706 APPENDIX 



were said to be exactly like the tin pots used on the North Pole expe- 

 dition by Peary. Boxes were made for the primus stoves, the ammuni- 

 tion was done up in packages of three hundred rounds each, one package 

 for each rifle, and the men were issued deerskins, which they were told 

 to tan and make into clothes for themselves. They knew nothing about 

 working deerskins and you should have seen the clothes they made. 

 When they put them on, went out into the cold weather and stooped 

 or did anything, split went their pants or shirt! In the meantime, the 

 native woman was making deerskin boots for everybody. I think she 

 made sixteen or eighteen pairs up to the time the ship was crushed. 



One night during the early part of December there was great excite- 

 ment on board. The ice began to move and did considerable crushing. 

 All hands turned out and got the dogs and sleds on board. But after 

 an hour or two it quieted down again and at daylight we found we 

 were in a big basin with ice crushed in ridges all around us. 



During this month there was considerable talk of Dr. Mackay, Mur- 

 ray and Beuchat leaving the ship and making their way to St. Peters- 

 burg. The Captain used to lie in his bunk nights and listen to them 

 talking it over. The Doctor seemed to be the leader and was advising 

 the rest to go as soon as possible. 



About the middle of December land was sighted to the southwest, 

 a long ridge of mountain tops which later proved to be Wrangel Island. 

 Herald Island was on the same line and at our distance (between fifty 

 and seventy-five miles, I should judge) we were unable to distinguish 

 one from the other. From the 15th on to the time that the ship was 

 crushed we were jammed up against the Siberian shore ice, but as the 

 wind was continuously from the north to east, we were slowly grinding 

 along to the west. Every few days we would have a scare; the ice 

 around the ship would split for a few feet and open up a little so the 

 ship would groan, and then it was all quiet for days. 



During all this time the two natives and myself were sealing in 

 the cracks which had opened. We got between forty and fifty seals, 

 so we were well supplied with fresh meat. When we left the place 

 where the ship was crushed we still had twenty seals left. 



There was nothing of a stirring nature as the days went by. We 

 could still see the mountains every clear day. 



The evening of January 4th the ship cracked like a shot and brought 

 everybody out on deck with a startled look. We found the ice had 

 split with a naiTow crack from the ship's stem right out ahead. When 

 we returned to the cabin there was a great discussion started among the 

 scientific staff. Each one had his theory about it but it seemed to be 

 finally decided that the tides were at the bottom of the trouble. The 

 Doctor asked me what I thought of it and I answered him that, as the 

 wind was blowing pretty fresh from the north, I thought that might 

 account for the pressure. Whenever there was pressure during our drift 

 there was always a discussion about it. 



