THE SHIP SINKS. 115 



strain on the ship, heeling her over to starboard, and forcing 

 the deck-seams open. This continued during the day at in- 

 tervals until evening, when it was evident the ship could not 

 much longer hold together. The boats were lowered on the 

 ice, and provisions, arms, tents, alcohol, sledges, and all nec- 

 essary equipment for a retreat securely placed on the floe. 

 By six P. M. the ship had entirely filled with water, and lay 

 over at an angle of about twenty-two degrees, being kept 

 from sinking by the opposing edges of the floe. On the 

 morning of the 13th of June, about 4 o'clock, the ice opened 

 and the ship went down, with colors flying at the masthead. 



We remained six days on the ice organizing our system 

 and line of march south, during which time we had resumed 

 a rapid drift to the northwest. On June 24th, having 

 marched south one week and obtained observation for posi- 

 tion, we found we had drifted to latitude 77 deg. 42 min. 

 north --a loss of twenty-four miles northwest. 



We continued our march south and west, and finally 

 landed on Bennett Island, July 29th. Hoisted the national 

 flag and took possession of the island. It is located in north 

 latitude 76 deg. 38 min., east longitude 150 deg. 30 min. 

 We traversed the eastern end of the island. Left it 

 August 6th, and sighted the north side of Thaddeus (Fad- 

 deyev) Island, one of the New Siberia group, and remained 

 there ten days ice-bound. Landed on the south side of Thad- 

 deus Island August 31st. Left south end of Kotelnoi Island 

 September 6th. Camped in sight of Stolbovoi Island Septem- 

 ber 7th. Landed on Semenoffski Island September 10th. 



We left Semenoffski Island, September 12th, in three boats 

 for Barkin, at the Lena's mouth. Separated by a gale of 

 wind the same night. Made the shoals off Barkin on the 

 morning of September 14th. Made eastern entrance of Le- 

 na River September 16th, and camped in a vacant hut. 

 Made two days' journey, and on the 19th fell in with three 

 natives, who would not pilot us to a village. 



On the 20th I tried to proceed up the river, but found the 

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