Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1884-05-03
TIE TEAEgaTTT.,

llS"IS lNhltSt StShht ~t',
Pandora, which had been pur-
10y James Gordon Ben
nett Of the New York Herald,
and rcchristend the "JcanDette"
after his only sister, left San
through the Golden
Gate foi the mysterious silence
and icy tcrrors ofthat deOatable
land OF fact and fiction, tho po-
lar regions.
For three centuries men Of
daring, nerve and intellect
brave if rash, adventurous, fill
&C with tho nohIest enthusiasm,
and instinct with the desire to
add to mans knowledge OF this
planet or to give new countries
TO the world, had sought those
perilous depths With their lives
in their hands and their hearts
in their work. From Sir Hugh
Willoughby in 1908 TO Sir john
Franklisi's illfatcd expedition in
this century, the icy shores ct
tho Attic Seas have served as
sephulchres for hundreds OF
gallant explorers. One hundred
and fifty expeditions had sailed
toward the North Pole before
the Jeanette steamed from her
harbor, and of these only TWEEN
ty nine had attempted q north
west course through Behring's
Straits, and not one had sought
a direct route to the Pole hythat
entrance to the Artic basin;
accordingly Mr.. Bennett pro-
posed a direct course northward
through the Straits, without
swerving to the east or west.
In 1875 the Pandora, or as we
now know her, the Jeanette,
had made an attempt to force
the Northwest passage, under
the command OF Sir Alien
Young, OF the British Navy, MI
Bennett sharing the expenses
Of the voyage ; however She
only went rs far as FraukIIn's
Straits, when she was COMPEL
ed TO return by the interDosIng
icy barriers. After passing in
to Afr. BeDDetts possession the
Jeanette was taken to Mare
Island MY Yard, where she
was made seaw orthy and put
III thorough trim torherlonG and
arduous Artic tip: how mista-
ken these ideas were her after
experience proved.
She was provisiouol for three
years, and her crew a choice
and picked one, was put under
tue care OfolticCrs deemed thor
ou2hly competent and rcputa-
b.ei4 every relation oflife. The
commander @. ". De Long was
not unknown to the public,
having had charge in 1873 of
the relief ship Juniata, sent to
Greenland alter Captain Hall.
Chief Engineer George w. Mel
vile had also an ArIic record.
Lieuten9nts Dancnhower aud
Chipp both bore EXTREMITY fair
regulations as sailors and gen
tlemen aud Of the civic officers
Of the expedition, Messrs. Jer- |
ONE Collins and Il. l.. New |
comb, the former the meteoro
eist and historian ; the latter,
and astronomer ct |
the exploring party, the late
minute investigation has only |
proven what had been before |
asserted of them, that they were
eminentIy fitted to occupy the
station assigned them and de-
served q better fate. Under
these favorable auspices Shc
Jeanette left the Z. S. TO brave
the rigors OF eternal winter aud
Of selni-annual darkness, left
never to be see again, But if
ship-wreck or loss or death had
been all, or the worst which
resulted from that illsstarred
expedition, they would be coUn~
ted as naugLt against the thick
or darkness of that other tear
ful record of misplaced conf
ience, OF inconpctency, perse-
cntion and cruelty.
There are some things, which
were it not for Justice sake, it
would be wiser and more char
table to hide in the oblivion of
he grave and sncb is the tale
by the witnesses be-
ore the Jeatnuette TnyestigIt- I
ng COMMITTEE. DIR. Collins, sus-
,eeting wrong and having
heard enough to verify his sus
,icions, has spared neither pains
Tor money to bring his dead