126 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. Septembi 



affectation or want of knowledge that can lead anyone 

 seriously to recommend an attempt being made 

 navigate through such ice. I can answer for all on 

 board the ' Alert ' having been most thankful again to 

 reach the land. 



During the late struggle, as well as on many 

 previous occasions, it was noticeable how futile the 

 efforts of the crew were to clear away the ice, which 

 impeded the movement of the ship on the bow or 

 quarter, compared to the enormous power exerted by 

 the ship herself when able to ram her way between 

 the pieces even at ordinary speed. Thus, steamers are 

 enabled to penetrate through a broken-up pack which 

 the old voyagers, with their sailing vessels, necessarily 

 deemed impassable. At the same time there is a limit 

 to the risks which are advisable to be run ; no ship has 

 been built which could withstand a real nip between 

 two pieces of heavy ice. 



Shortly after the ship was secured in her former 

 position to the firm ice in Lincoln Bay, the wind 

 gradually freshened from the S.W., blowing slightly 

 off the land ; accompanied with a snowstorm and a 

 threatening appearance of the weather. 



So far as we could distinguish through the snow 

 and mist, the main pack was driven by the gale to the 

 northward up the channel ; but knowing that it would 

 take some hours to produce a navigable passage past 

 Cape Union, I waited until the morning of September 1, 

 when with steam at hand ready if requisite, we passed 

 up the straits, running before a strong gale, nine knots 

 an hour, between the western shore and the pack, 

 which was driving quickly to the northward, at about 



