Jeannette (steamer)

The United States steamer Jeannette, in charge of Lieutenant De Long and Chief Engineer Melville, sailed from San Francisco in August, 1879, on an Arctic exploring expedition destined for a fate, the horrors of which made humanity shudder. The fearful tale of suffering, starvation, cannibalism and death is too well known to require extended mention in this work. The Jeannette was crushed in the ice pack in latitude 77 degrees 15' north and longitude 1 degree 5' east, and the few who escaped the terrible death from starvation and cold reached civilization months afterward with health or reason shattered by the awful experience they had undergone. The United States steamer Alliance, which was sent from Norfolk, Va., to search for the Jeannette in 1881 approached within 590 miles of the pole, the highest altitude ever reached by a Government vessel. E. W. Wright, Modern Propeller Steamships Appear, Oregon Railway & Navigation Company Incorporated, Lewis & Dryden's Marine History of the Pacific Northwest. New Y

Citation: Tacoma Public Library