Report on the Danmark expedition to the north-east coast. 61 



"Still, wordless parting with Marie in Eske Fjord. Farewell, 

 live well and happy return", wiites Mylius-Erichsen in his diary 

 on that day, little thinking that it was the last farewell in this life. 



From Eske Fjord the course was set eastwards round Jan Mayen, 

 which the Expedition sighted on the 27th at 3.15 p. m. 



The scientific investigations, which had already made a small 

 beginning after leaving the Færoes, were now carried on with great 

 energy after Iceland was left behind, to the extent the conditions 

 permitted. 



On July 23rd the dogs were counted and it was found, that 101 

 to 102 full-grown dogs were onboard with 12 puppies. Up till that 

 time the Expedition had only lost 4 dogs; one overboard and drowned, 

 2 bitten to death by the other dogs, one of these, however, before 

 coming onboard the Danmark, and one shot as useless. 



After passing round Jan Mayen, the whole crew were divided 

 among the boats before entering the ice. A complete equipment with 

 all belongings and stores was made ready for each boat. Further, 

 each man was told what he should take and do in the cases that might 

 arise. The Expedition was thus prepared for the worst eventuality, 

 fortunately also but little probable, namely, that the vessel might 

 practically without warning and almost instantaneously be crushed 

 in the ice. 



It appears from Mylius-Erichsen's diary, that it was his inten- 

 tion to penetrate into the ice about the 74th degree of latitude and 

 from there, if possible, set the course for Cape Bismarck. He writes, 

 namely, in his diary for July 27th. "In 3 or 4 days we shall enter the 

 ice, perhaps earlier — as it may possibly be of advantage to enter 

 at 74° instead of at 76°, where perhaps the way is blocked and we 

 may miss a chance. From 74° we may then endeavour to penetrate 

 as far north as possible in the direction — conditions permitting — of 

 Cape Bismarck, where we must look for good winter quarters, as the 

 year is so far advanced. Have discussed the matter wdth Ring, Koch 

 and Trolle. — We are all agreed". 



From Jan Mayen the course was therefore set N. E. by N. until 

 the 29th and then due N. and N.N.W. until July 30th, 3 p.m., when 

 the ship stood into the ice. The estimated position of the ship was 

 then 74°30' N. lat. and 3°10' W. long., but in all probability it was some- 

 what more to the south, as the sky had been overcast right from Jan 

 Mayen with haze or fog and no astronomical observations could be 

 taken. It was not until August 1st that an observation was made 

 of the latitude and then the position was 20 minutes south of the 

 estimated. 



The ice, which at the beginning had only consisted of small ice, 

 gradually changed to large ice-floes, which in the end completely hem- 

 med in the ship. 



