USS Jeannette (1879–1881)

Friday, 20 May 1881

Beset and drifting in the pack ice about 510 miles N.W. of Herald Island, Arctic Ocean


Entry Index: 695
Position: 76.87, 161.13
Date by Position: 21 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° 52' 22"
Longitude by chronometer from afternoon observations E. 161° 7' 45"

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 523 lbs 

Max. temperature = 16.5°
Min. temperature = 11.5°

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 42 fathoms. Muddy bottom. A moderate drift to W.N.W. being indicated by the lead line.
Fresh east winds continue at times increasing to moderate gale with steady barometer and nearly even 
temperature.
At 8.30am the ship received a blow under water, seemingly near the stern-post, caused no doubt by her 
coming in contact with a submerged and drifting block of ice.
The point of the island which on the 16th inst. bore N. 83° 15' W. (true), to day bears S. 78° 30' W. (true), 
from which change of bearing it is computed that the island is now 24 3/5 miles distant. The position of 
the observed point is therefore Lat 76° 47' 28" N., Long 159° 20' 45" E.
From measurement by a sextant it is found that the island as seen to day subtends an angle of 2° 10'.

Moon 2° S. 
Last quarter

Related Materials

Published Journals of George W. DeLong

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

At 8.30 a.m. the ship received a blow under water, seemingly near the stern post, and 
doubtless from some drifting, submerged ice-block.

Jeannette Ship's Journal

See digitized manuscript page provided by NOAA PMEL.

Weather Observations

Hour
Wind
Pressure
Att'd
Dry
Wet
Sea
Code
3 e 30.05 52.0 12.5 bc
6 e 30.03 49.0 12.5 bc
9 e 30.04 57.0 14.0 bc
12 e 30.04 52.0 15.5 bc
15 e 30.02 55.0 16.5 bc
18 e 30.03 56.0 15.5 bc
21 e 30.04 57.0 14.5 bc
24 e 30.04 51.0 11.5 bc