" MARION " EXPEDITION TO DAVIS STEAIT AND BAFI IN BAY 33 



At 8 a. 111., as soon as we were out of the worst of the pack, we 

 headed northwestward in a final effort to approacli close to the shores 

 of Baffin Island in the present latitude. The air was so remarkably 

 clear that the hi<>:h land to the southward of Cape Dier and due 

 west behind Cape Walsinghaiii could be seen in detail plainly, though 

 our observations showed it should be over 40 miles away. Close 

 packed ice was soon encountered, and it was impossible to make much 

 progress toward the beckoning peaks, glaciers, and snow fields. 

 After bucking the ice for two hours, the last attempt to reach Cape 

 Dier was abandoned and the vessel w^as headed south-southeast 

 toward the open water in the center of Davis Strait. 



One large polar bear and several seals were seen on the ice, and in 

 the water between the floes thousands of murres and dovekies were 

 SAvimming about in pairs. The bear showed up cream-colored against 

 the dazzling whiteness of the pack ice, just as the three bears of the 

 previous day had done. No animals were shot because of the addi- 

 tion of several hundred pounds of bear meat to the larder on the 

 previous day. 



During the early afternoon the ship cruised south-southeastward 

 through the ice, the floes becoming more and more sej^arated by open 

 water. When a few miles from the edge of the pack, the ship was 

 stopped near one of the numerous bergs long enough to permit photo- 

 graphs of the Marion and the pack ice to be taken. (See fig. 25.) 



For some time before making the above stop a slight swell from 

 the southeast had been noticed. It grew stronger as the edge of the 

 pack w^as approached, making loud, gurgling noises about the edges 

 of the rolling ice cakes. By 5 p. m. the last of the small pans were 

 left behind. A few bergs were sighted outside the limits of the 

 pack ice, however, and until evening iceblink and damp vapor rising 

 from the ice and cold water to the westward could be seen. 



Very foolishly, just before the pack ice was left, the hatch to the 

 forehold w'as slightly opened to enable the captive bear to get light 

 and ventilation. It was believed that the weight of the steel hatch 

 cover, high over the bear's head, would prove sufficient restraint to 

 keep it a prisoner. In a short time, however, the officer of the deck 

 saw from the bridge that the bear's head and paws were prying the 

 hatch cover farther open. An instant later the bear squirmed its 

 way free and began running about the forward deck. The alarm was 

 given and officers and men rushed madly forward to keep their prize 

 from getting away. Four times the bear tried to leap over the rail 

 into the sea, but each time it was pulled back by the hair on its hind 

 legs. On one of these occasions it turned and severly bit the hand 

 of its restrainer before he could let go. An attempt was made to 

 throw a blanket over the bear's head, but the big cub was too fierce and 

 quick. It tore tlie blanket aside, knocking down the man who was 

 holding it and ripping the back out of his coat. A lively fight ensued 

 until many men closed in on the bear and by force of numbers held it 

 helpless until it could be dragged to the hatch and thrown into the 

 forehold once more. 



A little later the bear w^as securely noosed by several lines and 

 lifted from the hold. It was dragged to a strong cage that had been 

 constructed of lumber and wire and wedged in amomr the oil drums 



