CHAPTEK I. 



THE JEANNETTE AND HER CREW THE VOYAGE TO THE 



ARCTIC OCEAN. 



rTlHE American Arctic Expedition, commanded by Licu- 

 -1- tenant George W. DeLong of the United States Navy, 

 which left San Francisco, July 8th, 1879, was projected by 

 James Gordon Bennett, proprietor of the New York Herald. 

 After the return of the last of the two successful expeditions 

 \vhich he had sent to Africa under Henry M. Stanley, Mr. 

 Bennett longed for new worlds to conquer, and decided to 

 send out, at his own expense, an expedition to attempt to 

 reach the North Pole by way of Bering's Straits. Lieuten- 

 ant DeLong became interested in the undertaking, and the 

 Pandora, owned by Captain Allan Young, was selected and 

 bought as a suitable vessel to convey the explorers. 



The Pandora was built in England in 1862. She was a 

 bark-rigged steam yacht of 420 tons burden, with an engine 

 of 200 horse-power, and a wide spread of canvas. She was 

 strongly constructed, and had seen considerable service in 

 the northern seas. In 1873 she conveyed her owner to the 

 Arctic regions for the purpose of searching for records of 

 Sir John Franklin's expedition ; and in 1876 Captain Young 

 cruised in her about the northern part of Baffin's Bay, 

 having been deputed by the English Admiralty to search 

 for Captain Nare's expedition. 



By special act of Congress the vessel was allowed to sail 



under American colors, to assume a new name the Jean- 



nette and to be navigated by officers of the United States 



Navy, with all the rights and privileges of a government 



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