502 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



year out and the new year in. At midnight, when 

 the men had finished a verse and chorus from " March- 

 ing through Georgia," eight bells were struck for the 

 old year, three cheers were given for the ship, eight 

 bells more were struck for the new year, and 1881 was 

 thus officially inaugurated in the United States Arctic 

 Steamer Jeannette, in latitude 73° 48' N., and longitude 

 177° 32' E. 



January 3d, Monday. — A gale all day from east. 

 The ship is buried up to her rail by the snow-drift, and 

 wherever the deck was exposed large masses were piled 

 there also. A low bank in the southwest horizon, which 

 has remained there for two days, looked suspiciously 

 like land. 



Usual medical examination to-clay and the doctor re- 

 ports favorably, our general condition being even im- 

 proved, though we never had anything to complain of. 



January 1th, Tuesday. — The day began with a con- 

 tinuance of the gale, but it moderated rapidly after 

 noon. The sky being cloudless we had excellent chances 

 for determining our position ; by meridian altitude, Ju- 

 piter, and time sights of Vega, we find we are in lati- 

 tude 74° 8', longitude 175° 32' E., showing a drift of no 

 less than thirty-eight and one half miles to N. 58° W. 

 since December 31st. This is startling, for it shows 

 more of a chance of getting along somewhere yet. We 

 are very little south of our position of June 3d (74° 18'), 

 which we attained after a steady drift during March, 

 April, and May ; and if w T e can only hold our own near 

 this until the effect of the Siberian rivers can be again 

 felt, we may get a push that will get us into open wa- 

 ter, or at least navigable water. Soundings in thirty- 

 two fathoms, rapid drift to W. N. W. being indicated by 

 the lead line. The planet Venus showed at three p. M. 



