USS Jeannette is crushed in an Arctic Ocean ice pack

Background. The Jeannette expedition aimed to reach the Arctic, driven by the Open Polar Sea theory. Originally named Pandora, the ship was renamed Jeannette and fitted for Arctic service at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Departing San Francisco in July 1879, the vessel was trapped in ice by late 1879. Its hull was breached in January 1880, causing rapid water intake.

Drifting and Sinking. By early 1881, the Jeannette had drifted for sixteen months but remained only 220 nautical miles from its initial trap point. The ship was crushed and sunk in the early morning of June 13, 1881. Its final recorded position was 77°15′N 155°0′E, approximately 300 nautical miles off the Siberian coast. The sinking demolished the widely believed Open Polar Sea theory.

Aftermath and Legacy. Following the sinking, survivors faced a long journey home. Melville, Nindemann, and Bartlett prepared to search for De Long's group in the Lena Delta in January 1882. De Long's body was found in March 1882. The event highlighted the dangers of Arctic ice, as ships risked being trapped or crushed before the advent of modern icebreakers. The sinking also indicated the existence of an ocean current moving Arctic ice from east to west.