.30 GREELY RELIEF EXPEDITION. 



the morning of May 27, when we escaped from the grinding pack to 

 the "land water" under Hare Island. 



Before venturing into the ice pack with its uncertainties and its 

 hourly perils, sixty days' supply of provisions was got up from below 

 and stowed opposite each boat. Knapsacks were served out with a 

 complete set of underclothing and foot gear. 



Rigid instructions were given that the articles contained in them 

 were not to be disturbed for any purpose except after abandonment 

 of ship. The hatches were kept ready for removal at a moment's 

 notice in order to get at provisions and clothing to throw on the ice 

 in case of dangerous nips. Officers and men were detailed for each 

 boat with instructions what to carry to them, and every arrangement 

 made to avoid confusion in hasty abandonment. 



The tidal movement of ice in and about the Waigat Straits and 

 through Melville Bay gave a very dangerous impetus to the heavy 

 bergs and floes of this sea. To attempt to avoid them by seeking 

 more westerly water was to push out into the polar pack with every 

 chance of being beset and drifting helplessly back throiigh Davis' 

 Strait. Under such circumstances the risk of holding on to icebergs 

 to await favorable winds and tides to open leads was to be preferred, 

 though it must be admitted that great anxiety^ was always felt lest 

 these monsters should fall over on the vessel. This was possible with 

 any change of wind or current. While lying under the lee of an 

 enormous berg near the Waigat Straits to escape the force of drifting 

 floes, it suddenly pivoted, exposing the ship to imminent danger of 

 being crushed. The ship swung rapidly around, carrying away her 

 head gear and figure-head. Lines were cast off immediately and the 

 ship was worked safely into open water spaces between . the floes 

 toward the land water in the direction of Hare Island. To gain this 

 water it was necessary to ram our way through the lighter floes and 

 to blow the way with torpedoes through the heavier. At last the 

 ship gained the open water under Hare Island and was able to keep 

 in it by standing north and south along the land until the afternoon 

 of May 37. At this date a northerly gale set in at Godhaven and 

 with it the Loch Garry sailed northward, falling in with the Thetis 

 at Hare Island about 9.30 p. m. The following day (May 28) at 5 

 a. m. the Thetis and Loch Garry took to the -pack oif Hare Island, 

 working with much difficulty and delay to ISToursoak, followed by 

 the Dundee whaler Wolf. Finding the ice had opened somewhat in 

 the Omenak Fiord the' Thetis continued to the northward, ramming, 

 where necessary, to gain leads or to make a passage for the Loch 

 Garry. Fog prevailed for a time in the morning and greatly in- 

 creased the difficulties of navigation. At 5 p. m. a heavy snow storm 

 set in, accompanied by a fall of temperature below the freezing point 

 of Fahrenheit. The water about the ship was coated with young 

 ice, the rigging was covered with rime. Notwithstanding these dif- 



