National Republican., 1884-02-25
The End OF a Tragedy.

With fitting honors the bodies of the un-
fortunate men who lost their lives in the
Jeanette exploring expedition have been
laid to rest. This ends one of tho saddest
chapters Of the his tory Of Arctic exploration
For moro than century daring men have
been trying to penetrate The frozen mystery
that surrounds the North Pole. Some aban-
doned the attempt in time to cave their lives,
others went on and perished-none have
succeeded. All the expeditions have ended
in disappointment ana most of them iu dis
aster or death. And yet this unexplored,
inhospitablo region seems to possess fatal
fascination for bravo and adventurous men.
1t is not probable that the United States
government will assist in fitting out another
Arctic expedition for many years to come,
Such of the citizens of tho United States as
are anxious to search for the northwest pass
age or the circumpolar sea will have to do it
at their own expense and on their own re-
sponsibility. Nobody objects to the cost
although the Jeannette expedition has been
very exponsive-but there is growing opin-
ion that officers of the army and navy ought
| not to be detailed for duty which promises
nothing but suffering and privation to them
selves and anxiety and sorrow to their
friends. Tho fact that these explorers un-
dertake this perilous service voluntarily does
not relieve the government from blame when
disaster overtakes them.
| The story of the Jeanette expedition is
one of the saddest in the annals of maritime
exploration. 1t had its origin in the ambition
OF the owner of the New York Herald to do
something that would astound the newspaper
world lie purchased vessel which was
! supposed to be we'll adapted to Arctic navi-
CATION and the government put it in repair
furnished the officers and crew, and paid all
the expenses. When the vessel was ready t
sail Mr.. Bennett put n correspondent or
board, and no doubt instructed him to neglect
no opportunity Of keeping the Herald ad
vised of the progress Of the expedition
Tho Jeanette steamed away from Sal
Francisco on her Polar voyage on
fine summer day, and there were
hopes that she would reach higher latitude
ship AS it happened, however, she ran int
an ice pack in north latitude II degrees Il
minutes, and was held fast for eightceI
months. On June II, 1881 she was crushed
by the moving ice. Her officers aud crew
anticipating the catastrophe, abandoned tn,
vessel in timo to save their lives. 4 small
stock Of provisions and such effects as coult
not be dispensed with were packed int
three boats, and these were dragged for man,
weary miles over the broken ice before opel
water was reached. Capt De Long, Dr,Amblei
BIr. Collins, and eleven mon embarked in til
first cutter; Engineer Melville, Lieut.. Dan
enhower, and ten men in the whale boat, ant
Lieut.. Chip and seven men in tho sccont
cutter. On Sept. II, 1881, after perilou
voyage of 500 miles, Engineer Melville an
his party reached the mouth of tho Len
river. Capt. DE Long and his party lande
ht huOlner pOlnb Solho uayo 'atoA' VIM
about fifty miles from the Lena river tn
boats were separated by a storm. Nothin
has ever been heard of Lieut.. Chipp and h
party, and no doubt their boat was swampe
: and all perished.
Tho narrative of tho wanderings an
) sufIerings of these shipwrecked mariner
after they reached the frozen shores I
, Siberia has been told so often that there
: no need of repeating it, Melvilles party a
survived and reached their homes. Two
= De Longs party, Nindermann and Noros, wi
were sent to look for help, fell in with Me
j vile, and they also came back alive. A
= the rest Of the party starved to death.
g required more than year to find the
h bodies aud bring them homo for burif
Imposing funeral honors have been pa
= to all of thom, and they have boen 10