BEECHEY ISLAND -THE CUTTER 'MARY.' 413 



an island at all, but that it constitutes the south-west corner of 

 North Devon ; from a distance, however, it has the appearance of 

 an island, as it is connected with the mainland by a very narrow 

 low isthmus. 



Soon after their arrival at Beechey Island they observed a 

 small bear, and Baumann loosed his dogs. They were probably 

 tired, for they were unable to stop it, and disappeared with their 

 quarry into the pressure-ice, where driving was impossible. 



Next day, May 5, they took the usual observations, and while 

 Fosheim was following the track of the dogs, Baumann and Eaanes 

 examined the English depot. The depot itself no longer existed. 

 Of the house, only the frame remained, with the lower rows 

 of the boarding with which it was covered. Packing-cases, 

 barrels, and tin boxes lay scattered about. The packing-cases 

 had been broken to pieces, most of the barrels had been cut 

 across, and all the tin boxes that were seen by the search party 

 had been opened by means of a sharp instrument : a knife or tin- 

 opener. Nothing fit for use of any kind was to be seen; every- 

 thing was empty and ruined. 



The cutter ' Mary ' can only be described as a wreck, although 

 the timbers were well preserved. The deck beams had been sawn 

 off, and the deck broken up. The mast had been sawn across about 

 three feet above the deck. In build she was planked diagonally, 

 and outside the planking was sheathed with zinc, but on the port 

 side both the sheathing and the planking were very much destroyed. 

 One lifeboat was still there, but it was not sea-worthy, although it 

 was in considerably better condition than the cutter. Every single 

 watertight bulkhead, however, and every single air-box had been 

 broken or hewn in two. On the shore lay a number of large 

 blocks, but nowhere was anything discovered that could possibly 

 be described as rigging or cordage. Everything in the shape of 

 sailcloth and oars had entirely disappeared. Snow was lying 

 here and there, and round the house especially there was a good 

 deal of it, so that possibly some things may have escaped the 

 notice of the party. Round the vessel, however, there was no 

 snow, and, according to Baumann, there is very little likelihood of 

 any cordage or oars being still there. 



