The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-01-15
An Old Al cite Tragedy

turned from the froz n North, since
the day when Sil John Franklin and
100 mysterious souls va ished forever
from the sight of man, poor George
DeLong and his companions OF the
Arctic steamer Jeanette perhaps
furnished the saddest example NY
old friend, Commodore Melville, one
Of the few survivors Of the iii fated
expedition, oaly lately gave me brief
account of tragedy the horrors of
which have seldom been surpassed =
even ip the daik annals Of polar en-
terprise, says the Detroit News
Tribune.
The Jeanette, screw steamer,
previously known as Sir Allen
Young's Pandora, left San Francisco
for Bering straits to establish winter
quarters at Wrangell Land. But the
vessel was soen firmly jammed ia the
ice and swept away in Northwestern
ly direction, far from the coveted
goal. Winter .crept on, with It's fur
ious gales and billiards, and the jean
nette was once only saved by mira
Gle from being dashed to destruction
by the foes.
Another summer, another winter
aRd yet another summer found the
ship he!plessly drifting at the mercy
Of the pack. Two years after leaving
San Francisco Melville risked his life
60 hoist the American flag on bar
rem rock, Row mapped as Jeanette
island, and u few days later similar
islet was discovered aud named Hen
rfeSta. Some useful work had there
fore been accom- llshed, which revived
the hupes Of DeLong and his now de
spairing crew. There was even some
attempt at Publication on board to
celebrate hese events, and no one an
tic pat ed the sudden and total loss of
the ship, which occurred only week
later.
On June II, 1885, terrific hurri-
sane arose, aud the JeaDuette was
literally smashed in two by the ire
mendous pressure, and went down
bodily, leaving her crew shelterIess
several hundred miles from land. Le6
the reader picture the sltuation-the
leagues of lee and storm swept sea
which lay between the miserable
handful of men and the coast of 81
beria Itself death trap OF cold and
lupger,) aud let them realize the
dogged pluck Of the gallant DeLong,
who could under such CHASTITY condl
tions cheerfully enter in his journal;
NJeaanette went down at a. IN. SET
up tents on the ice. Getting sleds
and boats ready. Everybody bright
and cheerful. In the evening Lauter-
bach serenaded US with his har-
monica"
The Jeanette expedition now
struck south for the New Siberian
islands, and during this harassing
and perIlous journey Melville was the
most energetic and resouroeful mem
Der OF the party, most of whom were
doomed to destruction. FIVE boats
and zine sledges carried sixty days
provisions, which underfed and en-
feebled men and dogs could hardly
drag at snall's pace Bennett Island
was eventually reached after terrible
hardships in twenty-three days. ana
here they landed and obtained a sup
pIy of food by shooting the sea birds
which swarm about that ice bound
mass OF granite.
Leaving this on August 8 the Lila
nov islands we're reached eleven days
later. And from these to the Slosr-
ian coast extended open water-iasheo
into fury ry ceaseless gales. Many OF
Che party we're nuw sick and footsore,
all were exhausted by cold, aud shun-
Ger. but the indonitabie Melville
urged them on with the fact that ev'
cry inactive hour must lessen the
chance OF salvation. Sc they en-
harked, one gray tempestuous morn
toe. on a mountainous ssa, In three
ships boats, one of which sosn foun,
dered with all hsSds. DeLoog ano
Melville, 10 charge of the others
were separated by the storm. the for
nar belng carried westward on to th'
sabdy shores of the Lena delta, Il
which he and his sompaalons had u
vade waist deep through miles o.
loose, floating Ice.
1 have been with dogs along tn d
coast for two months without seeing
a living soul, aud caH therefor
imagine the feeling of those poo
ca taways on landing, almost al IN
and OF their supplies, in that grin
,aoion. bereft Of human and anims