In a previous issue we mentioned that news had been received from Hakodate to the effect that the three sailing; vessels Lord of the Isles, Gustav an Aleut had been wrecked on the southwest coast of Saghalien, We now take the following from the Japan Gazett On the 12th Oct. the American steamer Courier, Captain Cooper, arrived in Hakodate from the north, and we are informed from a trustworthy source, she reports the loss of the barque Lord of the Isles and the German brig Gustav on the west coast of Saghalien, "Also, that a whaler was spoken up north, the master of which reported the loss of the exploring vessel Jeannette and two whalers, in the neighbourhood of Behring's Straits, the three ships having been crushed in the ice.
The Lord of the Isles left Yokohama on loth August for Nagasaki, there to load coal for Wladivostock. She made one trip, then returned for another cargo of coal, and afterwards proceeded to Saghalien for a cargo of seaweed, when she encountered a severe gale and was driven on the coast. Another vessel is also reported as having been wrecked in the same gale in the same neighbourhood.
Regarding the Arctic explorer Jeannette, sent out by the proprietor of the New York Herald, this is not the first time her loss has been reported. The vessel was prepared to spend three years in the ice if necessary, without communication with the outside world, and therefore the reports of her loss hitherto have been regarded as idle. The New York Herald in reference to this subject publishes a letter from Captain Hayes, distinguished Arctic explorer, who says "I think it quite probable that she found a winter harbour on Wrangel Land, in latitude 73 degrees to 75 degrees, from which she was very likely released in July. As to severity of the winter, supposing it to have been severe, that has nothing at all to do with the matter. In any case, she was frozen up by the ice, and whether the thermometer registered zero, or seventy below, is of no consequence. In a ship fitted as the Jeannette was, men can easily make themselves comfortable, no matter how cold it may be outside, and the Jeannette was perfectly fitted, and Professor Nordenskjéld need not have any anxiety on that score, as I personally know. If she remains away another year she has still more than ample supplies, and she will have bad luck indeed if bears, birds, seals and other animals are not made to contribute to the larder. As to her soundness and fitness for ico navigation, there was never a better ship. She was constructed for that express purpose and on the most approved pattern, She has made three previous voyages and was additionally strengthened by her owner for the present oni She has always been lucky, and Fi although at times roughly treated by the ice she has invariably come off without serious hurt. She has one of the best captains our navy or any other could furnish—brave, intelligent, cultured, and what is more, a good sailor, a cool-headed man and a sagacious commander, Having gone out to reach the Pole, he is not likely to return until he has made a serious effort—he is not that sort of a man—and for that serious effort this summer was his only time, He necessarily must have hada poor show last summer, because he entered the ice late and had to feel his way. He will go into winter quarters next winter if not satisfied with his work this sum If he discovers that it is impossible to succeed he will do likewise; but in no case can anybody get at him to ask him what he is doing, and all the silly stories by whale-men can do him neither good nor harm. He will come home when he gets ready but this cannot possibly be, as I should think, before November."
Notwithstanding the incredulity of the American papers respecting the reported loss of the Jeannelte, itis to be feared that there is some truth in the statement. We shall probably hear further particulars upon the arrival in Yokohama of the Courier, whose captain, from what we hear, is impressed with the truth of the whaler's report of the crushing of the Jeannette.
The Japan Herald, writing on the same subject, says:—We are indebted to Capt. Hubbard, of the M. B. M.S. 8. Toyoshima Muru, for a pieces of information which, however, will bea source of regret to all who hear it—we refer to the loss of the American Arctic discovery ship Jeannette. The vessel will perhaps be better known, to Englishmen at least, as the Pandora. "She was an English-builé steamer of 420 tons, and had already made several voyages to the Arctic regions under the command of her former owner, Sir Allan Young, the most noticeable of which was that undertaken in connection with the voyage of the Alert and Discovery. Shortly after her return from this last expedition, she was purchased by Mz. James Gordon Bennett.
er officers, all of whom belonged to the U.S, Navy, were as follows Long, who was connected with the Polaris expedition in 1873, under Captain D. L. Braine, Her other officera were as follows Executive Officer: Lieut, Charles W. Chi u.s.x., Kingston, N.Y.
Master: Lieutenant John W. Danenhower, 9.8.N., Chicago, Il, Bagineer? G. W. Melville, v.s.x., of New York.
Surgeon: Dr. J. M. N. Ambler, 0.3.8., Faquier Ca., Ya.
leteorologist: Jerome J. Collins, of Hadeon City, N.J.
Taxidormist: Raymond L. Newcomb, of Salem, Mass,
on, Pilots Win, Dunbar, of Now London, Carpenter: Win, Minderman, of Now York, Geo. W. Boyd, of Philadelphia, lin Cole, of Ireland, Walter Lee, of Providence, R.I, She had a crew of sixteen men, and also three Chinamen as cooks, ce. She sailed from San Francisco on the 8th July, 1879, and the last news received from her of which we can find any trace, was an announcement that she would leave Ounualaska (one of the Aleutian Islands situate in lat, 53° 13' North, long. 167° 47' East) on the Gh August, We are unable to state the exact route which the expedition, was to take, but it is evident, from ulterior events, that some news was expected from itthissummer. The winter of 1879-80 was an exceptionally severe one, and early in the past summer apprehensions wore enter tained—in default of any intelligence from them—of the safety of the Jeannette and also of some whalers. Thisanxiety evidently increased as time wore on, Two maila ago a paragraph appeared in'one of the San ancisco papers stating that the captain of whaler just arrived from the north had expressed very grave doubts as, to hor safety, and in a poper received by the last mail occurs the following:—'' A' despatch of Ist September, from Victoria, says that the barque Malay, eight days from Ounualaska, reports that the Jeannette is given up for lost on account of the severity of last winter; no tidings having been received of her, Authorities however are confident of her safety." If, however, our latest news be true, the authorities' confidence
already conceived have been confirmed. sas misplaced, and the gloomy forebodings Shortly before the departure of the Toyoshima Maru from Hakodate, the American steamer Courier arrived in har-hour from her annual trip to the Siberian coast, Captain, Cooper, of, the, Courier, reported to Captain Hubbard that a steam whaler had arrived in Petropaulovski, which announced that, according to information received from natives, the Jeannette and some whalers had been lost with all hands, having been crushed by the ice. There is, we fear, but little reason to doubt the truth of the' report, although the unreliable nature of its source may perhaps encourage those who have friends in the expedition to continue to hope, even ayainst hope, until confirmation of the sad news arrives. Even if the crew should have temporarily escaped after the destruction of their vessel, there is but too much reason to fear that—especially if the disaster occurred unexpectedly—they have, like the members of Sir John Franklin's expedition, sunk slowly down one by one and perished ere reaching a piece of refuge. If the news be true, their memories will fill another niche la the temple which has been mentally erected to the fame of those who for hundreds of years have fallen—sometimes by scores at a time, sometimes weary and alone—martyrs in the cause of science.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.