South! The Story of Shackleton's Last Expedition, 1914-1917 Part 21

A heavy gale came up on March 12, and the 'Aurora', then moored off Cape Evans, dragged her anchor and drifted out of the bay. She went northward past Cape Barne and Cape Royds in a driving mist, with a heavy storm-sea running. This gale was a particularly heavy one. The s.h.i.+p and gear were covered with ice, owing to the freezing of spray, and Stenhouse had anxious hours amid the heavy, ice-enc.u.mbered waters before the gale moderated. The young ice, which was continually forming in the very low temperature, helped to reduce the sea as soon as the gale moderated, and the 'Aurora' got back to Cape Evans on the evening of the 13th. Ice was forming in the bay, and on the morning of the 14th Stenhouse took the s.h.i.+p into position for winter moorings. He got three steel hawsers out and made fast to the sh.o.r.e anchors. These hawsers were hove tight, and the 'Aurora' rested then, with her stern to the sh.o.r.e, in seven fathoms. Two more wires were taken ash.o.r.e the next day. Young ice was forming around the s.h.i.+p, and under the influence of wind and tide this ice began early to put severe strains upon the moorings. Stenhouse had the fires drawn and the boiler blown down on the 20th, and the engineer reported at that time that the bunkers contained still 118 tons of coal.

The ice broke away between Cape Evans and Cape Barne on the 23rd, and pressure around the s.h.i.+p shattered the bay ice and placed heavy strains on the stern moorings. The young ice, about four inches thick, went out eventually and left a lead along the sh.o.r.e. The s.h.i.+p had set in towards the sh.o.r.e, owing to the pressure, and the stern was now in four- and-a-half fathoms. Stenhouse tightened the moorings and ran out an extra wire to the sh.o.r.e anchor. The nature of the ice movements is ill.u.s.trated by a few extracts from the log:

"March 27, 5 p.m.--Ice broke away from sh.o.r.e and started to go out. 8 p.m.--Light southerly airs; fine; ice setting out to north-west; heavy pressure of ice on starboard side and great strain on moorings.

10 p.m.--Ice clear of s.h.i.+p.

"March 28.--New ice forming over bay. 3 a.m.--Ice which went out last watch set in towards bay. 5 a.m.--Ice coming in and overriding newly formed bay-ice; heavy pressure on port side of s.h.i.+p; wires frozen into ice. 8 a.m.--Calm and fine; new ice setting out of bay. 5 p.m.--New ice formed since morning cleared from bay except area on port side of s.h.i.+p and stretching abeam and ahead for about 200 yds., which is held by bights of wire; new ice forming.

"March 29, 1.30 p.m.--New ice going out. 2 p.m.--Hands on floe on port quarter clearing wires; stern in three fathoms; hauled wires tight, bringing stern more to eastward and in four fathoms; hove in about one fathom of starboard cable, which had dragged during recent pressure.

"April 10, 1.30 p.m.--Ice breaking from sh.o.r.e under influence of south- east wind. Two starboard quarter wires parted; all bights of stern wires frozen in ice; chain taking weight. 2 p.m.--Ice opened, leaving ice in bay in line from Cape to landward of glacier. 8 p.m.--Fresh wind; s.h.i.+p holding ice in bay; ice in Sound wind-driven to north-west.

"April 17, 1 am.--Pressure increased and wind s.h.i.+fted to north-west.

Ice continued to override and press into sh.o.r.e until 5 o'clock; during this time pressure into bay was very heavy; movement of ice in straits causing noise like heavy surf. s.h.i.+p took ground gently at rudder-post during pressure; bottom under stern shallows very quickly. 10 p.m.-- Ice-moving out of bay to westward; heavy strain on after moorings and cables, which are cutting the floe."

Stenhouse continued to nurse his moorings against the onslaughts of the ice during the rest of April and the early days of May. The break- away from the sh.o.r.e came suddenly and unexpectedly on the evening of May 6:

