502 
COMMANDER DE HAVEn’s 
on the starboard just about tlie main-rigging, and on the port under the counter 
and at the fore-rigging ; thus bringing three points of pressure in such a posi- 
tion that it must have proved fatal to a larger or less strengthened vessel. 
The Advance, however, stood it bravely. After trembling and groaning in 
every joint, the ice passed under and raised her about two and a half feet. 
She was let down again for a moment, and then her stern was raised about 
five feet. Her bows being unsupported, were depressed almost as much. In 
this uncomfortable j)osition we remained. The wind blew a gaJe from the 
eastward, and the ice all around was in dreadful commotion, excepting, fortu- 
nately, that ill immediate contact with us. The commotion in the ice continued 
all through tlie night, and we were in momentary expectation of witnessing 
the destruction of both vessels. The easterly gale had set us some two or three 
miles to the west. 
As soon as it was light enough to see on the 9th, it was discovered that the 
heavy ice in which the Rescue had been imbedded for so long a time was 
entirely broken up, and piled up around her in massive hummocks. On her 
pumps being sounded, I was gratified to learn that she remained tight, notwith- 
standing the immense straining and pressure she must have endured. 
During this period of trial, as w^ell as in all former and subsequent ones, I 
could not avoid being struck with the calmness and decision of the officers, as 
well as the subordination and good conduct of the men, without an exception. 
Each one knew’’ the imminence of the peril that surrounded us, and was pre- 
pared to abide it with a stout heart. There was no noise, no confusion. I did 
not detect, even in the moment when the destruction of the vessels seemed in- 
evitable, a single desponding look among the whole crew ; on the contrary, each 
one seemed resolved to do his whole duty, and every thing went on cheerily 
and bravely. 
For my own part, I liad become quite an invalid, so much so as to prevent 
my taking an active part in the duties of the vessel, as I always had done, or 
even from incurring the exposure necessary to proper exercise. How^ever, I 
felt no apprehension that the vessel wmuld not be properly taken care of, for I 
had perfect confidence in one and all by whom I was surrounded. I knew them 
to he equal to any emergency; but I felt under special obligations to the gal- 
lant commander of the Rescue for the efficient aid he rendered me. With 
the kindest consideration and most cheerful alacrity, ho volunteered to perform 
the executive duties during the winter, and relieve me from every thing that 
might tend in the least to retard my recovery. 
During the remainder of December the ice remained quiet immediately around 
us, and breaks vrero all strongly cemented by new ice. In our neighborliood, 
however, cracks were daily visible. Our drift to the eastw*ard averaged nearly 
six miles per day, so that on the last of the month we were at the entrance of 
the sound, Cape Osborn bearing north from us. 
January, 1851. On passing out of the sound, and opening Bafiin’s Bay, to the 
north was seen a dark horizon, indicating much open ■water in tliat direction. 
On the 11th a crack took place between us and the Rescue, passing close 
under our stern. It opened, and formed a lane of water eighty feet wide. In 
the afternoon the floes began to move, the lane was closed up, and the edges 
of the ice coming in contact with so much pressure, threatened the demolition 
of the narrow space which separated us from the line of fracture. Fortunately 
