LOSS OF THE ENDURANCE 
only a slight twist to port at the water-line. It moved quite 
freely. The propeller, as far as we could see, was intact, but 
it could not be moved by the hand-gear, probably owing to a 
film of ice in the stern gland and sleeve. I did not think it 
ad^dsable to attempt to deal with it at that stage. The ship 
had not been pumped for eight months, but there was no water 
and not much ice in the bilges. Meals were served again in 
the wardroom that day. 
The south-westerly breeze freshened to a gale on the Mth, 
and the temperature fell from +31° Fahr. to - 1"" Falir. At 
midnight the ship came free from the floe and drifted rapidly 
astern. Her head fell off before the wind until she lay nearly 
at right-angles across the narrow lead. This was a dangerous 
position for rudder and propeller. The spanker was set, but 
the weight of the wind on the ship gradually forced the fl.oes 
open until the Enditrance swung right roimd and drove 100 yds. 
along the lead. ITien the ice closed and at 3 a.m. we were 
fast again. The wind died down during the day and the pack 
opened for five or six miles to the north. It was still loose 
on the following mornings and I had the boiler pumped up 
with the intention of attempting to clear the propeller ; but 
one of the manholes developed a leak, the packing being 
perished by cold or loosened by contraction, and the boiler 
had to be emptied out again. 
The pack was rather closer on Sunday the 17th. Top-sails 
and head-sails were set in the afternoon, and with a moderate 
north-easterly breeze we tried to force the ship ahead out of the 
lead ; but she was held fast. Later that day heavy pressure 
developed. The two floes between which the Endurance was 
lying began to close and the ship was subjected to a series of 
tremendously heavy strains. In the engine-room, the weakest 
point, loud groans, crashes, and hammering sounds were heard. 
The iron plates on the floor buckled up and overrode with 
loud clangs. Meanwhile the floes were grinding off each other's 
projecting points and throwing up pressure-ridges. The ship 
stood the strain well for nearly an hour and then, to my great 
relief, began to rise with heavy jerks and jars. She lifted 
ten inches forward and three feet four inches aft, at the same 
69 
