The North Pole Expedition Disaster

On this day, the naval exploration ship, USS Jeannette, set out from San Francisco under the guidance of naval officer George W. de Long with the aim of sailing through the Bering Strait and using the warm Pacific Ocean current known as the Kuro Siwo as a gateway to the North Pole. The expedition proved to be a disaster as the ship quickly became trapped in ice and remained so, drifting erratically, for almost two years. On 12th June 1881, the ice began to crush the boat and the crew were forced to abandon ship and haul their sledges with lifeboats and supplies over the ice towards the Siberian coast. Once free from the ice, they set out in their three lifeboats, one of which capsized in a storm and sank, killing eight of the crew. Having reached land, De Long and 11 companions died of cold and starvation. Their bodies were found the following year.

Author: Tony

Born and raised in Malaysia between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Educated at Wycliffe College in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England. Living in the foothills of Mount Etna since 1982 and teaching English at Catania University since 1987. View all posts by Tony