430 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



to take against the forward side of the casing. When 

 we ceased steaming last fall, the blades were left up 

 and down, and in our ice pressures they had been 

 turned about one eighth of a revolution. Fortunately 

 when the ice was removed we could get the blades to a 

 hoisting mark, although they would not revolve. So 

 we hove away, and to our satisfaction up came the 

 screw, and to our equal surprise and delight we found 

 it in perfect condition with not even a scratch. It was, 

 however, as bright as new copper, looking as if it had 

 been freshly scoured. With a view to learning what 

 the shaft's not turning was due to, I directed Melville 

 to turn the engines over wdiile the screw was up, and 

 it was found impossible to get the shaft any further 

 around than before. Ice may have formed and lodged 

 in the sleeve of the dead-wood, and as this can be de- 

 termined by removing the packing from the stuffing- 

 box, we shall probably know more about it to-morrow. 

 Lowered the screw again to its place, soon I hope again 

 to be employed in beating the water to drive us on to 

 the accomplishment of some worthy object. The con- 

 sequences to the ship by the removal of ice from under 

 the stern are logged by me as follows : — 



" The ship immediately went down in the water aft seven 

 inches, and came np fonvard one half incli ; the water-level 

 being now at a height ol seven feet two inches on the stem, 

 and thirteen feet nine and a half inches on the rudder-post. 

 The heel is now 8|° to stai'board, having been increased only 

 1° by the change of immersion. The ship is yet firmly held by 

 ice, which extends from the main rigging on the port side 

 around the bows, and to the after part of the fore rigging on 

 the starboard side, and which, where possible to measure, is 

 found to have a thickness of ten feet eleven inches. It prob- 

 ably extends under her keel, forming a cradle ; and though it 

 would perhaps be possible to haul the ship astern into a small 



