CHARLES WILKES 
235 
the ice-chart constructed on the way ; but the fog was too 
thick to identify the bergs, and it seemed safer to pro- 
ceed on the original course. All the afternoon the 
barometer continued to fall and the gale to increase. 
Snow storms obscured the view and the spray that broke 
on board froze as it touched the deck or rigging. The 
sail was reduced, but not to a mininum, as it was neces- 
sary to keep a good way on the ship, and the navigation 
became very difficult on account of the multitude of 
bergs : 
“ At 10:30 p. m. we found ourselves thickly beset with 
them, and had many narrow escapes ; the excitement be- 
came intense; it required a constant change of helm to 
avoid those close aboard; and we were compelled to 
press the ship with canvas in order to escape them by 
keeping her to windward. We thus passed close along 
their weather sides, and distinctly heard the roar of the 
surf dashing against them. We had, from time to time, 
glimpses of their obscure outline, appearing as though 
immediately above us. After many escapes, I found 
the ship so covered with ice, and the watch so powerless 
in managing her, that a little after midnight, on the 29th, 
I had all hands called.” 
For seven hours all hands remained on watch, the ship, 
all the time, being in the most extreme peril. Intense 
excitement prevailed on board. The gunner fell on the 
icy deck and broke his ribs, one of the sailors when aloft 
got imprisoned on the lee-yardarm by the sail he was 
endeavouring to furl being blown over the yard, and he 
was rescued with difficulty, a rope having to be passed 
round him by which he was hauled, nearly frozen to 
death, into the top. At one moment the ship seemed 
rushing on to destruction against a huge ice-island, but 
