ON THIS PICTURE AND ON THIS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1315, 13 May 1897, Page 11

ON THIS PICTURE AND ON THIS.

NANSEN AND DE LONG. A MEMORY OF THE PAST (Specially Written for the New Zealand Times.) BY MRS L. STUART. It is now well known that the discovery of some relics of the shipwrecked steamer Jeanette, which were found on floe ice on the southern extremity of Greenland, had suggested to the famous Dr Nansen his recent method of trying to reach the North Pole. About the genuineness of these relics there could be no doubt. The chief of them were —(Ist) A provision list signed ‘‘Da Long”; (2nd) a list of the Jeanette’s boats; (3rd) a pair of oilskin trousers, bearing the name of “ Louis Norros,” one of the survivors of the Jeanette’s crew. This it was that confirmed Dr Nansen’s previously formed opinion as to the existence of a current across the Polar basin, by which the Pole might bo reached. The building of the sturdy little Fram w r as the result, with what splendid success we are How aware. Tho gallant Norwegian is now the hero of the day, and he is being “dined and wined” by London society, presented by the Prince of Wales with a medal, &c., &c., while his honours are being shared by his proud and happy wife. There is something very satisfying to our sense of justice in all this, and we hope that Dr and Mrs Nansen may live long and happily to enjoy their wellearned honours. It is said that “ the race is not always.to the swift nor the battle to tho strong,” but Dr Nansen’s scorns to be the exceptional case which, we aro told, proves the rule. When wo read of all these grand doings, the echo of which comes to us across the ocean, it recalls to

our mind the far different fate of other heroes who also went out on Arctic exploration quite as full of hope, courage and devotion to science as Dr Nansen, but who failed, for Avant of his practical knowledge of how to live in such extreme cold. Other women than Mrs Nansen had also “ the courage to wait,” without being given their deserved reward. The Jeanette was an American steamer purchased and fitted out for Arctic Exploration by,. Mr James Gudon Bennett, tho editor and proprietor of the New York Herald , and named after his sister, Miss Jeanette Bennett. Lieutenant Do Long, of the United States Navy, was commander of the expedition which sailed from Sin Francisco in May, 1879, and entered the Arctic basin through the Behring Straits. They then sailed westward, intending, if possible, to moet Nordens Kjold’s Yega, a vessel sent out by tho Norwegian government for scientific purposes. The Jeanette was soon caught in the ice, and was drifted With it for nearly two years. First in a circle round Wrangel’s Land, and then south-westward. She was crushed in the ice and sank 21st June, 1881, to tho north of the Liberians. Lieut. De Long and bis men went in boats to tlie mouth of the Lena) where the majority of them perishod miserably of starvation and exposure. Two years afterwards the various things belonging to the Jeanette were found in Greenland.