"May 6, 1915.--Fine morning with light breezes from east-south- east.... 3.30 p.m.--Ice nearly finished. Sent hands ash.o.r.e for sledge- load. 4 p.m.--Wind freshening with blizzardy appearance of sky. 8 p.m.--. . . Heavy strain on after-moorings. 9.45 p.m.--The ice parted from the sh.o.r.e; all moorings parted. Most fascinating to listen to waves and chain breaking. In the thick haze I saw the ice astern breaking up and the sh.o.r.e receding. I called all hands and clapped relieving tackles (4-in. Manila luff tackles) on to the cables on the forepart of the windla.s.s. The bos'n had rushed along with his hurricane lamp, and shouted, 'She's away wi' it!' He is a good fellow and very conscientious. I ordered steam on main engines, and the engine-room staff, with Hooke and Ninnis, turned to. Grady, fireman, was laid up with a broken rib. As the s.h.i.+p, in the solid floe, set to the north-west, the cables rattled and tore at the hawse-pipes; luckily the anchors, lying as they were on a strip-sloping bottom, came away easily, without damage to windla.s.s or hawse-pipes. Slowly as we disappeared into Sound, the light in the hut died away. At 11.30 p.m.

the ice around us started to break up, the floes playing tattoo on the s.h.i.+p's sides. We were out in the Sound and catching the full force of the wind. The moon broke through the clouds after midnight and showed us the pack, stretching continuously to northward, and about one mile to the south. As the pack from the southward came up and closed in on the s.h.i.+p, the swell lessened and the banging of floes alongside eased a little.

"May 7, 8 a.m.--Wind east-south-east. Moderate gale with thick drift.

The ice around s.h.i.+p is packing up and forming ridges about two feet high. The s.h.i.+p is lying with head to the eastward, Cape Bird showing to north-east. When steam is raised I have hopes of getting back to the fast ice near the Glacier Tongue. Since we have been in winter quarters the ice has formed and, held by the islands and land at Cape Evans, has remained north of the Tongue. If we can return we should be able now to moor to the fast ice. The engineers are having great difficulty with the sea connexions, which are frozen. The main bow-down c.o.c.k, from which the boiler is 'run up,' has been tapped and a screw plug put into it to allow of a hot iron rod being inserted to thaw out the ice between the c.o.c.k and the s.h.i.+p's side--about two feet of hard ice. 4.30 p.m.--The hot iron has been successful. Donolly (second engineer) had the pleasure of stopping the first spurt of water through the pipe; he got it in the eye. Fires were lit in furnaces, and water commenced to blow in the boiler--the first blow in our defence against the terrific forces of Nature in the Antarctic. 8 p.m.--The gale has freshened, accompanied by thick drift."

The 'Aurora' drifted helplessly throughout May 7. On the morning of May 8 the weather cleared a little and the Western Mountains became indistinctly visible. Cape Bird could also be seen. The s.h.i.+p was moving northwards with the ice. The daylight was no more than a short twilight of about two hours' duration. The boiler was being filled with ice, which had to be lifted aboard, broken up, pa.s.sed through a small porthole to a man inside, and then carried to the manhole on top of the boiler. Stenhouse had the wireless aerial rigged during the afternoon, and at 5 p.m. was informed that the watering of the boiler was complete. The wind freshened to a moderate southerly gale, with thick drift, in the night, and this gale continued during the following day, the 9th. The engineer reported at noon that he had 40-lb. pressure in the boiler and was commencing the thawing of the auxiliary sea- connexion pump by means of a steam-pipe.

"Cape Bird is the only land visible, bearing north-east true about eight miles distant," wrote, Stenhouse on the afternoon of the 9th. "So this is the end of our attempt to winter in McMurdo Sound. Hard luck after four months' buffeting, for the last seven weeks of which we nursed our moorings. Our present situation calls for increasing vigilance. It is five weeks to the middle of winter. There is no sun, the light is little and uncertain, and we may expect many blizzards.

We have no immediate water-supply, as only a small quant.i.ty of fresh ice was aboard when we broke drift.

"The 'Aurora' is fast in the pack and drifting G.o.d knows where. Well, there are prospects of a most interesting winter drift. We are all in good health, except Grady, whose rib is mending rapidly; we have good spirits and we will get through. But what of the poor beggars at Cape Evans, and the Southern Party? It is a dismal prospect for them.

There are sufficient provisions at Cape Evans, Hut Point, and, I suppose, Cape Royds, but we have the remaining Burberrys, clothing, etc., for next year's sledging still on board. I see little prospect of getting back to Cape Evans or anywhere in the Sound. We are short of coal and held firmly in the ice. I hope she drifts quickly to the north-east. Then we can endeavour to push through the pack and make for New Zealand, coal and return to the Barrier eastward of Cape Crozier. This could be done, I think, in the early spring, September.

We must get back to aid the depot-laying next season."

A violent blizzard raged on May 10 and 11. "I never remember such wind-force," said Stenhouse. "It was difficult to get along the deck."

