640 BEACHED ON LITTLETON ISLAND. 



however, they realized their own extreme peril. The hold 

 was filling at a terrific rate, and the pumps were the only 

 means of relief. These were found to be frozen. After 

 considerable difficulty in making sufficient fire, water was 

 heated, and with this the pumps were thawed and got into 

 working order. The whole party, except the two fire- 

 men, went to work at the pumps with the energy of men 

 working for their lives. But all their efforts were inad- 

 equate, the water still gaining upon them. Meanwhile, 

 the firemen were faithfully endeavoring to get up steam 

 with such fuel as they had, which was not only poor in 

 quality, but sadly deficient in quantity. However, after 

 repeated failures they succeeded, and with steam the ves- 

 sel was not so entirely at the mercy of the wind. With 

 the water gaining on the pumps, and a scant supply of 

 fuel to keep up steam, it was evident to all that the only 

 course that offered escape from certain death was to run 

 the devoted ship ashore and desert her. But even this 

 was far easier to determine upon than to effect. Fortu- 

 nately, the wind had abated, and it became possible to use 

 the sails. With the combined power of the steam and the 

 sails, Capt. Buddiugton succeeded in carrying the vessel 

 into Life-boat Cove, and within about three miles of Lit- 

 tleton Island. The wind here happily shifted to the north- 

 east. Although it now seemed as if everything favored 

 the purpose of running the ship ashore on Littleton Island, 

 it nevertheless took twelve hours' hard work to beach her. 

 This was at last accomplished, and the men were set to 

 work getting out of her, and upon the shore, provisions, 

 clothing, coal and every movable thing that could be 

 serviceable in securing the safety and comfort of the party 

 during the period of enforced residence on the island. 



The absolute necessity for beaching and abandoning the 

 Polaris may be realized by noting her unseaworthy con- 

 dition. After the stores, etc., had been taken out of her,, 

 before the work of demolition commenced, a searching 



