OP A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



121 



and in the cabins near the hatchways, commenced mst as it had done at a * 821 - 

 . i o m i i * m • Octobei 



similar temperature before. To remedy this evil, no time was lost in lighting 



a fire in the warming-stove upon the orlop-deck, every thing being previously 

 moved from its neighbourhood that was likely to create danger. The iron 

 tanks in the main hatchway were laid bare on the top, and the interstices 

 between them filled with sand, to form a secure platform in front of the fire ; 

 and the sail-room bulk-heads and stancheons covered with sheet copper. 

 Four steady men, of whom one was a petty officer, were appointed to attend 

 the fire in regular watches, being made responsible for the due expenditure 

 of the fuel, and for the safety of every thing about the stove. They had 

 likewise particular charge of the fire-engine, buckets, and two tanks of 

 water, all of which were kept in the hatchway in constant readiness in case 

 of accidents. In addition to these precautions, some general regulations 

 were established for stationing the officers and men in the event of fire ; 

 and a hole was directed to be kept open in the ice alongside each ship, to 

 ensure at all times a sufficient supply of water. 



In twelve hours after lighting the stove not a drop of moisture remained. 

 The stream of air in the vessel on the lower deck was rapid, constant, and 

 above 120° of Fahrenheit; that in the cabins near the apparatus about 100°, 

 and at the end of the flue in my cabin, at the distance of forty-six feet from 

 the air-vessel, it rose to 65° on the first evening, and on the two following 

 days to 70° and 72°. The mean temperature of the atmosphere at this time 

 was a few degrees above zero. To prevent the flues which were of sheet 

 iron from parting too readily with their heat, the most exposed parts, espe- 

 cially about the opening of the hatchway-door, were coated with fearnought, 

 a kind of woollen stuff which, from its slowly-conducting property, was con- 

 sidered well calculated to retain the warmth, and thus to convey some por- 

 tion of it to the after-cabins*. The quantity of coals for which this stove 

 was purposely constructed was five pecks, or a bushel and a quarter, per day ; 



* This apparatus completely answered the purpose of keeping up a uniform and comfort- 

 able temperature on the lower-deck throughout the winter, as will appear by the column 

 inserted for that purpose in the Meteorological Abstracts. The mean temperature shewn in 

 this column, viewed in connexion with that next to it, containing the temperature of the 

 atmosphere, is a good proof of the efficacy of this mode of warming the deck. 



For the warming of the cabins abaft the main-mast, it was by no means so efficacious. 

 This defect was in some measure anticipated, from the impracticability of placing the stove 

 lower in the ship, so as to increase the rapidity of the current of air. 



R 