The weather moderated on the 12th, and a survey of the s.h.i.+p's position was possible. "We are lying in a field of ice with our anchors and seventy-five fathoms of cable on each hanging at the bows. The after- moorings were frozen into the ice astern of us at Cape Evans. Previous to the date of our leaving our winter berth four small wires had parted. When we broke away the chain two of the heavy (4-in.) wires parted close to sh.o.r.e; the other wire went at the b.u.t.ts. The chain and two wires are still fast in the ice and will have to be dug out. This morning we cleared the ice around the cables, but had to abandon the heaving-in, as the steam-froze in the return pipes from the windla.s.s exhaust, and the joints had to be broken and the pipe thawed out.

Hooke was 'listening in' from 8.30 p.m. to 12.30 a.m. for the Macquarie Island wireless station (1340 miles away) or the Bluff (New Zealand) station (1860 miles away), but had no luck."

The anchors were hove in by dint of much effort on the 13th and 14th, ice forming on the cable as it was hoisted through a hole cut in the floe. Both anchors had broken, so the 'Aurora' had now one small kedge- anchor left aboard. The s.h.i.+p's position on May 14 was approximately forty-five miles north, thirty-four west of Cape Evans. "In one week we have drifted forty-five miles (geographical). Most of this distance was covered during the first two days of the drift. We appear to be nearly stationary. What movement there is in the ice seems to be to the north-west towards the ice-bound coast. Hands who were after penguins yesterday reported much noise in the ice about one mile from the s.h.i.+p. I hope the floe around the s.h.i.+p is large enough to take its own pressure. We cannot expect much pressure from the south, as McMurdo Sound should soon be frozen over and the ice holding. North- east winds would drive the pack in from the Ross Sea. I hope for the best. Plans for future development are ready, but probably will be checkmated again.... I took the anchors aboard. They are of no further use as separate anchors, but they ornament the forecastle head, so we put them in their places.... The supply of fresh water is a problem.

The engineer turned steam from the boiler into the main water-tank (starboard) through a pipe leading from the main winch-pipe to the tank top. The steam condenses before reaching the tank. I hope freezing does not burst the tank. A large tabular iceberg, calved from the Barrier, is silhouetted against the twilight glow in the sky about ten miles away. The sight of millions of tons of fresh ice is most tantalizing. It would be a week's journey to the berg and back over pack and pressure, and probably we could bring enough ice to last two days."

The record of the early months of the 'Aurora's' long drift in the Ross Sea is not eventful. The galley condenser was rigged, but the supply of fresh water remained a problem. The men collected fresh- fallen snow when possible and hoped to get within reach of fresh ice.

Hooke and Ninnis worked hard at the wireless plant with the object of getting into touch with Macquarie Island, and possibly sending news of the s.h.i.+p's movements to Cape Evans. They got the wireless motor running and made many adjustments of the instruments and aerials, but their efforts were not successful. Emperor penguins approached the s.h.i.+p occasionally, and the birds were captured whenever possible for the fresh meat they afforded. The 'Aurora' was quite helpless in the grip of the ice, and after the engine-room bilges had been thawed and pumped out the boilers were blown down. The pressure had been raised to sixty pounds, but there was no chance of moving the s.h.i.+p, and the supply of coal was limited. The story of the 'Aurora's' drift during long months can be told briefly by means of extracts from Stenhouse's log:

"May 21.--Early this morning there appeared to be movements in the ice. The grating and grinding noise makes one feel the unimportance of man in circ.u.mstances like ours. Twilight towards noon showed several narrow, open leads about two cables from s.h.i.+p and in all directions.

Unable to get bearing, but imagine that there is little or no alteration in s.h.i.+p's position, as s.h.i.+p's head is same, and Western Mountains appear the same.... Hope all is well at Cape Evans and that the other parties have returned safely. Wish we could relieve their anxiety.

"May 22.--Obtained good bearings of Beaufort Island, Cape Ross, and Dunlop Island, which put the s.h.i.+p in a position eighteen miles south 75 east (true) from Cape Ross. Since the 14th, when reliable bearings were last obtained, we have drifted north-west by north seven miles.

