintain discipline, to preserve heal
and to encourage cheerfulness amoI
those under his command, and t
physical condition OF the people y
good, with the exception of "a fe
cases Of lead-poisouing, the result
eating canned provisions. The fact
tho ships having passed q second wi
ter in the ice without any appearan
Of scurvy on board sufic emily atte'
the excellence Of the sanitary arranl
ments adopted. and reflects grl
credit upon her medical officer, Pass
Acknowledgment James M. Ambl
who throughout the expedition "
undefatigable in the performance
his duties.
Third-As to "the circumstances