43 



fall at every successive blow ; and the destruction of the ships 

 seemed inevitable from the tremendous shocks they received. 

 By backing and filling the sails, we endeavoured to avoid 

 collision with the larger masses, but this was not always 

 possible ; in the early part of the storm the rudder of the 

 Mrebus was so much damaged as to be no longer of any use ; 

 and about the same time I -was informed by signal that the 

 Terror's was completely destroyed, and nearly torn away from 

 the stern post. We had hoped that, as we drifted deeper into 

 the pack, we should get beyond the reach of the tempest ; 

 but in this we were mistaken. Hour passed away after hour 

 without the least mitigation of the awful circumstances in 

 which we were placed. Indeed, there seemed to be but little 

 probability of our ships holding together much longer, so 

 frequent and violent were the shocks they sustained ; the loud 

 crashing noise of the straining and working of the timbers 

 and decks, as she was driven against some of the heavier 

 pieces, which all the activity and exertions of our people 

 could not prevent, was sufficient to fill with dismay the 

 stoutest heart that was not supported by trust in Him who 

 controls all events ; and I should commit an act of injustice 

 to my companions if I did not express my admiration of then- 

 conduct on this trying occasion ; throughout a period of 28 

 hours, during any one of which there appeared to be very 

 little hope that we should live to see another, the coolness, 

 steady obedience, and untiring exertions of each individual 

 were every way worthy of British seamen. The storm gained 

 its height at 2 p.m. when the barometer stood at 23-40 inches, 

 and after that time began to rise. Although we had been 

 forced many miles deeper into the pack, we could not perceive 

 that the swell had at all subsided, our ships still rolling and 

 groaning amidst the heavy fragments of crushing bergs, over 

 which the ocean rolled its mountainous waves, throwing huge 

 masses one upon another, and then again burying them deep 

 beneath its foaming waters, dashing and grinding them 

 together with fearful violence. The awful grandeur of such 

 a scene can be neither imagined nor described, far less can 

 the feelings of those who witnessed it be understood. Each 

 of us secured our hold, waiting the issue with resignation to 

 the will of Him who alone could preserve us and bring us 

 safely through this extreme danger ; watching with breathless 

 anxiety the effect of each succeeding collision, and the 

 vibrations of the tottering masts, expecting every moment to 

 see them give way, without our having the power to make an 

 effort to save them." 



Compare with this the following extracts from a paper read 

 at the Royal Scottish Geographical Society's meeting at 

 Edinburgh, in January of this year, by Mr" W. S. Bruce, 

 Naturalist to the steamship Balcsna during the expedition of 



E 



