THE WORLD'g WONDERS. 755 



was raised forward 4' 6", the entire port bow being visible also 

 to a height of 4' 6" from the forefoot. * * * 



"At 5 p. M. the pressure was renewed, and continued with 

 tremendous force, the ship cracking in every part. The spar- 

 deck commenced to buckle up, and the starboard side seemed 

 again on the point of coming in. Orders were now given to get 

 out provisions, clothing, bedding, ship's books and papers, and 

 to remove all sick to a place of safety. While engaged in this 

 work another tremendous pressure was received, and at 6 P.M. 

 it was found that the vessel was beginning to fill. From that 

 time forward every effort was devoted to getting provisions, etc., 

 on the ice, and it was not desisted from until the water had risen 

 to the spar-deck, the ship being now heeled to starboard 30. 

 The starboard side was evidently broken in abreast of the main- 

 mast, and the ship was settling fast. Our ensign had been hoisted 

 at the mizzen, and every preparation made for abandoning the 

 ship, and at 8 p. M. everybody was ordered to leave her. Assem- 

 bling on the floe, we dragged all our boats and provisions clear 

 of bad cracks, and'prepared to camp down for the night." 



At 3 o'clock the following day, June 13, the Jeannette sank 

 until her smoke-stack was barely above water, in which position 

 she was sustained by the ice an hour longer, then she plunged 

 below with a lurch that imparted a swirl to the water like a min- 

 iature maelstrom. This accident occurred in latitude 77 14' 57" 

 N., longitude 155 58' 45" E. 



HELPLESS ON THE WIDE, WIDE SEA. 



DRIFTING for nearly two years, imprisoned in an ice-pack, 

 seemed to render DeLong and his party insensible to the new 

 perils which now faced them, for, helplessly cast away as they 

 were, their spirits appeared to rise, and a serenade was improvised 

 to entertain the party on the evening the ship was lost. Provis- 

 ions were abundant, so were clothes and other creature comforts, 

 and a respite from the anxieties attending the fate of the ship 

 was improved by a few hours, at lea^t, of perfect relaxation. A 

 comfortable camp was made on the Hoe, and the next four days 

 were devoted to preparing for a retreat southward, mounting ihe 



