14 CRUISE OF THE STEAMER OOEWIN. 



the officers and crew up between the Xarirhal and Bivlcna, these two vessels steamed to the soiitli- 

 ward for the purpose of obtaining the relief and assistance of the U. S. steamer Corwin. At about , 

 8 a. ni. on Wednesday, August 13, the fog lifted (it having been thick since leaving the wreck), 

 and we found ourselves about lifteen miles northeast of the coal mine near Cape Sabine." 



After leaving Captain Smith and a boat's crew the Nartchal steamed to Point Hope for the 

 jturpose of transmitting the news of the wreck to the Corwin through Lieutenant Howison. 



The Boichead was one of the strongest and best built vessels in the Heet. She was but two 

 years old, was constructed expressly for the service in which she was employed, and was one of 

 the last vessels that one familiar with Arctic voyaging would suppose would have an accident 

 hap|)eu to her; yet in ten minutes she was a total wreck, and her oflicers and crew had onlj' time 

 to escape scantily clothed. She was commanded by Capt. E. E. Smith, formerly ice-pilot of the^ 

 a man with the reputation of being second to none in skill and knowledge of Arcticis^nrtn^uavi- 

 gation. 



At 3 p. m.of the 21st we reached the ice, the dense fog which had been jirevailing having pre- 

 vented its being seen until we were close ui)on it. From this time until near midnight of the 122d 

 we were working to the northward through ice that continually grew heavier as we advanced. 

 Our progress was slow and laborious and was rendered doubly hazardous by changing currents 

 aiul thi(;k fog. At 11 p. m. tiie vessel was brought to anchor under Point Belcher near several ves- 

 sels, their ])resence having been made known to us by their bells. These vessels were immediately 

 boarded for the puri)ose of finding out the whereabouts of the crew of the Ihwhcad. I found 

 considerable excitement existing on these vessels, owing to the fact that several of the fleet were 

 supposed to have been carried by strong currents and drifting ice into the pack, and if such was the 

 case their loss was certain. Upon learning that the wrecked crew had been divided among the 

 other vessels and were therefore perfectly safe for the time being, I resolved to satisfy myself of 

 the truth of these alarming rumors and to offer all possible assistance to such as might require it. 

 The bark Ilclen Marr having anchored close inshore where drifting ice in a rapidly-moving current 

 was liable to drag her ashore, was, upon the I'equest of her master, towed to a safe position. One 

 by one the missing vessels were sought out until all were known to be safe. All of this duty was 

 performed among heavy grouiul and drift-ice and between the shore and main pack, tlu; latter being 

 only from six to fifteen miles distant from the former. Extreme care was necessary in handling the 

 vessel while working through these leads. I returned to the bark Dawn the four deserters belong- 

 ing to her whom I had received from the ship Syren. I received from the same vessel two of the 

 \Ii<)w}ua<r.s crevr. On the bark Wanderer one more wrecked man was found and three were taken 

 from the steamer Orca, 



The good services of our surgeon were called into requisition to attend one man on the l>airn, 

 three on the Fleetwing, and three on the Hunter. 



At 5 a. m. of the 24th the steamer Thranher was spoken and two of the wrecked men were taken 

 from her. At 7 a. m. two vessels apparantlj- in a dangerous jiosition close inshore were observed 

 and immediate steps taken to reach them. After considerable ditliculty and encountering no 

 little danger we got near enough to speak tliem and found them to be the (lazelle hih\ Mabel 

 Although firndy embedded in the ice, their masters did not consider their position one of peril, and 

 the Coricin\s head was again turned to the northward. 



During the afternoon of the 24th the wind had been freshening up from the westward with 

 snow s()ualls and overcast, threatening weather, and by the time 1 had reached latitude 71° 17' 

 north (ten miles distant from Point Barrow) I found further i)rogress impossible. 



The j)ack was now moving inshore, and the leads began to close so ra])idly that T found it 

 necessary to order increased speed and carry all sail to escape from the imminent danger that 

 threatened us. Just before we turned the steam-whalers that had ventured to the northward 

 with us became alarmed and an exciting race of twenty miles between ice and steam commenced. 



The leads most clear of ice were sought with as much care as the necessity for haste would 

 permit, but large cakes of ice frequently almost blocked up the way. Down through the narrow 

 ])assages, with rapidly turning screws, long streams of black smoke stretching out over the quar- 

 ters, and all fore aud-aft sail bellying to the stiff" southwest breeze, the steamers were pushed for 

 a position of safety. Now one would go full speed into some large piece, and when almost brought 



