198 



THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



Melville built a cairn, and buried a square, copper case con- 

 taining copies of the New York Herald brought from New- 

 York by Mr. Collins, and a copper cylinder containing official 

 documents, the latter being a record of Captain DeLong's 

 determination to stay by the ship to the last moment. He 

 announced in them his determination to stand by the ship 

 as long as possible, as he was in hopes of making a high 

 latitude during the following summer. We were all very 

 glad when Melville got back, for the ice had commenced to 

 swing around the corner of Henrietta Island very rapidly, 

 the land to the westward of Bennett Headlands coming out 

 rapidly, and keeping Collins and Newcomb busily sketching 

 as the view changed. 



A SKETCH. 



The ship continued drifting to the northwest rapidly 

 until June 10th. During this time the ice in which she was 

 imbedded began to crack, and the area of the piece was 

 decreasing rapidly. We knew that the important moment 

 was coming when the Jeannette would be liberated from 

 this cyclopean vice, and that her future would be more haz- 

 ardous than while in the monster's grip ; for it was impos- 



