THE AURORA'S DRIFT 
get within reach of fresh ice. Hooke and Ninnis worked hard 
at the wireless plant with the object of getting into touch with 
Macquarie Island, and possibly sending news of the ship's move- 
ments to Cape Evans. They got the wireless motor nmning 
and made many adjustments of the instruments and aerials, 
but their efforts were not successful. Emperor penguins ap- 
proached the ship occasionally, and the birds were captured 
whenever possible for the fresh meat they afforded. The Aurora 
was quite helpless in the grip of the ice, and after the engine- 
room bilges had been thawed and pumped out the boilers were 
blown down. The pressure had been raised to sixty pounds, but 
there was no chance of moving the ship, and the supply of coal 
was limited. The story of the Aurora's drift during long months 
can be told briefly by means of extracts from Stenhouse's log : 
May 21. — Early this morning there appeared to be move- 
ments in the ice. The grating and grinding noise makes one 
feel the unimportance of man in circumstances like ours. Twi- 
hght towards noon showed several narrow, open leads about 
two cables from ship and in all directions. Unable to get 
bearing, but imagine that there is little or no alteration in 
ship's position, as ship's head is same, and Western Mountains 
appear the same. . . . Hope all is well at Cape Evans and that 
the other parties have returned safely. Wish we could reheve 
their anxiety. 
" May 22. — Obtained good bearings of Beaufort Island, 
Cape Ross, and Dunlop Island, which put the ship in a position 
eighteen miles south 75° east (true) from Cape Ross. Since the 
14th, when reliable bearings were last obtained, we have drifted 
north-west by north seven miles. 
" May 24. — Blizzard from south-south-east continued until 
9 p.m., when it moderated, and at 11.45 p.m. wind shifted to 
north-west, light, with snow. Quite a lot of havoc has been 
caused during this blow, and the ship has made much northing. 
In the morning the crack south of the ship opened to about 
three feet. At 2 p.m. felt heavy shock and the ship heeled to 
port about 70°. Found ice had cracked from port gangway to 
north-west, and parted from ship from gangway aloijg to stern. 
Crack extended from stern to south-east. 7.35 p.m. — Ice 
311 
