Jeannette Expedition
Failed Arctic Expedition
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Siberia, Russia
TIME PERIOD
1879-1881
VICTIMS
20 confirmed
The Jeannette expedition, officially known as the U.S. Arctic Expedition, was a failed attempt to reach the North Pole from the Pacific Ocean, led by George W. De Long between 1879 and 1881. Departing from San Francisco, the USS Jeannette became trapped in Arctic ice north of Siberia, drifting for nearly two years before being crushed and sunk. The crew of thirty-three men faced extreme conditions, leading to the deaths of twenty, including De Long, during their perilous journey to the Lena Delta in Siberia. The expedition ultimately disproved the theory of an Open Polar Sea but contributed valuable meteorological data and led to subsequent Arctic explorations. A monument was erected in 1890 at the U.S. Naval Academy to honor those who perished in the expedition.
The primary theory surrounding the Jeannette expedition is that the warm-water current, Kuro Siwo, provided a navigable route to the North Pole, which ultimately proved to be a misconception. There is speculation that the expedition's failure was exacerbated by poor planning and reliance on untested theories about Arctic navigation. Additionally, some believe that the leadership of George W. De Long and the decisions made during the expedition contributed significantly to the tragic outcome and loss of life.
The Jeannette Expedition: A Tale of Arctic Ambition and Tragedy
The Dream of a Warm Water Gateway
In the late 19th century, the icy wilderness of the Arctic held an irresistible allure for explorers and visionaries. Among them was George W. De Long, a determined United States Navy officer with Arctic experience, who set out on a quest to reach the North Pole. His journey, known as the Jeannette Expedition, unfolded between 1879 and 1881, fueled by the bold yet ultimately flawed theory of a warm-water route to the pole.
The expedition's premise followed the theories of German cartographer August Petermann, who believed that a temperate current, the Kuro Siwo, flowed north through the Bering Strait. This, he posited, would lead explorers to the hypothesized Open Polar Sea and, beyond it, to the North Pole. Petermann's ideas captivated James Gordon Bennett Jr., proprietor of The New York Herald, who agreed to fund the expedition, providing De Long with the former Royal Navy gunboat, Pandora, which he renamed Jeannette.
Setting Sail: The USS Jeannette
Jeannette, now a commissioned vessel of the U.S. Navy, departed from San Francisco in 1879 with a crew of thirty-three, including experienced Arctic hands like Lieutenant Charles W. Chipp and engineer George W. Melville. The ship's mission was not solely to reach the pole but also to explore the possibility of a transpolar continent, theorized to connect Greenland with the mysterious Wrangel's Land.
In their pursuit, the crew discovered new landmasses, later named the De Long Islands, and gathered valuable meteorological and oceanographic data. However, the expedition's hopes were dashed when Jeannette became ensnared in the unforgiving Arctic ice, drifting helplessly for nearly two years before being crushed and sunk north of the Siberian coast.
A Struggle for Survival
De Long and his men faced a perilous journey across the Arctic wasteland. Forced to abandon their ship, they dragged Jeannette's whaleboat and two cutters over the ice, eventually taking to the sea in a desperate bid to reach Siberia's Lena Delta. Tragically, twenty of the crew, including De Long, perished in the harsh environment before rescue arrived.
The expedition's demise marked the end of the Open Polar Sea theory, yet it was not in vain. In 1884, debris from Jeannette's wreckage washed ashore on Greenland's southwest coast, revealing an oceanic current moving Arctic ice from east to west. This discovery inspired Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen's successful Fram expedition a decade later.
Remembrance and Legacy
In 1890, a monument honoring the brave souls of the Jeannette Expedition was erected at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The tale of De Long and his crew remains a testament to human courage and the relentless pursuit of discovery, even in the face of insurmountable odds.
Sources
For more detailed information, please refer to the original Jeannette expedition Wikipedia article.
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Jeannette Launched
The ship Jeannette is launched in Le Havre, France.
Departure for Arctic
Jeannette departs from San Francisco for the Arctic expedition.
Trapped in Ice
Jeannette becomes trapped in Arctic ice, marking the start of a long drift.
Jeannette Sinks
After being trapped for nearly two years, Jeannette sinks in the Arctic.
De Long's Party Separates
De Long's party separates into three groups to seek rescue after sinking.
Search for De Long
Survivors Melville, Nindemann, and Bartlett begin a search for De Long's party.
De Long's Journal Found
Melville's search party discovers De Long's journal and remains of his camp.
Survivors Return
The first group of survivors returns to New York, marking the end of the ordeal.
