USS Jeannette (1879–1881)

Thursday, 9 June 1881

Beset and drifting in the pack ice about 590 miles N.W. of Herald Island, Arctic Ocean


Entry Index: 715
Position: 77.24, 156.13
Date by Position: 10 June 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. 77° 14' 20"
Longitude by chronometer from afternoon observations E. 156° 7' 30"
Variation of the compass by azimuth Sun observed at 5.20pm E. 18° 36'

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: 365 lbs
Coal remaining on hand at noon: 14 tons 1813 lbs 

Max. temperature = 14.5°
Min. temperature = 10°

The pumping throughout the day is done by the wind mill pump.
The steam cutter's boiler is used for distilling.
Sounded in 33 1/2 fathoms. Muddy bottom. No perceptible drift.
Weather clear, bright and pleasant. Moderate N.E. breezes, rising barometer and uniform temperature.

The following bearings of Henrietta Island were taken at 5.20pm:
Ship's head = S. 13° 30' W. true
S.W. point of island = S. 59° 24' E. true
2nd cliff = S. 64° 30' E. true
Black Head = S. 66° 30' E. true

At 11pm the ship received several severe jars. At 11.30 the ice 80 yards to the westward opened to a 
width of 10 feet, and after several shocks from the ice the ship was found to have risen an inch forward. 
At midnight there was considerable motion to our surrounding floe, and strong indications of a breaking 
up of the ice alongside the ship.

Moon 21° S. 
First quarter

Related Materials

Published Journals of George W. DeLong

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

At eleven p.m. the ship received several severe jars. At 11.30 the old eighty-yard lead, or what 
was left of it, opened to a width of ten feet, and at midnight such a snapping and cracking took place 
around us that I concluded we were in for a time, and hastily bundling on my clothes I rushed out.

Jeannette Ship's Journal

See digitized manuscript page provided by NOAA PMEL.

Weather Observations

Hour
Wind
Pressure
Att'd
Dry
Wet
Sea
Code
6 nne 30.13 47.0 12.0 ocs
9 ne 30.16 55.0 12.0 bc
12 ne 30.16 50.0 12.5 bc
15 ne 30.16 49.0 14.5 bc
18 ne 30.18 48.0 14.0 bc
21 ne 30.23 53.0 12.5 bc
24 ne 30.25 56.0 10.0 bc