CHAPTER XXIII. 



CONCLUSION. 



The Court of Inquiry. — The Points of Instruction. — The Finding 

 of the Court. — The Voyage of the Jeannette and its Word to the 

 Reader. 



The loss of the Jeannette and the subsequent fate of 

 the commanding officer and others of the ship's company 

 were made the subject of a court of inquiry, according 

 to the rides of the United States Navy. The court was 

 summoned by the Secretary of the Navy to meet at 

 Washington, October 5, 1882. Commodore William G-. 

 Temple was appointed president of the Court, Captain 

 Joseph N. Miller and Commander Frederick V. McNair, 

 members, and Master Samuel C. Lemly, judge advocate. 

 It was instructed " diligently and thoroughly to inves- 

 tigate the circumstances of the loss in the Arctic Seas 

 of the exploring steamer Jeannette, and of the death 

 of Lieutenant -Commander George W. De Long and 

 others of her officers and men." It was also " care- 

 fully to inquire into the condition of the vessel on her 

 departure, her management up to the time of her de- 

 struction, the provisions made and plans adopted for the 

 several boats' crews upon their leaving the wreck, the 

 efforts made by the various officers to insure the safety' 

 of the parties under their immediate charge, and for 

 the relief of the other parties, and into the general con- 

 duct and merits of each and all the officers and men of 

 the expedition." 



