14 CEUISE OF THE STEAMER CORWIN. 



the officers and crew up between the Nanrhal and Bcvlena, these two vessels steamed to the south- 

 ward for the purpose of obtaining the relief and assistance of the U. S. steamer Cor win. At about 

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

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



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

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



The Bowhead was one of the strongest and best-built vessels in the fleet. She was but two 

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

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

 happen to her; yet in ten minutes she was a total wreck, and her ofticcrs and crew had only time 

 to escape scantily clothed. She was comnuiuded by Capl. E. E. Smith, formerly icepilot of tlie 

 a man with the reputation of being second to none in skill and knowledge of Arctic Corwin, navi- 

 gation. 



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

 vented its being seen until we were, close upon it. From this tirTie until near midnight of the L'L'd 

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

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

 and thick fog. At 11 p. m. the vessel was brought to anchor under Point Belcher near several ves- 

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

 boarded for the purpose of finding out the whereabouts of the crew of the Bowhead. I found 

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

 supiiosed 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 mysiHf of 

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

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

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

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

 performed aniotig heavy ground and drift-ice and between tlie shore and main ])ack, the 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 shij) Syren. I received from the same vessel two of the 

 Boichead'fmriiw. On the bark Wanderer one more wrecked man was found and three \Yere taken 

 from the steamer Orca. ' . 



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

 three on the Fleetwing, and three on the Ilunter. 



At 5 a. m. of the 24th the steamer Thrasher was s])oken and t wo of the wrecked men were taken 

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

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

 little danger we got near enough to speak them and found them to be the Gazelle and ]\lahel 

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

 the Corwin\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 squalls and overcast, threatening weather, and by the time I had reached latitude 71° 17' 

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



The j>ack was now moving inshore, and the leads began to close so rai)i(lly that 1 found it 

 necessary to order inci-eased 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 becajne alarmed and an exciting race of twi'uty miles between ice and steam comnieneed. 



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 

 passages, with rapidly turning screws, long streams of black smoke stretching out over the (piar- 

 ters, and all fore-and-aft sail bellying to the stiff southwest breeze, the steanu'rs were i)us!i('(l for 

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



