USS Jeannette (1879–1881)

Wednesday, 20 April 1881

Beset and drifting in the pack ice about 390 miles N.W. of Herald Island, Arctic Ocean


Entry Index: 665
Position: 75.93, 168.33
Date by Position: 21 April 1881
Logbook Volume: 4 of 4
Logbook Metadata: Volume 4

Events & Observations

This entry contains remarks related to the following subject: Sea Ice
Latitude by observation at Noon N. 75° 56' 
Longitude by chronometer from afternoon observations E. 168° 20'

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: 21 tons 363 lbs 

Max. temperature = 0°
Min. temperature = -7°

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 83 fathoms. Muddy bottom. A rapid drift west being indicated by the lead line.
Moderate gale from E. x N. all day driving the surface snow along in low clouds. Weather generally 
bright and pleasant. Rising barometer and uniformly varying temperature. At 7.05pm the ship received a 
jar as if she had struck submerged ice.
Sunrise 1h 37m. Sunset 10h 45m.
A party of men with dogs were sent away after noon to look for the strayed and missing dogs of 
yesterday, but though tracks of a bear and accompanying tracks of the dogs were followed for upwards 
of 10 miles, the animals themselves could not be found.

Water temperatures and specific gravities
Surface temperature = 29° - Specific gravity = 1.0250 at 44°
2 fathoms = 29° - Specific gravity = 1.0252 at 44.5° 
81 fathoms = - - Specific gravity = 1.0266 at 44.5° 

Moon 16° S. 
Last quarter

Related Materials

Published Journals of George W. DeLong

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

At 7.05 p.m. the ship received a jar as if striking in going over a submerged piece of ice.

Jeannette Ship's Journal

See digitized manuscript page provided by NOAA PMEL.

Weather Observations

Hour
Wind
Pressure
Att'd
Dry
Wet
Sea
Code
3 exn 30.07 50.0 -6.0 bc
6 exn 30.06 42.0 -7.0 bc
9 exn 30.11 50.0 -4.5 bc
12 exn 30.13 44.0 -0.5 bc
15 exn 30.15 49.0 0.0 bc
18 exn 30.17 50.0 -1.0 bc
21 exn 30.19 51.0 -3.5 bc
24 exn 30.23 55.0 -6.0 bc