Year: 1873




were 50 complete, that no visit to tn,
ship was necessary before January 9th


when they went for a supply of wood


Fresh water was obtained in abundance


by collecting pieces of icebergs anG
melting them. Toward the end of the
winter, Chester suggested that some
means be agreed upon to extricate the
party from their periIous position. The
provisions gradually diminishing, and
fuel, of which only six tons had been
obtained from the ship, was nearly ex-
hausted. The Polaris was still avaiIa,
BILE for materials, and it was now pro-
posed to build two boats. A survey. by
Chester, showed that the lining of the
cabin could be used, and this was
accordingly stripped off.


During the spring months, with the
thermometer at % degrees below zero,
and often in binding drift, the build
ing of boats went on. The situation
grew daily more discouraging, but work
relaxed and the courage of the men
never failed. Advancing steadily, the
crew was ready to depart by the end of
June, and determined to push south
ward. Just at this mement, when every
thing was in readiness, they were alarm
ed by the appearance of scurvy. Hap
PLY, however, the attack proved slight,
and plentiful supply of walrus liver,
which they obtained from the Esqui-
maux, enabled them to avert disease.
When the boats were launched they
leaked a good deal, but the men deter
mined to trust them, and slowing aboard
all their remaining provisions and am
munition, they said farewell to Life
boat Cove. If not perfectly tight, the
boats proved themselves excellent sail
ers and remarkably easy to row, and on
the first day the voyagers reached Son
tag bay. After remaining there a short
time to regain their strength, the party
made for Hakenyt island, where the ex-
peditiOn was brought to a stand still by
tremendous gale, which blew for three
full days, with continuous fall of snow
for all that time. Immense focks of
auks, bird of the penguin species,
were encountered here, however, and
the men could easily take up guns and
kill ten of them at a shot. There was
a plentiful supply of fresh provisions,
which were very thankfully received.
Occasionally their tiny crafts were
sadly beset, and it was feared they
would come to grief, but they were
among the ice and there was nothing to
be done but to force a passage south
ward, at all hazards. After enduring
many privatiOns and encountering perils
from which their escape seemed almost
they succeeded at last,
through great exertions, in reaching
Cape Parry. An encampment was made
every night, and when the labors of the
day were over, their boats were hauled
upon foe and everything taken out
and the only hot meat of the day pre-
pared. The apparatus employed in
cooking was of the most primitive kidd.
Each boat carried a quantity of rigging
from the POIaris and a can of oil, and
fire was made in the bottom of an old
bucket. Tea was the only thing that
could be made with such an apparatus.
They state that the privations they suf-
fered were serious. The life was rough
and Iaborious, but though dangers oc-
casionally presented themselves well
calculated to inspire greatest fear, no
serious accident occurred, and on the 21st
of June the boats reached Cape York in
safety. Here they were again close be-
set with ice. On the 23d their troubles
came to an end. A whaler was deserted
a few miles eff, and the whole party was
at once in a turmoil of excitement. A
great fear seemed to take possession of
them at once that the ship might get
away before they could make themselves
seen, and they put forth every effort to
push through the ice with the least pos
sible delay. The vessel proved to be
the Ravenscraig of Dundee, Capt. Al
Ian. She soon saw their signals and
Capt. Allan sent a crew to their assis-
tance and took on board their effects
and one of their boats, the others being
left behind. Capt. Allan treated them,
they all say, in the kindest and most
generous manner.