"May 24.--Blizzard from south-south-east continued until 9 p.m., when it moderated, and at 11.45 p.m. wind s.h.i.+fted to north-west, light, with snow. Quite a lot of havoc has been caused during this blow, and the s.h.i.+p has made much northing. In the morning the crack south of the s.h.i.+p opened to about three feet. At 2 p.m. felt heavy shock and the s.h.i.+p heeled to port about 70. Found ice had cracked from port gangway to north-west, and parted from s.h.i.+p from gangway along to stern. Crack extended from stern to south-east. 7.35 p.m.--Ice cracked from port fore chains, in line parallel to previous crack. The ice broke again between the cracks and drifted to north-west for about ten yards. The ice to southward then commenced to break up, causing heavy strain on s.h.i.+p, and setting apparently north in large broken fields. s.h.i.+p badly jammed in. 9.15 p.m.--Ice closed in again around s.h.i.+p. Two heavy windsqualls with a short interval between followed by cessation of wind. We are in a labyrinth of large rectangular floes (some with their points pressing heavily against s.h.i.+p) and high pressure-ridges.

"May 25.--In middle watch felt pressure occasionally. Twilight showed a scene of chaos all around; one floe about three feet in thickness had upended, driven under s.h.i.+p on port quarter. As far as can be seen there are heavy blocks of ice screwed up on end, and the scene is like a graveyard. I think swell must have come up under ice from seaward (north-east), McMurdo Sound, and broken the ice, which afterwards started to move under the influence of the blizzard. Hardly think swell came from the Sound, as the cracks were wending from north-west to south-east, and also as the Sound should be getting icebound by now.

If swell came from north-east then there is open water not far away. I should like to know. I believe the Ross Sea is rarely entirely ice- covered. Have bright moonlight now, which accentuates everything--the beauty and loneliness of our surroundings, and uselessness of ourselves, while in this prison: so near to Cape Evans and yet we might as well be anywhere as here. Have made our sledging-ration scales, and crew are busy making harness and getting sledging equipment ready for emergencies. Temperature -30 Fahr.

"May 26.--If the s.h.i.+p is nipped in the ice, the s.h.i.+p's company (eighteen hands) will take to four sledges with one month's rations and make for nearest land. Six men and one sledge will endeavour to make Cape Evans via the western land, Butler Point, Hut Point, etc. The remaining twelve will come along with all possible speed, but no forced marches, killing and depot-ing penguins and seals for emergency retreats. If the s.h.i.+p remains here and makes no further drift to the north, towards latter end of July light will be making. The sun returns August 23. The sea-ice should be fairly safe, and a party of three, with one month's rations, will proceed to Cape Evans. If the ice sets north and takes the s.h.i.+p clear of land, we will proceed to New Zealand, bunker, get extra officer and four volunteers, provisions, etc., push south with all speed to the Barrier, put party on to the Barrier, about two miles east of Cape Crozier, and land all necessary stores and requirements. The s.h.i.+p will stand off until able to reach Cape Evans.

If necessary, party will depot all stores possible at Corner Camp and go on to Cape Evans. If worst has happened my party will lay out the depot at the Beardmore for Shackleton. If the s.h.i.+p is released from the ice after September we must endeavour to reach Cape Evans before going north to bunker. We have not enough coal to hang about the Sound for many days.

"May 28.--By the position obtained by meridian alt.i.tude of stars and bearing of Mount Melbourne, we have drifted thirty-six miles north-east from last bearings taken on 23rd inst. The most of this must have been during the blizzard of the 24th. Mount Melbourne is one hundred and eleven miles due north of us, and there is some doubt in my mind as to whether the peak which we can see is this mountain. There may be a mirage.... In the evening had the football out on the ice by the light of a beautiful moon. The exercise and break from routine are a splendid tonic. Ice-noises sent all hands on board.

"June 1.--Thick, hazy weather. In the afternoon a black streak appeared in the ice about a cable's length to the westward and stretching north and south. 8 p.m.--The black line widened and showed long lane of open water. Apparently we are fast in a floe which has broken from the main field. With thick weather we are uncertain of our position and drift. It will be interesting to find out what this crack in the ice signifies. I am convinced that there is open water, not far distant, in the Ross Sea.... To-night Hooke is trying to call up Cape Evans. If the people at the hut have rigged the set which was left there, they will hear 'All well' from the 'Aurora'. I hope they have.

[The messages were not received.]

"June 8.--Made our lat.i.tude 75 59' S. by alt.i.tude of Sirius. This is a very monotonous life, but all hands appear to be happy and contented. Find that we are not too well off for meals and will have to cut rations a little. Grady is taking exercise now and should soon be well again. He seems very anxious to get to work again, and is a good man. No wireless calls to-night, as there is a temporary breakdown--condenser jar broken. There is a very faint display of aurora in northern sky. It comes and goes almost imperceptibly, a most fascinating sight. The temperature is -20 Fahr.; 52 of frost is much too cold to allow one to stand for long.

