332 



GEOGRAPHICAL PROGRESS AND DISCOVERY. 



heaviest ice seen was 23 feet in thickness. Dur- 

 ing their retreat over the ice, a third island was 

 seen, which was named Bennett Island. The 

 positions of the three islands discovered were 

 as follows: Jeannette Island, latitude 76 47' 

 north, longitude 158 56' east; Henrietta 

 Island, latitude 77 8' north, longitude 157 32' 

 east ; Bennett Island, latitude 76 38' north, 

 longitude 148 20' east. The first was small, 

 hut the others of considerable extent. On 

 Bennett Island, hesides many birds, old deer- 

 horns were found, and some lignite, with which 

 Melville experimented. He found it suitable 

 for steamers. Fossils and fine specimens of 

 amethyst and opal were here collected by Dr. 

 Ambler, but they were lost, as well as the 



daily rations per man. There was a large 

 quantity of alcohol, intended for fuel, and a 

 good provision of Liebig's extract. They were 

 well equipped with rifles and ammunition. The 

 tents were just large enough for all to sleep in, 

 and they were further sheltered with deerskin 

 sleeping-bags. Some of the party were lead- 

 poisoned from tin cans or otherwise disabled. 

 The ice was very rough, and the floes were in 

 motion. The men over-exerted themselves the 

 first day, and had to rest for several days. 

 Afterward they advanced about one mile a 

 day. All hands were required for each sled, 

 so that they were obliged to march thirteen 

 miles for every mile of progress. At the end 

 of the first week the captain found by observa- 



Point where retreating 



, party was carried by' e ^e ^ e 3\V e ' 



^ JV drift, June 24X *$\ ^'HENRIETTA I. 



* "^ > I *>^ & Discovered May 24, 1881; 



e <^'4 / <Xanded upon June 3d. 



v Sighted Jeannette I., 

 - 



E 



B.ELKOVA.. J U O ^TSV >T ^ M 



KOUTE OF LIEUTENANT DK LONG AND THE JEANNETTE. 



large collections of birds and deep-sea fauna 

 made on the Jeannette. One result of the 

 Jeannette Expedition is the establishment of 

 the fact that the so-called Polynias, which ar- 

 rested the sledge expeditions of Hedenstrom, 

 Wrangel, and Anjou, are not permanent lanes 

 produced by warm currents, but are simple 

 openings such as have been observed in other 

 parts of the frozen ocean. 



On the 13th of June, 1881, the ship sank. 

 Three days afterward, they started on their 

 march southward over the ice, drawing five 

 sleds packed with provisions, and three boats 

 mounted on runners, a total weight of 15,400 

 pounds for a working force of twenty-two 

 men. A pound of pemmican and four biscuits, 

 with a little coffee, tea, and sugar, were the 



tion that the drift of the ice to the northwest 

 had been more rapid than their advance south- 

 ward, and that they had really lost twenty- 

 seven miles. They were in latitude 77 42', the 

 highest latitude reached. They turned their 

 course toward Bennett Island, which they 

 sighted on July 12th, and on which they made 

 a landing on the 27th. It was a rugged island 

 of trap rock and a lava-like soil. It took a 

 party two days to cross the island. The south- 

 ern extremity, where they landed, was a prom- 

 ontory which they called Cape Emma. The 

 tides were regular, with a rise of two or three 

 feet. Millions of birds had their nests in the 

 cliffs. On the eastern side were grassy valleys. 

 They remained on Bennett Island a week. 

 They discarded their sleds soon after leaving 



