36 GREELY RELIEF EXPEDITION. 



a f resli southerly wind, in order to maintain a position in the largest 

 open water space that could be reached and held to avoid the nipping 

 floes. 



The anxiety of some forty hours was severe and wearing ; but little 

 sleep was obtained by the commanders, as it was possible at any 

 moment that both ships might be crushed and their crew, thrown 

 on to the ice. 



The movements'of the floes on this day occasionally opened tempt- 

 ing leads to the southwest of our position, which the energetic cap- 

 tain of the Artie could not resist, but which, unfortunately, caught 

 his vessel and squeezed her considerably. 



The Aurora and Wolf strove to make a similar movement, but, 

 fortunately for them, the ice closed before they could gain the lead 

 in which the Arctic was caught. It was reserved for them to get 

 through Melville Bay with the Eelief Ships, as the Arctic was left 

 behind and was never seen again by the Thetis. 



Fortunately, we were able to avoid dangerous nips during this in- 

 terval, when, to our satisfaction, the wind shifted and fell lighter, 

 and a promising lead in the direction of Cape York enabled us to 

 escape at 9 p. m., June 17, and to reach that coveted point at 5 a. m. 

 of the morning of June 18. In clearing a false lead and workiiig 

 through heavy ice the Thetis split her rudder by collision with a 

 heavy floe and was detained about an hour to effect repairs. The 

 two Scotch whalers, Aurora and Wolf, were in company and worked 

 ahead of the Relief Ships, and with them ultimately into a large open 

 water space, which was thought at the time to be the "north water." 

 Gaining this open water, the Bear being somewhat faster than the 

 Thetis, was sent ahead to land Lieutenant Colwell and three men to 

 communicate with the Cape York natives. This Lieutenant Emory 

 eft'ected about 6 a. m. , and sent the party 6 or 8 miles over the ice to 

 Cape York. I determined to remain with the Thetis to pick up 

 this party, and, therefore, instructed Lieutenant Emory to go to the 

 westward in search of a lead northward, and, if possible, to continue 

 on, examining Cary Island en route, and to await my arrival at 

 Littleton Island. 



The Bear, the Aurora, and the Wolf steamed westward about 

 6.30 a. m. 



At 7.30 a. m. the tide changed and the ice broke from the land, open- 

 ing a lead close up to Cape York, Avhere I found Lieutenant Colwell 

 interviewing a native, but no information could be obtained of Lieu- 

 tenant Greely's party. Taking Colwell's party on board the Thetis 

 continued by Cape York and onward through troublesome ice pack, 

 and reached Conical Rock about 3 p. m. the same day. A cairn was 

 erected on its western side containing a record for Lieutenant Emory 

 and Commander Cofiin. 