"June 11.--Walked over to a very high pressure-ridge about a quarter of a mile north-north-west of the s.h.i.+p. In the dim light walking over the ice is far from being monotonous, as it is almost impossible to see obstacles, such as small, snowed-up ridges, which makes us wary and cautious. A dip in the sea would be the grand finale, but there is little risk of this as the water freezes as soon as a lane opens in the ice. The pressure-ridge is about fifteen to twenty feet high for several hundred feet, and the ice all about it is bent up in a most extraordinary manner. At 9 p.m. Hooke called Cape Evans, 'All well-- 'Aurora', etc.; 10 p.m., weather reports for 8 p.m. sent to Wellington, New Zealand, and Melbourne, via Macquarie Island. [The dispatch of messages from the 'Aurora' was continued, but it was learned afterwards that none of them had been received by any station.]

"June 13.--The temperature in the chart-room ranges from zero to a little above freezing-point. This is a very disturbing factor in rates of the chronometers (five in number, 3 G.M.T. and 2 Sid.T.), which are kept in cases in a padded box, each case covered by a piece of blanket, and the box covered by a heavy coat. In any enclosed place where people pa.s.s their time, the niches and places where no heat penetrates are covered with frozen breath. There will be a big thaw-out when the temperature rises.

"June 14.--Mount Melbourne is bearing north 14 W (true). Our approximate position is forty miles east-north-east of Nordenskjold Ice Tongue. At 9 p.m. Hooke called Cape Evans and sent weather reports to Wellington and Melbourne via Macquarie Island. Hooke and Ninnis on several evenings at about 11 o'clock have heard what happened to be faint messages, but unreadable. He sent word to Macquarie Island of this in hopes that they would hear and increase the power.

"June 20.--During this last blow with its accompanying drift-snow there has been much leakage of current from the aerial during the sending of reports. This is apparently due to induction caused by the snow acc.u.mulating on the insulators aloft, and thus rendering them useless, and probably to increased inductive force of the current in a body of snowdrift. Hooke appears to be somewhat downhearted over it, and, after discussing the matter, gave me a written report on the non- success (up to the present time) of his endeavours to establish communication. He thinks that the proximity of the Magnetic Pole and Aurora Australis might affect things. The radiation is good and sufficient for normal conditions. His suggestion to lead the down lead wires out to the ahead and astern would increase scope, but I cannot countenance it owing to unsettled state of ice and our too lofty poles.

"June 21.--Blowing gale from south-west throughout day, but for short spell of westerly breeze about 5 p.m. Light drift at frequent intervals, very hazy, and consequently no land in sight during short twilight. Very hard up for mitts and clothing. What little we have on board I have put to one side for the people at the hut. Have given Thompson instructions to turn crew to making pair mitts and helmet out of Jaeger fleece for all hands forward. With strict economy we should make things spin out; cannot help worrying over our people at the hut.

Although worrying does no good, one cannot do otherwise in this present impotent state. 11 p.m.--Wind howling and whistling through rigging.

Outside, in glare of moon, flying drift and expanse of ice-field.

Desolation!

"June 22.--To-day the sun has reached the limit of his northern declination and now he will start to come south. Observed this day as holiday, and in the evening had hands aft to drink to the health of the King and the Expedition. All hands are happy, but miss the others at Cape Evans. I pray to G.o.d we may soon be clear of this prison and in a position to help them. We can live now for sunlight and activity.

"July 1.--The 1st of July! Thank G.o.d. The days pa.s.s quickly. Through all my waking hours one long thought of the people at Cape Evans, but one must appear to be happy and take interest in the small happenings of s.h.i.+pboard.

"July 3.--Rather hazy with very little light. Moderate west-north- west to south-west winds until noon, when wind veered to south and freshened. No apparent change in s.h.i.+p's position; the berg is on the same bearing (1 point on the port quarter) and apparently the same distance off. Mount Melbourne was hidden behind a bank of clouds. This is our only landmark now, as Franklin Island is towered in perpetual gloom. Although we have had the berg in sight during all the time of our drift from the entrance to McMurdo Sound, we have not yet seen it in a favourable light, and, were it not for its movement, we might mistake it for a tabular island. It will be interesting to view our companion in the returning light--unless we are too close to it!

