‘what varied circumstances. 
066 
WINTERING IN THE ARCTIC. 
A suip may winter in the ice under some- 
She may be drift- 
ing in the pack during this time, unable to make 
a harbor, as in the cases of the Terror, Tegett- 
hoff, Jeannette, Fox, and others (this may 
happen under two conditions, that is, whether 
liberated or not from the pack; these cases 
have been already noticed) ; or the ship may 
be frozen in, in the hummocky pack, but not 
subject to drift, as in the case of the Erebus 
and Terror, off King William’s Land; or she 
may be safely ensconced in some good sheltered 
haven. In the first case, the most dangerous 
of all, it is seldom that any thing can be done 
but await events. A northward drift is a most 
perilous circumstance; and, although in the 
case of the Te- 
getthoff the crew 
ae eee 
SCIENCE. 
> 
[Vor. IL, No. 66. 
comfortable ; and Orel, the unhappy occupant 
of it, was often compelled to rush on deck, 
when the ice-pressures alarmed us, experien-: 
cing, in passing from his berth to the deck, a 
difference of temperature amounting to 189° 
F.’’ (Payer). The story of the Jeannette 
and the Terror also shows the miseries of un- 
banked vessels. In vessels properly ‘ banked,’ 
however, no such variations of temperature 
need be encountered, even in the severest 
weather. The illustration (fig. 1) showing the 
Germania wintering in the ice is given to show 
an improperly ‘ banked’ vessel, although well 
housed. Sketches (if they be accurate) of by - 
far the greater majority of exploring-ships 
wintering in the ice show the same (and gen- 
erally greater) lack of proper arrangements 
for keeping out the cold. A good contrasting 
picture is the one 
given (fig. 2) of 
the whalers win- 
managed to es- 
cape unscathed, 
tering at Marble 
it was only by a 
miraculous com- 
bination of favor- 
able events. The 
disaster to the 
Jeannette and her 
unfortunate crew 
shows better what 
Island, in North 
Hudson’s Bay ; 
they being experi- 
enced icemen, and 
aided by Eskimo 
in the snow-con- 
struction. The 
sketch was taken 
may usually be 
expected. It is 
tis, fact,» torwa 
oreat extent, that 
by Mr. Klutschak 
of... my papigs 
while in the bay 
during the winter 
has led so many 
of 1878 =7oeae 
arctic expeditions 
visited these ships 
to follow that con- 
tinuity of shore- 
land whieh Sis 
swept by south- 
ward-trending currents, in preference to all 
others. Many arctic sailors of experience have 
even strongly contended that it is a matter to 
be at once considered, when a ship is thus 
probably circumstanced, if she should not be 
immediately abandoned before the northing 
gained would seriously compromise all hopes 
of escape. Ina winter’s drift it is impossible 
to properly ‘ bank’ a vessel, as the incasing 
with snow-walls is generally termed, and it is 
consequently a severe labor to keep an equable 
temperature in the unprotected ship. In the 
case of the unfortunate Tegetthoff, ‘‘ while in 
the berth close by the stove there was a tem- 
perature ranging between 100° F. and 131° F., 
in the other there was one which would have 
sufficed for the north pole itself. In the former 
a hippopotamus would have felt himself quite 
that winter for a 
Fie. 1.— THE GERMANIA WINTERING IN THE ICE. 
short while, and 
lived in one the 
next winter for 
no inconsiderable time; and, although the 
temperature outside was about the usual mean 
of arctic wintering-harbors. that inside was 
comfortable in all parts of the ships. To con- 
trast with Payer’s statement above, I would 
say, that, while the cabin showed about 80° or 
85° F., the captain’s room, separated from it 
by a door with lattice shutter, would seldom be 
over five or ten degrees lower; while in the 
‘houses ’ built over the ships it was generally a 
little below freezing, and very comfortable for 
persons who spent a proper time out of doors 
for exercise. This ‘banking’ is most con- 
veniently done by Eskimo, when their services 
can be secured, as their superior ingenuity in 
snow-construction enables them to enclose the 
vessel in even several concentric snow-houses, 
thus securing the most equable temperature with 
