Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-11

And now it was UP to us 10 jump
over onto the Ice and make fast The
anchors hung ready from the bow,
spirit and finally all was made clear.
although several times that evening
the ship was flung astern by the force
Of the storm.
THE night was hard on ali Of us, blu,
worst for the sailors They stood
at the helm with no chance TO seek
shelter. Their ,clothes stiffened to
boards, and their faces froze like
coats OF mail between the edges OF
their caps and collars.
The storm neared Its height shortly
past midnight. and the boat was fune
around like a feather. Toward morn.
ing the wind fiattened out a little, but
the situation was still unchanged.
The ice drove to the south ut mad
pace. We had no longer the slight
est chance OF being able 70 sail fur.
ther. The ice lay closely packed to
the east and in toward the land there
was no water to be seen. so that we
had to stay where we were.
Some OF us sat together after sup.
per discussing the situation. There
was much to comfort us; we still had
cur ship, and we were far enough
away from the land to expect less VIC.
lent pressure. The Ice around the ship
had been uneasy at first, but we
hoped that 1t would soon quiet down.
suddenly shudder shook the ship
throughout her length. The ice again!
We lay with the stern between two
heavy hummocks which were putting
each other TO the test. They took not
the slightest notice Of the fact that
the Teddy was In the way. but
smashed their way persistentiy to-
creaking. grooming ship up into the
air.
The pressure grew stronger. and
there were several minutes when II
looked as IL the ship would be
crushed. All hands set about saving
the supplies. the timber. and what.
ever else we had on board. and get.
ting II out onto the ice.
BY midnight, when the pressure
lightefled little, we had at least two-
thirds OF our supplies out on the ice
field. The Teddy leaked q deal more
than before, but she did not seem to
have taken worse harm.
As we had so much Of our stores
out on the Ice, tie hunters offered TO
keep watch over 1t. They asked that
one of the nayigators should be with
them in case the ship and the foe
should be driven apart, but we had
not settled that question by l o'clock.
Then the ice took a hand in It,, I'm.
asked, and the hunters wish was
granted.
AS suddenly as before. the pres.
eye our heavy oak rudder was
smashed as easily as II 1t had been a
bit Of kindling wood. The old leak
aft sprang open again and few
other places. not discovered before,
let the water In in streams
AS 1t was impossible TO investigate
the extent of the damage at that mo-
ynent, the captain gave orders that
re should leave the ship at once and
70 to the depot on the ice. We put
out the lamps In our cabins and
sprang overheard.
/ have seldom experienced q worse
confusion than when II men went
hurrying over the white Ice held and
set about finding q place to sleep in
the bear and musk.ox skins that we
knew lay there. But unfortunately
we had quite forgotten to reckon with
the hunters, who had already settled
down there an hour earlier
TT was so dark that it was irnpos.
sible to see what we were step
ping on. If we found = nice piece II
generally seemed stuck fast TO the ice.
which was quite believable because
Of the hunter who was hanging on
for dear life 10 the bears. other end.
At last we found little coverlet Of
musk ok, so that we could get some
rest. 1t went down to 10 below that
night, and It was not surprising II
some Of us were bit cold. But 1t
taught us that one can be quite COM
Portable on an ice foe, even with
scailty means
AS the Teddy was unmanageable
after the loss OF her rudder, and also
leaking badly; It was now definitely
decided that we should stay on the
ice and set up a dwelling place there.
We had been expecting this sooner or
later. 80 that there was no discussion
about II.
And even when searched my mem.
Dry, or my notebooks, can and no
evidence OF there having been excite
ment on our part. In fact, most Of
US felt more comfortable on the ice
than on the Teddy. which hardly had
enough power OF resistance to endure
many more such nights. But this
does not mean that we had babe fare.
well to our ship. We worked the
pumps every hour. and she was
fastened broadside on our foe. "
Who knew II 1t might not be pos
sible sofnc fine day, after we had put
the eparc ruddAr IN place. that we
really could sail over to Iceland? OF
course. II would be aSlively pumping