page_title: USS Rodgers (1881)
section_title: Burning
hierarchical_section_title: USS Rodgers (1881) / Career / Burning
caption_attribution_description: English: Burning of the Rodgers Subject: Rodgers (Ship), Shipwrecks, Explorers Tag: Vessels, Polar
context_page_description: USS Rodgers was an American 420-ton steam whaler. Launched in 1879 as Mary and Helen, she was acquired by the United States Navy after Congress—besieged by constituents as well as government agencies—appropriated $175,000 "to enable the Secretary of the Navy to charter, or purchase, equip, and supply a vessel for the prosecution of a search for the USS Jeannette and such other vessels as might be found to need assistance during said cruise; provided that the vessel be wholly manned by volunteers from the Navy." The "other vessels" of most immediate concern were two whalers, Vigilant and Mount Wollaston missing in the Arctic Ocean since 1879.
context_section_description: On 8 October 1881, Rodgers steamed for Saint Lawrence Bay, where bad weather prevented the transfer of a large part of her provisions and supplies to the shore. On 30 November, fire broke out in the still tightly-packed hold. Through the day, stores were removed to ease the firefighting efforts, but at midnight, the fires still raged and the former whaler was abandoned.
  Rodgers then drifted up the bay, her rigging and sails ablaze. Early the next day her magazine exploded. A temporary shore camp sheltered the crew until the next day when they moved to the village of Noomamoo, seven miles (10 km) away. Later divided into four parties, most of the crew wintered there and in three nearby villages.
  As the crew adjusted to life ashore, Lieutenant Berry set out to inform Putnam's camp of the fire. Meanwhile, Master Putnam had learned of the disaster and had started for the Bay with supplies for the relief of survivors. Putnam reached Saint Lawrence Bay, but on returning to his camp lost his way in a blizzard and drifted out to sea on an ice floe. An unsuccessful, month-long search for him was conducted along the coast.
caption: Fires still raged when the former whaler was abandoned
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