FARTHEST NORTH WITH GREELY 



Owing to the fact that our supply of provisions was 

 nearly consumed, Lockwood reluctantly decided that we 

 would remain at this point only long enough to make a 

 satisfactory determination of our position and then turn 

 homeward. From our observation at Mary Murray Island 

 we knew that we had attained a higher northern latitude 

 than had ever before been reached, and that we stood on 

 land farther north than any that had been known or sup- 

 posed to exist. We unfurled the glorious Stars and Stripes 

 to the exhilarating northern breeze, with a feeling of ex- 

 altation impossible to describe. We shook each other's 

 hands from very joy, and even hugged the astonished 

 Eskimo, who wondered what it was all about. 



We had struggled hard for many days through storm 

 and blinding drifts which gave us only momentary glimpses 

 of the outlines of the rugged coast along which we groped 

 our way, and we naturally felt elated over the satisfactory 

 issue of our endeavors. For three centuries our English 

 brothers, by dint of energy, unflinching perseverance, and 

 dauntless courage had held the supremacy of the farthest 

 north over all others, and we could hardlv realize that the 

 honor had now been transferred to our little party. 



We received material assistance from the maps and 

 sketches made by Lieutenant Beaumont, R. N., of the 

 Greenland coast as far north as Cape Britannia, and these 

 sketches were the more appreciated, knowing as we did 

 the distressing circumstances under which they had been 

 prepared. 



Soon after camping, the storm recommenced and we re- 

 tired to our tent to work up our notes and to obtain some 

 much-needed rest. The wind blew all night in fitful gusts, 

 threatening at times to tear our tent from its fastenings. 

 The next morning we were surprised at a visit from a snow- 

 bunting, which came fluttering about the tent in the driving 

 storm, uttering its cheerful chirp and then flying away to 

 the cliff above us. 



During breakfast the wind subsided and snow began 

 falling in great flakes. Soon, however, the storm ceased, 

 the sky cleared, and the sun came out brightly, but unfor- 

 tunately too late for a meridian altitude. 



Had we not been detained by the storm at Mary Murray 



75 



