ioo THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



pack was again met at Cape Sumner. He then sent 

 instructions for the boat-party to return. The boats 

 were abandoned at Newman Bay, and the last of the 

 party returned to the Polaris on 22nd July. 



At the beginning of August, Budington determined to 

 start towards the south as soon as an opportunity presented 

 itself. This occurred on the 12th August at 4.30 p.m. 

 Next day a close pack was met, and the Polaris was 

 fastened to a large floe and allowed to drift slowly down 

 the channel. Cape Constitution was passed on the 14th. 

 During the rest of the month, and throughout the whole 

 of September, the drift southward was very slow. On the 

 12th October the Polaris was within 2 miles of Cairn 

 Point, and on the 14th Northumberland Island was 

 visible. During September and October a house was 

 built on the floe. 



On the 15th October a severe gale sprang up, and 

 preparations had to be made in case it was found necessary 

 to abandon the ship. During her drift southwards the 

 Polaris had been nipped several times, and was leaking 

 badly. During this gale she was again nipped so severely 

 that Budington ordered provisions and stores to be thrown 

 upon the ice. The Esquimaux women and children took 

 refuge on the floe. While some of the crew were carrying 

 articles to a safe place on the floe, the Polaris was 

 suddenly drifted away from the ice. So quickly did this 

 catastrophe take place that the floe-party soon disappeared 

 from view. 



Budington now called all hands to muster, and found 

 that fourteen men remained on board. The Polaris drifted 

 rapidly until toward midnight, when she ran into some 

 young ice, and her progress was stayed. Next morning 

 the ship's position was found to be half-way between 

 Littleton Island and Cairn Point. No trace of the 

 missing party could be seen. Later in the day the 



