A FEARFUL GALE. 



139 



named, including missionaries, and yet realizing an annual return 

 of net profit for the King of Denmark of ten thousand dollars ! 

 How many nations of this modern day do better ? And, with 

 this fact before us, why shall not the same occur (adopting the 

 same plan) in the land of the Esquimaux on the west side of Da- 

 vis's Straits ? Let my countrymen look to it whenever the first 

 opportunity arrives. 



On the 27th day of September (1860) there broke upon us that 

 fearful gale which caused the loss of my expedition boat and the 

 far-famed Rescue, drove the Georgiana on shore, and came near 

 proving the destruction of the George Henry and all on board. As 

 it was of so serious a character, I will here give the particulars in 

 detail. 



"Wednesday, the 26th, commenced with light winds from the 

 N.E. At noon it began to snow, with an increasing breeze. At 

 1 P.M. all the boats came on board from their cruising-ground, 

 and preparations were made for bad weather. The wind now 

 rapidly increased to a gale, and at 8 P.M. the second anchor was 

 let go, with all the cable given that could be allowed without let- 

 ting the George Henry get too near the rocky island astern of us. 

 The schooner Rescue, at this time, was about fifty fathoms distant 

 on our starboard bow, and the brig Georgiana a little more easter- 

 ly. At 9 P.M. the gale was still increasing, and a heavy sea rising. 

 At this time the deck watch came in the cabin and reported that 

 the Rescue was dragging her anchors, and as we looked upon her 

 dark form through the thick darkness of the night, it seemed, as 

 she kept moving by, that her destruction was inevitable and im- 

 mediate. But, when abeam of us, she held on, though pitching 

 and surging heavily. The Georgiana was seen but faintly, and it 

 appeared as if she, too, was in great danger. At 11 P.M. it was 

 blowing a perfect hurricane, with thick snow, and just then we 

 could perceive the brig driving astern toward the island. She 

 had, as we afterward learned, broken her small anchor, and drag- 

 ged her large one. On she went, driving heavily, amid the wild 

 stir of the elements, and the awful darkness of that snow-storm 

 night — on and on, with nothing to save her, until presently we 

 could see she had struck upon the island leeward of us, where, 

 after " worrying" her anchor round a point of land, she got into 

 some slightly smooth water, and there continued pounding her 

 larboard side on the rocks. The crew now left her and went on 

 to the island, expecting every moment that she would part her 



