50 ' ' MARION ' ' EXPEDITION TO DAVIS STEAIT AND BAFFIN BAY 



the instruments. There was little opportunity for amusement or 

 diversion on a small vessel like the Marion, so it is small wonder that 

 during' the last month we had sometimes detected long faces on many 

 of the men who were most eager, early in July, to seek Arctic romance 

 and adventure. 



The American consul at St. John's did his utmost to help us after 

 our arrival. Everyone we met, in fact, was extremely kind and 

 cordial. The commanding officer made official calls on the governor 

 and the mayor. Fresh water and stores were taken aboard. Hun- 

 dreds of people came down to the wharf where the Mar/on was 

 secured, and once more the caged polar bear, Marion, proved a center 

 of attraction. 



At 4 p. m. on September 12, after a one-day stay, the Marion 

 departed from St. John's and headed southward. Full speed was 

 rung up on both motors, enabling us to round Cape Race by 10.30 

 p. m. Once past this headland, the Marion was steered toward the 

 west and home. Fine weather continued on the morning of the 13th, 

 but during the afternoon there was fog and rain. Throughout most 

 of the 14th and 15th the ship ran before a northeast gale. Speed 

 Avas never slackened, and with all four sails set and straining the 

 now lightly loaded ship rolled and twisted, steadily covering the 

 tedious miles. 



About noon on Se])tember IG Nantucket Sound was entered. It 

 was very good to feel the warm land breezes and to see the green 

 shores of the United States again. x4.t 4 ]). m. the Marion tied 

 up to the steamboat wharf at Vinej^ard Haven, Mass., the home 

 of the commanding officer. While he was ashore in the evening 

 crowds of sunnner visitors and island residents came down to look 

 at the ship. 



On Sejitember IT man}' visitors Avere shown about on board. The 

 public-school children were marched down by classes. After look- 

 ing at the bear and the various scientific instruments, each class 

 was told of the trip through the northland and shown an imposing 

 array of souvenirs that had been obtained in the land of the Eskimo. 



The night of September 17 was spent running to the westward. 

 At 6.25 a. m. on September 18, 1928, the Marion moored to the 

 State pier in New London, Conn., her home station. The intensive 

 T3-day cruise to the Arctic Avas finally ended. 



The bear in the Avell-strengthened bear cage aft Avas shipped by ex- 

 press to the National Zoo at AVashington, D. C, and the scientific in- 

 struments were dismantled and put in storage ashore. In a few days 

 all the extra personnel had been transferred and the ship Avas ready 

 for her regular service again. 



The Marion proved ideal for the work and could not have been 

 better if especially constructed for the expedition. She is a fine sea 

 boat, capable of operating almost anyAvhere in the Avorld. The 

 fact tliat not once in all her cruising in the Arctic, thousands of miles 

 from machine shops and supplies, had there been a breakdoAvn of her 

 motors, speaks eloquently for the reliability of the machinery installa- 

 tion. The Hill-Diesel, although hea\dly taxed Avith furnishing power 

 for the Avinches at every station, never faltered. The Delco generator 

 also functioned well, but Avhen Ave got started on the lines of stations 

 Ave found the extra output from the Hill Avas sufficient to keep the 