"July 5.--Dull grey day (during twilight) with light, variable, westerly breezes. All around hangs a heavy curtain of haze, and, although very light snow is falling, overhead is black and clear with stars s.h.i.+ning. As soon as the faint noon light fades away the heavy low haze intensifies the darkness and makes one thankful that one has a good firm 'berth' in the ice. I don't care to contemplate the scene if the ice should break up at the present time.

"July 6.--Last night I thought I saw open water in the shape of a long black lane to the southward of the s.h.i.+p and extending in an easterly and westerly direction, but owing to the haze and light snow I could not be sure; this morning the lane was distinctly visible and appeared to be two or three hundred yards wide and two miles long.... At 6 p.m.

loud pressure-noises would be heard from the direction of the open lane and continued throughout the night. Shortly after 8 o'clock the grinding and hissing spread to our starboard bow (west-south-west), and the vibration caused by the pressure could be felt intermittently on board the s.h.i.+p.... The incessant grinding and grating of the ice to the southward, with seething noises, as of water rus.h.i.+ng under the s.h.i.+p's bottom, and ominous sounds, kept me on the qui vive all night, and the prospect of a break-up of the ice would have wracked my nerves had I not had them numbed by previous experiences.

"July 9.--At noon the sky to the northward had cleared sufficiently to allow of seeing Mount Melbourne, which appears now as a low peak to the north-west. s.h.i.+p's position is twenty-eight miles north-north-east of Franklin Island. On the port bow and ahead of the s.h.i.+p there are some enormous pressure-ridges; they seem to be the results of the recent and present ice-movements. Pressure heard from the southward all day.

"July 13.--At 5 p.m. very heavy pressure was heard on the port beam and bow (south) and very close to the s.h.i.+p. This occurred again at irregular intervals. Quite close to the s.h.i.+p the ice could be seen bending upwards, and occasional jars were felt on board. I am inclined to think that we have set into a cul-de-sac and that we will now experience the full force of pressure from the south. We have prepared for the worst and can only hope for the best--a release from the ice with a seaworthy vessel under us.

"July 18.--This has been a day of events. About 8 a.m. the horizon to the north became clear and, as the light grew, the more westerly land showed up. This is the first clear day that we have had since the 9th of the month, and we have set a considerable distance to the north-east in the meantime. By meridian alt.i.tudes of stars and bearings of the land, which proved to be Coulman Islands, Mount Murchison, and Mount Melbourne, our position shows seventy-eight miles (geographical) north- east by north of Franklin Island. During the last three days we have drifted forty miles (geographical), so there has been ample reason for all the grinding and growling of pressure lately. The s.h.i.+p endured some severe squeezes this day.

"July 20.--Shortly before breakfast the raucous voice of the emperor penguin was heard, and afterwards two were seen some distance from the s.h.i.+p.... The nearest mainland (in vicinity of Cape Was.h.i.+ngton) is ninety miles distant, as also is Coulman Island. Franklin Island is eighty miles south-east by south, and the pack is in motion. This is the emperor's hatching season, and here we meet them out in the cheerless desert of ice.... 10.45 p.m.--Heavy pressure around s.h.i.+p, lanes opened and s.h.i.+p worked astern about twenty feet. The wires in the ice took the strain (las.h.i.+ngs at mizzen chains carried away) and carried away fair-lead bollard on port side of forecastle head.

"July 21, 1 a.m.--Lanes opened to about 40 ft. wide. s.h.i.+p in open pool about 100 ft. wide. Heavy pressure in vicinity of s.h.i.+p. Called all hands and cut wires at the forecastle head. [These wires had remained frozen in the ice after the s.h.i.+p broke away from her moorings, and they had served a useful purpose at some times by checking ice- movements close to the s.h.i.+p.] 2 a.m.--s.h.i.+p swung athwart lane as the ice opened, and the floes on the port side pressed her stern round.

11.30 a.m.--Pack of killer whales came up in the lane around the s.h.i.+p.

Some broke soft ice (about one inch thick) and pushed their heads through, rising to five or six feet perpendicularly out of the water.

They were apparently having a look round. It is strange to see killers in this immense field of ice; open water must be near, I think. 5.15 p.m.--New ice of lanes cracked and opened. Floes on port side pushed stern on to ice (of floe); floes then closed in and nipped the s.h.i.+p fore and aft. The rudder was bent over to starboard and smashed. The solid oak and iron went like matchwood. 8 p.m.--Moderate south-south- west gale with drift. Much straining of timbers with pressure. 10 p.m.-- Extra hard nip fore and aft; s.h.i.+p visibly hogged. Heavy pressure.