reached a higher latitude than James Weddell had in 1823. On January 27 Franklin Island was formally possessed and on January 28 there was another surprise. Beaufort Island and Mt. Erebus Robert McCormick, EREBUS'S surgeon, described the discovery as "a stupendous volcanic mountain in a high state of activity". Dr. Hooker ran to grab his notebook and quickly wrote down his reaction: "All the coast one mass of dazzling beautiful peaks of snow which, when the sun approached the horizon, reflected the most brilliant tints of golden yellow and scarlet; and then to see the dark cloud of smoke, tinged with flame, rising from the volcano in a perfectly unbroken column, one side jet-black, the other giving back the colors of the sun....This was a sight so surpassing everything that can be imagined...that it really caused a feeling of awe to steal over us at the consideration of our own comparative insignificance and helplessness, and at the same time, an indescribable feeling of the greatness of the Creator in the works of His hand". The peak was 12,400 feet above sea level and was belching flame and smoke. Ross named it Mount Erebus and the smaller extinct volcano to the east, Mount Terror. As the ships sailed south, Ross saw a low white line "extending from its eastern extreme point as far as the eye could discern to the eastward. It presented an extraordinary appearance, gradually increasing in height, as we got nearer to it, and proving at length to