696 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



Turned to at 1.30 p. m.. and I saw a chance to g-et 

 around to the left of the floe island. Started ahead, 

 but just as I got the first cutter to a narrow opening in 

 the before closed ice neck, the ice came together with 

 a snap and stopped me. Turned back to our dinner 

 place and discharged the boats, and loaded the provi- 

 sions on the four sleds. Then we all (except Danen- 

 hower) took hold at three p. m., and in one fleet dragged 

 the sleds across the floe island. By this time the ice 

 neck to the right had opened, and I was able to pull 

 the boats around to where the sleds were, and again 

 loaded up. Proceeded again on a general S. S. W. 

 course, and, upon coming to a closed place, unloaded, 

 carried things along on our shoulders, dragged boats 

 over, reloaded and resumed our journey, — making by 

 5.30 p. m., when I camped, a distance of two miles 

 more, or five miles for a clay's work. 



Wind S. S. W. Temperature 28°. Hard floe for 

 camp. No further progress possible to-night, but a 

 promise for to-morrow. 



COPY OF ORDER TO MELVILLE. 



U. S. Arctic Expedition. 



Cape Emma, Bennett Island, 



Lat. 76° 38' N., Long. 148° 20', E. 



August 5th, 1881. 



P. A. Engineer -Geo. W. Melville, U. S. Navy : 



Sir, — We shall leave this island to-morrow, steering a 

 course (over ice or through water, as the case may be) south 

 magnetic. In the event of our embarking in our boats at any 

 time after the start, you are hereby ordered to take command 

 of the whaleboat until such time as I relieve you from that 

 duty, or assign you to some other. 



Every person under my command at this time, who may be 

 embarked in that boat at any time, is under your charge, and 

 subject to your orders, — and you are to exercise all care and 