In May, 1878, wliilo the Jeanette was being fitted out for her fatal voyage at the U. S. Navy Yard at Mare Island, opposite Vallejo, California, ib was the privilege of the writer to meet Lieut. Do Long. The vessel was lying out in the stream, nearly ready to start. On sending in our mtroduction, Lieut. De Long came himself to the steps to meet us, and afterwards kindly showed us over his vessel. Every door and partition was lined with felt and packed with charcoal, and so many ingenious devices were shown us, to be used for protection against the bitter cold, that it inspired us with confidence that all would surely be well with that gallant crew. Lieut. De Long was a man about 35 years of age, tall, darkcomplexioned, slightly bald, and rather round-shouldered. His face had a sad serious expression, and his eyes had that large glassy look, which spectacles give, as he seemed to be short-sighted. Not being in uniform, but dressed in a plain dark suit, the Lieutenant seemed more like a minister or a teacher than either a naval officer or an adventurous explorer. Mrs De Long, who was on board, was much younger than her husband. Slight, graceful and girlish, with her fair, slightly curling hair flowing over her shoulders • This was not at all a usual fashion at the time, except among half-grown girls, so that when she turned and looked at us her face looked older than what you expected it would bo from her childish appearance. She was pale and delicate, with a wistful, anxious expression, and her eyes followed her husband’s evory movement. Kind and hospitable they both were, and wo had tea in the captain’s cabin. “ I suppose you feel rather anxious, Mrs De Long ?” she was asked. “ Oh, no; I am sure he will return,” she confidently said. We soon took leave, as they were evidently busy, packing everything into smallest space in dim, queer corners. We shook his hand at the gangway and wished him “God speed,” and his kindly face looked smilingly down at us as we were rowed away, and we saw him no more. A few days later the American mail steamer, by which we were passengers, sailed from, lhe harbour of San Francisco in the wake of the Jeanette. As we both put out to sea, the hills surrounding the city were black with excited people assembled to witness the departure of the Arctic Expedition. Bells were ringing, guns were fifing, acres of handkerchiefs waved and fluttered in the air, and from the fort at the entrance of the Golden Gate the parting salute fairly shook the air. . The Jeanette was moving slowly seaward, under steam at half-speed, colours were flying from every rope, men everywhere,'aloft and on deck, cheers from shore

answered by cheers on ship. Cheering! j cheering! away they went. As oiir 1 steamer followed them out to sea, a small i boat was seen to leave the side of the i Jeanette, and slowly passed our steamer going back towards the city. Three or four gentlemen stood in the boat, looking up at us, as we looked down at them from our steamer’s height as we passed each other. In the stern of the small boat a lady sat. We knew it was Mrs De Long by the fair hair upon her shoulders. She was not looking at us, but fixedly gazing out toward the now departing Jeanette making ready for sea. Wo saw the flags coming down, the sails going up, as the vessel gradually disappeared in the gathering night. She never saw her husband again. No medals or plaudits of admiring crowds had our heroic Lieut. De Long. No reunion or sweet home-coming had he. After a dreary then ominous silence, the search party who were sent out wrote, among the details of the cruise, as follows : —“While proceeding in a westerly direction, our attention was drawn to a camp kettle lying in the snow, about a thousand yards from the boat wreck, and on approaching we nearly stumbled over a bare hand protruding up out of the snow. Stooping down and removing the snow, which was not over a foot in depth, wo found the remains of the commander of the Jeanette expedition, Lieut. De Long. Within three feot of him lay Dr Gambler, while Sam, the Chinese cook, lay stretched at their feet. All were partly covered by the half-tent, which they had brought up with them when their dead companions no longer needed it. Some pieces cf blanket had also been used to secure a little heat, near by were the remains of a fire, and in the camp kettle were some pieces of Arctic willow, of which they had made tea. On the ground hesido him lay Lieut. De Long’s journal. The book, evidently, had not been returned to his pocket after making an entry—merely the date and the number of days since the vessel sank—for the pencil lay beside the book. Before leaving the tent place to drag their weary feet to their last rest, they had respectfully covered with a cloth tho dead face of Mr Collins, their brother officer, whoso body lay near. Two boxes of records were found, and a littlo further towards the east the medicine chest, and the flog still upon its staff. The bodies were interred, a cross was erected, and on it was cut the following inscription : —•

“In memory of twelve of the officers and men of the Arctic steamer, Jeanette, who died of starvation in Lena Delta, October, 1831.” G. W. Do Long, J. M. Gambler, J. J. Collins, W. Lee, A. Goestz, A. Dresslu, 11. Ericksen, G. W. Boyd, H. Inerson. H. Koach, Alexia Ah Sam. Mrtny heroes besides these, nameless, “ unhonoured, and unsung,” have perished in the Frozen North. Their bodies laid in shallow gravos, dug by comrades, too weak to dig in frozen soil a deeper one, from whence they have been torn and gnawed by bear,) and wolves. Their bones now lie scattered on tho snow, in tho lonely'and deathlike stillness ef the icy Arctic Regions.