126 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



The condition of our vessel was a pitiful one indeed 

 and I must really confess that on this day at least I was 

 not free from worries as to our immediate future. Four 

 of our sailors had become disabled, among whom were 

 three who had become seriously injured externally; our 

 brand new sheet iron side coatings had given way and 

 could not be repaired on account of the prevailing frost. 

 Our running rigging was torn or, if not completely so, it 

 was worn out beyond remedy and in this case too the cold 

 forbade any attempt at repairs or renewal. The worst 

 feature of the situation was the condition of our sails, 

 it being truly distressing. Until we reached La Plata 

 the old sails had been in constant use, after which the 

 two topsails, fore and mainsails were replaced by new 

 ones, which had never been in service. But even these 

 new sails had suffered terribly, especially the big topsail, 

 which showed no less than eleven holes, large and small ; 

 that of the fore mast had become so threadbare that one 

 could have easily outlined the sun or the moon from be- 

 hind it. The only consolation in this hour of general dis- 

 tress was to be found in the fact that the body of our 

 vessel had suffered comparatively little, so that the water 

 at the pumps did not amount to much. 



Thus were we compelled to float till about two o'clock 

 in the afternoon on this lonely Sunday. 



The vessel was then put in repairs, first by replacing 

 top and jibsails which were set to the light Southwestern 

 wind; after this was accomplished, all hands were ready 

 to fix up the mizzen again, in which we succeeded by 

 seven o'clock; the breeze blew towards the North-North- 

 west. 



The night between Sunday and Monday, the 15th, was 

 the first one which passed somewhat quietly since we 

 passed the Strait Le Maire. We succeeded in making 

 good time during the forenoon and were even encouraged 

 to set the topsail to West by South. However, when two 

 o'clock came we were again overtaken by a severe storm, 

 accompanied by snow, coming from the South ; the former 

 cutting cold prevailed and this state of affairs continued 



