332 PROMOTION OF ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC DISCOVERY. 



June 17, 1893, the Aurora was in tlie north water of Baffin Bay, and 

 sighted a wreck on the most southeastern of the Gary Islands. A boat 

 was sent on shore, and the schooner Ripple was found driven on the 

 beacli, and almost buried in ice. Not far from the wreck there was a 

 heap of stones covering the dead body of a man, probably the Dane, 

 Karl Kaun. Close by there was a large cairn, in which a tin pot was 

 found, containing open letters from Bjorling. It appears that he 

 reached the Cary Islands on August IC, 1892, so that the voyage from 

 Godhavn occupied a fortnight, and he crossed Melville Bay in a single 

 day. On the following day the Ripple was driven on shore while they 

 were engaged in taking provisions on board from the depot of Sir 

 George Nares, apparently with the intention of wintering on the coast 

 of Ellesmere Land. Up to this time all appears to have gone well, but 

 the unforeseen calamity of the loss of their vessel must have destroyed 

 all their antici]>ations of success. They were obliged to remain several 

 weeks at the Cary Islands owing to bad weather; but eventually Bjorl- 

 ing* resolved to undertake the voyage to Cai^e Clarence or Cape 

 Faraday on the western side of Baffin Bay, in an open boat, buoyed 

 with the hope of meeting Eskimos. In his letter he said that he hoped 

 a whaler would visit the Cary Islands in the following summer, and 

 that he would consequently try to return with his people by July 1, 

 1893. He added, addressing the captain of the supposed whaler, " I 

 shall be very much obliged to you if you would go to Clarence Head 

 (50 miles oft"), where I shall leave in a cairn information relative to our 

 fate during the winter. Our provisions, if I can not find Eskimos, will 

 not last beyond January 1. We are now five men, of whom one is 

 dying." The date is October 12, 1892. The Aurora found that Clar- 

 ence Head could not be approached in June within 20 miles, and she 

 made no further attempt to comply with Bjiirling's request later in the 

 season. 



The conduct of the two heroic lads was admirable throughout. There 

 was the usual risk and danger of Arctic work in their project, but no 

 more, before they lost their vessel. Their message is most touching. 

 Not a sign of fear, not a word of complaint, but the simple words of 

 brave men, most pathetic in their simplicity. There is one circumstance 

 which is worthy of notice. The eastern side of Baffin Bay is within 20 

 miles of the Cary Islands, and friendly Eskimos are well known to have 

 settlements there. Yet Bjorling and Kallstenius chose to go in an open 

 boat to the northern side, which is 50 miles oft", and where the presence 

 of Eskimos was uncertain. There can only be one reason. The west- 

 ern side was Ellesmere Land, the appointed place of their work, and 

 even in their dire extremity they resolved to go whither duty pointed. 

 It was not foolhardiness, nor thoughtless enthusiasm, but a sense of 

 duty, which pointed the way. One of the most experienced of our 

 Arctic officers thus wrote on the subject: "It is evident that Bjorling 

 must have had good sterling qualities, to induce two Englishmen to 