Monument Unveiled
A monument to the Jeannette expedition's dead is unveiled at the Naval Academy.
The Jeannette expedition, officially known as the U.S. Arctic Expedition, was a failed attempt to reach the North Pole from the Pacific Ocean, led by George W. De Long between 1879 and 1881. Departing from San Francisco, the USS Jeannette became trapped in Arctic ice north of Siberia, drifting for nearly two years before being crushed and sunk. The crew of thirty-three men faced extreme conditions, leading to the deaths of twenty, including De Long, during their perilous journey to the Lena Delta in Siberia. The expedition ultimately disproved the theory of an Open Polar Sea but contributed valuable meteorological data and led to subsequent Arctic explorations. A monument was erected in 1890 at the U.S. Naval Academy to honor those who perished in the expedition.
The primary theory surrounding the Jeannette expedition is that the warm-water current, Kuro Siwo, provided a navigable route to the North Pole, which ultimately proved to be a misconception. There is speculation that the expedition's failure was exacerbated by poor planning and reliance on untested theories about Arctic navigation. Additionally, some believe that the leadership of George W. De Long and the decisions made during the expedition contributed significantly to the tragic outcome and loss of life.
The Jeannette Expedition: A Tale of Arctic Ambition and Tragedy
The Dream of a Warm Water Gateway
In the late 19th century, the icy wilderness of the Arctic held an irresistible allure for explorers and visionaries. Among them was George W. De Long, a determined United States Navy officer with Arctic experience, who set out on a quest to reach the North Pole. His journey, known as the Jeannette Expedition, unfolded between 1879 and 1881, fueled by the bold yet ultimately flawed theory of a warm-water route to the pole.
The expedition's premise followed the theories of German cartographer August Petermann, who believed that a temperate current, the Kuro Siwo, flowed north through the Bering Strait. This, he posited, would lead explorers to the hypothesized Open Polar Sea and, beyond it, to the North Pole. Petermann's ideas captivated James Gordon Bennett Jr., proprietor of The New York Herald, who agreed to fund the expedition, providing De Long with the former Royal Navy gunboat, Pandora, which he renamed Jeannette.
Setting Sail: The USS Jeannette
Jeannette, now a commissioned vessel of the U.S. Navy, departed from San Francisco in 1879 with a crew of thirty-three, including experienced Arctic hands like Lieutenant Charles W. Chipp and engineer George W. Melville. The ship's mission was not solely to reach the pole but also to explore the possibility of a transpolar continent, theorized to connect Greenland with the mysterious Wrangel's Land.
In their pursuit, the crew discovered new landmasses, later named the De Long Islands, and gathered valuable meteorological and oceanographic data. However, the expedition's hopes were dashed when Jeannette became ensnared in the unforgiving Arctic ice, drifting helplessly for nearly two years before being crushed and sunk north of the Siberian coast.
A Struggle for Survival
De Long and his men faced a perilous journey across the Arctic wasteland. Forced to abandon their ship, they dragged Jeannette's whaleboat and two cutters over the ice, eventually taking to the sea in a desperate bid to reach Siberia's Lena Delta. Tragically, twenty of the crew, including De Long, perished in the harsh environment before rescue arrived.
The expedition's demise marked the end of the Open Polar Sea theory, yet it was not in vain. In 1884, debris from Jeannette's wreckage washed ashore on Greenland's southwest coast, revealing an oceanic current moving Arctic ice from east to west. This discovery inspired Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen's successful Fram expedition a decade later.
Remembrance and Legacy
In 1890, a monument honoring the brave souls of the Jeannette Expedition was erected at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The tale of De Long and his crew remains a testament to human courage and the relentless pursuit of discovery, even in the face of insurmountable odds.
Sources
For more detailed information, please refer to the original Jeannette expedition Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Jeannette Launched
The ship Jeannette is launched in Le Havre, France.
Departure for Arctic
Jeannette departs from San Francisco for the Arctic expedition.
Trapped in Ice
Jeannette becomes trapped in Arctic ice, marking the start of a long drift.
Jeannette Sinks
After being trapped for nearly two years, Jeannette sinks in the Arctic.
De Long's Party Separates
De Long's party separates into three groups to seek rescue after sinking.
Search for De Long
Survivors Melville, Nindemann, and Bartlett begin a search for De Long's party.
De Long's Journal Found
Melville's search party discovers De Long's journal and remains of his camp.
Survivors Return
The first group of survivors returns to New York, marking the end of the ordeal.
Monument Unveiled
A monument to the Jeannette expedition's dead is unveiled at the Naval Academy.