384 Northern Expedition. 



Rowe's Welcome (up which they wished to proceed), was di- 

 rectly against them, and nearly caused their shipwreck. South- 

 ampton Island was found to be laid down with tolerable accu- 

 racy. Off the S.W. end of the island the Griper was obliged 

 to anchor, in consequence of suddenly shoaling her water : in 

 a gale of wind she parted one anchor, but brought up again 

 with three anchors a-head in quarter less four fathoms water; 

 when the tide fell, the sea was so heavy that the rudder con- 

 tinually struck the ground, and was lifted almost out of the 

 gudgeons : this was on the 1st of September. On the weather 

 moderating, the Griper proceeded up the Welcome; but a 

 northerly gale of wind springing up, the ship was driven into 

 Hudson's Bay. However, by perseverance, and taking ad- 

 vantage of every favourable breeze of wind, she reached Cape 

 Fullarton, the larboard entrance of Wager River, and within 

 about 60 miles of the spot (Repulse Bay) where she was in- 

 tended to winter. The coast on the American main land was 

 found so rocky and extremely dangerous, that she was obliged 

 to stretch off for Southampton Island, whence she endeavoured 

 to make for Repulse Bay, but was driven by the tide directly 

 to the southward and westward, against what was supposed to 

 be Wager River. Here strong breezes and a heavy snow 

 storm set-in, which made it necessary that the ship should be 

 brought -to with three anchors a-head and made snu<j. The 

 sea rose rapidly, and broke over the ship with tremendous 

 force, forming thick coats of ice in an instant, so as to connect 

 the shrouds together half way up the rigging. The snow also 

 fell so fast that the men had much difficulty in keeping the 

 decks clear. The ship all this time pitched so dreadfully, 

 that the cables came over the bumpkins, one of which was 

 thereby broken. During the night a large stream of ice was 

 discovered coming down upon the ship, but, most happily, it 

 parted before it reached her, and some small portions of it 

 only struck against the bows, which did no damage. The 

 wind continued to increase, as well as the snow ; at five o'clock 

 in the morning, the starboard cable parted, and, on the ship 

 swinging to the other three anchors, she was struck by a sea 

 and parted from them all. Her situation at this time was the 

 most perilous that can be imagined, every individual momen- 

 tarily expecting that she would drive on shore. Means of pre- 

 servation, however, were not neglected ; the trysails were got 

 on her, though it was so dark that no object could be dis- 

 cerned, and they did not know so much as which way the 

 ship's head lay, from the compasses having ceased to act, the 

 ship being, as it is supposed, directly over or near the mag- 

 netic pole. — Whilst presuming, in this distressing dilemma, 



that 



