SOUTH 
cracked from port fore chains, in line parallel to previous crack. 
The ice broke again between the cracks and drifted to north- 
west for about ten yards. The ice to southward then com- 
menced to break up, causing heavy strain on ship, and setting ap- 
parently north in large broken fields. Ship badly jammed in. 
9.15 p.m. — Ice closed in again around ship. Two heavy wind- 
squalls with a short interval between followed by cessation of 
wind. We are in a labyrinth of large rectangular floes (some 
with their points pressing heavily against ship) and high-pressure 
ridges. 
May 25. — ^In middle Avatch felt pressure occasionally. Twi- 
light showed a scene of chaos all around ; one floe about three 
feet in thickness had upended, driven under ship on port quarter. 
As far as can be seen there are heavy blocks of ice screwed up on 
end, and the scene is like a graveyard. I think swell must have 
come up under ice from seaward (north-east), McMurdo Sound, 
and broken the ice, which afterwards started to move under 
the influence of the blizzard. Hardly think swell came from the 
Sound, as the cracks were wending from north-west to south- 
east, and also as the Sound should be getting icebound by now. 
If swell came from north-east then there is open water not far 
away. I should like to know. I beheve the Eoss Sea is rarely 
entirely ice-covered. Have bright moonlight now, Avhich accen- 
tuates everything— the beauty and loneliness of our surround- 
ings, and useJessness of ourselves, while in this prison : so near 
to Cape Evans and yet we might as well be anywhere as here. 
Have made om- sledging-ration scales, and crew are busy making 
harness and getting sledging equipment ready for emergencies. 
Temperature - 30° Fahr. 
May 26. — If the ship is nipped in the ice, the ship's com- 
pany (eighteen hands) will take to four sledges with one month's 
rations and make for nearest land. Six men and one sledge 
will endeavour to make Cape Evans via the western land, 
Butler Point, Hut Point, etc. The remaining twelve will come 
along with all possible speed, but no forced marches, killing 
and depot-ing penguins and seals for emergency retreats. If 
the ship remains here and makes no further drift to the north, 
towards latter end of July Ught will be making. The sun 
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