USS Jeannette (1879–1881)

Tuesday, 17 May 1881

Beset and drifting in the pack ice about 500 miles N.W. of Herald Island, Arctic Ocean


Entry Index: 692
Position: 76.73, 161.71
Date by Position: 18 May 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. 76° 43' 38"
Longitude by chronometer from afternoon observations E. 161° 42' 30"
Variation of the compass by azimuth Sun observed at 6pm E. 19° 12'

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: 255 lbs
Coal remaining on hand at noon: 17 tons 1398 lbs 

Max. temperature = 11.5°
Min. temperature = -5.5°

The pumping forward is done by hand at the spar deck bilge pump, and such water as filters aft through 
and under and 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 43 fathoms. Muddy bottom with pebbles. A slight drift N. x W. being indicated by the lead 
line.
Weather generally clear, bright and pleasant. Light N.E. breezes, rising barometer, with a rising 
temperature until 3pm, and a falling temperature thence to midnight.
The land sighted yesterday remains visible all day but with greater clearness and distinctness. We are 
now able to determine its shape with greater exactness, and it is as below roughly sketched.
[sketch]
The clouds of yesterday, or fog bank as then called, having disappeared from the upper part of the 
island, we are able to see apparent rocky cliffs with a snow-covered slope extending back to the 
westward from them, and terminating in a conical mass like a volcano top.

Moon 17° S. 
Full moon

Related Materials

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Weather Observations

Hour
Wind
Pressure
Att'd
Dry
Wet
Sea
Code
3 ene 30.14 46.0 -5.5 bc
6 nexe 30.14 43.0 -1.5 bc
9 nexe 30.2 53.0 2.5 bc
12 nexe 30.21 52.0 8.5 bc
15 nexe 30.22 51.0 11.5 bc
18 nexe 30.22 51.0 9.0 bc
21 nexe 30.23 54.0 5.5 bc
24 nexe 30.25 60.0 0.5 bc