MOVEMENTS OF THE SHIPS. 311 



pervious masses of loose ice, and by forcing a passage 

 through impediments. One of the scenes, described by 

 Snow, in this part of the voyage illustrates its arduous- 

 ness and novelty : " We came to a heavy nip, and all 

 the vessels had to be made fast to a floe until a pas- 

 sage could be cleared. The Pioneer, immediately on 

 casting off the Resolute's tow-rope, was directed to dash 

 at the impediment, under full power. This she did 

 boldly and fearlessly, rushing stem on, and fairly dig- 

 ging her bows into it in a most remarkable manner. 

 Backing instantly astern, and then again going ahead, 

 she performed the same manoeuvre, fairly lifting herself 

 up on end, like a prancing war-horse. By this time the 

 nip was too heavy to be so broken, though both the 

 steamers had previously cleared many similar impedi- 

 ments in that manner. It was now, however, necessary 

 to resort to other means ; and, accordingly, parties from 

 every ship were sent on the ice to assist in blowing it 

 up, and removing the fragments as they got loosened. 

 The same plan as that, I believe, adopted in blasting 

 rocks, was here pursued. Powder was sunk to a certain 

 depth, a slow match applied, and at a given signal 

 ignited. Due time was allowed, and then the enormous 

 masses would be seen in convulsive movement, as 

 though shaken by a volcanic eruption, until piece upon 

 piece was sent in the air, and the larger bodies were 

 completely rent into innumerable fragments. The 

 steamers then darted forward, and with warps dragged 

 out the immense blocks that had been thus dissevered. 

 Several efforts had to be made by blasting and forcing 

 the ice before a passage could be cleared." 



On the 14th of August the Lady Franklin and the 

 Sophia were for a little while in company with the other 

 ships, and then, amidst deafening cheers, stood away, 

 under all sail, to the west. On the following night, 



