

156 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



among the crew took place. E. Starr, one of the seamen, 

 found a pair of wet soles on his sleeping-bag. He flung 

 them some distance on the ice, in a temper, and refused 

 to pick them up when ordered to do so by Melville. For 

 some time he also paid no attention to De Long, who at 

 once put him off duty. 



On the 15th July a seal was shot, and proved useful 

 both for food and grease for leaking boots. Another 

 seal was obtained on the 16th, but on the other hand 

 270 lb. of pemmican was lost through the capsizing of 

 a dog-sledge. On this day also De Long was unfortunate 

 enough to break through the ice when jumping across an 

 opening, and went up to his neck in the water. 



On the 20th July a walrus was shot and secured. The 

 choice pieces were used by the party, and the rest went 

 to the dogs. The skin was cut into pieces and divided 

 for boot-soles. They had now to contend with a moving, 

 rotting pack, and they were greatly hindered by fog. 

 Leads were continually opening and closing, and large 

 blocks of ice were being swirled around, and carried first 

 west and then east. On the 24th they had the good 

 fortune to kill a bear. On the 25th land seemed quite 

 close at hand, but after working 24 hours they had again 

 to camp on the ice. Fog delayed the next start till the 

 evening of the 27th, when they again hoped to reach land, 

 but within half a mile of it they were stopped by broken 

 ice, and had again to camp. On the 28th, after great 

 difficulties, the land was at last reached. De Lone; took 

 possession of it in the name of the President of the United 

 States, and named it "Bennett Island." After crossing the 

 180th degree of longitude, De Long should have advanced 

 his date one day, but he did not do so, as the Jeannette 

 was sometimes drifted east and sometimes west of this 

 line. At Bennett Island he corrected the date, so that 

 possession of it was taken really on the 29th July. 



