

VOYAGE OF THE POLARIS (1873) 101 



Polaris reached the coast, and was secured with heavy 

 hawsers to large grounded hummocks. 



On the 19th October two Esquimaux appeared at the 

 ship, and on this date it was decided to build a house on 

 shore. More Esquimaux arrived on the 21st, and they 

 gave great assistance in sledging articles to the shore. 

 The house was soon erected, and was used by the party 

 throughout the winter. Large numbers of Esquimaux 

 made frequent visits, and were very friendly with the party 

 during the whole time of their stay. 



Towards the end of February 1873 it was decided to 

 begin the construction of two boats in which the party 

 intended to make a retreat to the Danish settlements. 



On the 30th May almost all the land-ice broke away, 

 and with it the Polaris went adrift. She was carried 

 about 200 yards towards the south, when she again 

 grounded. At high tide her upper deck was 2 feet 

 under water. 



On the 3rd June 1873 the party set out for the south 

 in their two boats. On the 23rd of this month, in 

 Melville Bay, not far from Cape York, they were 

 gladdened by the sight of a whaler. It turned out to be 

 the Ravenscraig of Kirkcaldy, Scotland, owned by Ninian 

 Lockhart, and commanded by Captain William Allen. 

 The Polaris party were enthusiastically received, and were 

 treated with the greatest kindness. They were ultimately 

 taken to Dundee. 



We must now return to the party on the floe. It 

 consisted of ten Americans and nine Esquimaux. The 

 Americans were Tyson, Meyer, Herron, Jackson, Kruger, 

 Jamka, Nindemann, Aunting, Lindqvist, and Johnson. 

 They had two boats, two kayaks, a canvas boat, and some 

 navigation instruments, besides a moderate quantity of 

 provisions. 



Next day, after their separation from the Polaris, the 



