Arctic Cruise of the U. S. 8. Thetis in 1889. 193 
of damage or abandonment. Fortunately, the steam-whalers 
remaining behind us did not have the pack set down upon 
them in the shallow bights in which they were cruising, and 
the long continued north-easter which aided us in our escape 
enabled them to find leads to get through, not very long after 
we had escaped. We remained at Point Barrow for a week until 
they had all returned, except the two most easterly ones, left at 
Herschel island. As their return was so uncertain, at the end of 
a week I dropped down to the house of refuge at Cape Smyth, 
landing provisions to fill the deficiency in their stores, and went 
to the westward, first going to Icy cape to erect a needed beacon 
as a warning of the vicinity of Blossom shoals. 
Leaving this vicinity on the 5th of September for the north- 
ward and westward, and rounding Blossom shoals, we stood to 
the north, reaching the supposed vicinity of the edge of the ice 
pack that night. As the nights were now dark we lay-to until 
morning, when the rapid fall of the temperature of the water 
and the lessening wind gave indications of its proximity, and a 
half hour’s steaming brought us to the rugged white outline of 
the pack. Along this we skirted, having reached our highest 
north {less than 72° N. latitude). 
All of that day and the next we continued our course, sighting 
a portion of the sailing fleet of whalers on the 7th. Communi- 
cating with them of our proposed movements and whereabouts 
during the rest of September and the beginning of October, we 
then stood to the westward. I must not forget to mention an 
interesting incident that occurred. A schooner stood down to 
us from the fleet, and was recognized as the schooner Jane 
Grey, picked up by the Thetis when under the command of my 
predecessor the previous summer in the ice—abandoned. She 
had been righted, pumped out, repaired, and restored to her 
owner, who had literally sold his farm and put his all into the 
vessel. As he came within hail our notification was given 
him, but I noticed that he fairly danced with impatience during 
its delivery, which was accounted for at the end of the message 
by his bringing out his men, who were gathered behind the 
foresail, and giving hearty and prolonged cheers for the Thetis 
which fairly rang in the silent Arctic air. To this we responded 
and then went on our way. 
We now left the pack and steered through open water for 
Herald island, which we sighted at half past twelve the next day, 
