USS Jeannette (1879–1881)

Thursday, 14 April 1881

Beset and drifting in the pack ice about 360 miles N.W. of Herald Island, Arctic Ocean


Entry Index: 659
Position: No position
Date by Position: 15 April 1881
Logbook Volume: 4 of 4
Logbook Metadata: Volume 4

Events & Observations

This entry contains remarks related to the following subject: Sea Ice
No observations 

Water expended during the preceding 24 hours: 35 gallons
Water distilled during the preceding 24 hours: 35 gallons
Coal consumed during the preceding 24 hours: 290 lbs
Coal remaining on hand at noon: 22 tons 43 lbs 

Max. temperature = 6°
Min. temperature = -13°

The pumping forward is done by hand at the spar deck bilge pump, and such water as filters aft through 
and under the bulkhead into the fire room is pumped out by hand at the bilge pump attached to the main 
engine.
The steam cutter's boiler is used for distilling.
Sounded in 82 fathoms. Muddy bottom. A slight drift S.S.W. being indicated by the lead line.
Weather dull and gloomy until after 3pm when the sky cleared. Light northerly airs freshening to 
moderate E.N.E. breeze with rising barometer, and at first rapidly rising but finally rapid falling 
temperature. Fine snow falling until 9am.
Sunrise cloudy. Sunset 9h 20m.
An opening occurred in the ice about 500 yards ahead of the ship and extended in an irregular curve 
around her bows for several miles.

Water temperatures and specific gravities
Surface temperature = 29° - Specific gravity = 1.0230 at 47°
2 fathoms = 29° - Specific gravity = 1.0248 at 47° 
80 fathoms = - - Specific gravity = 1.0274 at 47.5° 

Moon 17° S. 
Full moon

Related Materials

Published Journals of George W. DeLong

See full digitized page provided by the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Excerpt:

An opening occurred in the ice about five hundred yards ahead of the ship, and extended in an 
irregular curve around her bows for several miles.

Jeannette Ship's Journal

See digitized manuscript page provided by NOAA PMEL.

Weather Observations

Hour
Wind
Pressure
Att'd
Dry
Wet
Sea
Code
3 n 30.0 48.0 -4.5 ocs
6 n 29.99 44.0 -1.5 ocs
9 ene 30.05 52.0 4.5 ocs
12 e 30.07 45.0 6.0 oc
15 e 30.1 52.0 0.5 bc
18 ene 30.12 52.0 -2.5 bc
21 ene 30.16 56.0 -8.0 bc
24 ene 30.19 57.0 -13.0 bc