Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-19
THE LOST JEANETTE.
The Conclusions Arrived at by the Court
of Inquiry.


WASHINGTON. Feb. 1S.-The court of
inquiry appointed BY the Secretary of
the Navy to investigate the circumstances
of the loss of the Arctic exploring steamer
Jeanette has made its report. The con-
clusions arrived at by the court are as
follows:
First. That the condition of the jean
nette on her departure from San Francisco
was good and satisfactory to her officers
and crew, except that she was unavoid-
ably deeply loaded, a defect which cor
rected itself bv the consumption of coal,
provisions and stores.
Second. That the chances of reaching
Wrangell Land and finding a winter har-
Dor there were sufficiently good at the
time Captain De Long entered the ice to
Justify him in making the attempt, and
indeed had he done otherwise, he might
fairly have been thought wanting in the
high qualities necessary for an explorer.
This attempt unfortunately resulted in the
Vessels becoming beset in the ice pack
within less than two months after her de-
parture from San Francisco, from which
she was not released until her destruction
more than twenty-One months later.
Third. That the evidence shows that in
the management of the Jeanette up to
the time of her destruction, Lieutenant
Commander Geo. w. De Long, by his fore
sight and prudence, provided measures to
meet the emergencies, and enforced wise
regulations to maintain discipline, to pre-
serve health, and to encourage cheerful
ness among those under his command.
Fourth. That any vessel, no matter
whether model or however strongly con-
structed, if subjected to the same pressures
as those incurred by the Jeanette, would
have been annihilated. She was abandoned
N n m nP6DFr aud
court attached no blame to any officer or
man for her loss.
Filth. That the provisions made and
plans adopted for the boats crews upon
leaving the wreck We're judiciOus, as it is
shown that ninety days after the destruc-
tion of the Jeanette the officers and men
were i'll fair condition, Notwithstanding
their terrible journey.
Sixth, That, considering the condit ion
of the survivors, the unfavOrable season,
the limited knowledge of the country, the
want of facilities for prosecuting the
search, and the great difficulty of commu-
nicating with the natives, everything pos
sible was done for the relief Of:the parties.
Seventh. That there is conclusive evil
dence 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 expedition, and which
had no perniciOus effect on its general
condition, every officer and man so con-
Quoted himselfth the court finds no occa-
sion to impose censure upon any member
of the party. In view, then, of the long
and tedious monOtOny of the cruise, the
labOrs and privations encountered, the
disappointment consequent upon the
want of important results, and the uncer-
tainty of their fates, and apart from the
natural desire to tread lightly on the
grave of the dead, the general conduct of
the personnel of the expedition seems to
have been a marvel of cheerfulness and
good fellowship and mutual forbearance,
while the constancy and endurance with
which they met the hardships and dangers
that beset them, entitled them to great
praise.