Year: 1873

did think when entrusring my hurried commu-
nication to the lonely Governor OF the loneliest
patch in ohristendom that ten days later 1t would
be my lot to complete the record Of voyage so
auspiciously begun. ne We q"


ADIEU TO rEssUIsAK.


SUNDAY MoRNINd.-The dense fog which hung go
heavely last night on land and water disappeared,
and as the launch steamed out between Brom Is
land and the main land the sun shone FORTH cheer
Ing all hands and imparting beauty to the scores
Of glittering icebergs that sparkled in it's rays.
Lieutenant De Long, the commander, had promptly
organized his party and divided them in two
watches, one consisting Of Lieutenant Clupp, H..
W. Dodge, Ice pilot; with Hamilton and Sheet, sea-
men; and the other OF himself ensign May and the
remainder of the limited crew, the Esquimaux being
Tor the present excluded This arrangement OF
watches was kept up during the entire cruise, the
officers and men working alike, and turning In and
out with each other. At four p. NJ Wedge Island was
passed to the westward and four hours later was
reported close aboard the position OF the boat then
being latitude 70 deg a. min. north, longitude 81
deg. west. It was calculated that with an expen-
diture OF 400 pounds OF coal day an average speed
Of four knots an hour could be made under steam
pressure OF twenty pounds, and. with view to
keep the fuel water for the boiler as fresh as pos
sble, steam pipe had been carried from the boiler
to the water tank for the purpose of melting fresh
water Ice which could be picked up on the way. 1t
was found, however, that the expenditure of steam
to melt the ice was too great to maintain the pro-
posed speed, and 1t was finally determined to sup
ply the boiler with salt water--an unfortunate
circumstance that reduced the fifteen days sup
ply OF coal to nearly 0ne-haf the original calcua-
ton. At four A. NJ, August T. the steam launch
passed inside Of


THE DUCK ISLANDS,


where 1t was intended the party should spend
some time shooting few dozen Of the millions Of
ducks that flock there; but the weather being fine
1t was deemed more advisable to push on. At
noon fresh breeze sprung up from the northward
and westward, and, making sail, the little craft
stood in for headland, supposed to be wilcox
Head The Old enemy the fog, set in very thick
as the Little Junata mot caring to fight the Ice
In the dark) was


ANCHORED TO AN ICEBERG,


and we hove to in gale Of wind, which,
even under comparatively snug circumstances,
Is at no time OF the day or night an
agreeable situation, but to be chained to
an icy monster, millions Of tons weight
monster which You are doing your utmost to
avoid-never fails to produce feeling OF awe and
uneasness. Suppose 1t should topple over ST.
lence pervades the little craft. and all await the
dissipation OF the gloomy mist with anxious hearts.
In making fast to an anchorage which is eftentimes
necessary, particularly when vessel is beset in
Ice, one Of the hands seizes an iron hook, or Ice
anchor, and plants 1t in the berg. To do this hole
is cut in the ce and into the hole the crown of the
anchor Is hooked. Alter hours Of anxious waiting
the fog cleared, and slipping from the berg, the
Little Juniata rounded the headland to the north.
The main object now was to get sight Of


THE DEVILS THUMB


from which 1t was determined to take fresh de-
parture for Melville Bay. word about the famous
Thumb 1t Is said to be an island, and from all
have seen and heard am inclined to believe
Greenland Is made Of islands. The base Of the
Thumb is said to be an elevation some /, 800 feet,
while the rocky excrescence itseli SO to speak,
rises GOO feet above Its base. In its vicinity are
two glaciers one about twelve miles wide and the
other about three. from which some of the In
icebergs that stud Banln's Bay take
their birth. The scene surrounding the DEVILS
Thumb is one OF bewildering desolation. 1t may
be here noted for the Information OF those who
may get into Allison Bay that the chart is wrong,
leaving 1t TO be imagined that the bay is free ex-
cept as to icebergs 1t Is filed with small islands
running along about fifteen miles from the glacier
line and extending from Cape seddon nearly
fifteen miles to the southwark toward Wilcox
Head. As night came on (strange word, with day
light all the timeI q fog shut In, obscuring the
land, much obstruction being then met with in the
shape Of pack Ice and icebergs as well as new ice
which was rapidly forming. There was danger
ahead, and, the log still holding on, the steam
launch attempted to retrace her way which she sue
ceeded In doing for several miles.


LOST IN THE ICE WILDERNESS.


Ploughing through Ice and fog the little steamer
worked her weary way. 1t was thought that at
least her former open sound could be reached.
Too late; the ice had closed. In vain did she rush
at and butt the hummocks to free passage. The
track was lost; she stood standstlll, prisoner,
hard and fast. Around circle OF thick Ice,
with here and there hugo bergs looming up In the
fog In the centre Of this desolaton Is the little
steam launch. Something must be done, and ap-
pretending worse results than mere temporary
imprisonment, the little craft Is rammed defantly
at the frozen barrier that surrounds. BY constant
and steady Jammng small cracks are made In the
foes, and by dint of perseverance she forces
her way by degrees, coming occasionally
into small open patches OF water and
among loose ice, and making perhaps a
mile or two before she Is again brought
up by the solid Ice. On missing the track the boat
was headed to the westward, for In that direction
the open water was to be found. The temperature
was below freezing point, the rigging was covered
with ice while the new ice was rapidly forming
around the launch and increasing In thickness
To stop was out Of the question. Aware that delay
in such an emergency would be fatal Lieutenant
De Long kept the Little Juniata under full steam
PRESSURE grinding and crushing through the ice In
all directions. The commander, moreover, was
fully sustained by Dodge, tie ice pilot, and the
plan OF keeping to the westward proved wise
one. At halfpast eight O'Clock the following morn
ing the little craft came into large space Of open
water and an hour later o slight swell beneath
gave indications that


THE OPEN SEA


was at hand. With the exception of some light
scratching and the spnterlng OF the strengthening
plank, little damage was done to the boat after
twelve hours OF incessant battling with o most
treacherous foe. The Little Juniata was then
headed to the northwest and, the fog clearing up,
by noon the Sabine Islands were sighted on the
starboard quarter, at the same time making out
glaciers beyond, to the northeast From all that
could be distinguished 1t thought that the ice