274 GENERAL ORDER. [CHAP.V. 



hundred miles of drift ice, it was obvious that 

 if any thing did happen, it would be as sudden 

 as in all probability it would be serious ; and I 

 therefore issued a general order to the officers in 

 charge of the boats, to the following effect : that 

 whenever it should be considered necessary to 

 lower the boats, they were to see them first 

 removed far enough from the ship's sides to 

 avoid accidents from any motion which might 

 be going on, and, if there were time, to lighten 

 them of the stores always kept there ; they were 

 then to be hauled to separate pieces of the 

 largest ice, and placed, together with the stores, 

 in temporary safety. The invalids (if the case 

 were urgent) were to be taken care of by the 

 crews to which they severally belonged, and the 

 medical officers were to see that such coverings 

 and protection from the weather were provided 

 them as the pressure of circumstances might 

 permit. A man was to be left in charge of eacli 

 boat and cargo ; after which, the officers and their 

 respective mates and crews were to return on 

 board and make their reports to me. 



On the 14th March the barometer continued 

 to fall, and the wind increased to a fresh gale, 

 accompanied by snow and much drift. At in- 

 tervals, indeed, the ship was quiet, but more 

 frequently cracked and strained, in a manner 

 that showed how severely she was suffering. 



