342 LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
set of men, whose equals they never saw before, and whom it was 
most probable they never would see again. 
On the evening of the 26th, the ice set in with an over¬ 
powering force, by which the whale boat got a tremendous 
nip, which broke all her timbers and five thwarts, and rendered 
her nearly wholly useless. After some labor she was got on board, 
when Capt. Ross determined that she should be cut in two, 
and a four-oared boat made of one of the parts. The wind 
coming on to blow from the south and east, it was judged ad¬ 
visable to moor the ship afresh, and a party were sent on shore, 
for that purpose. The crew were afterwards employed in 
greasing the masts, loosening sails, and other duties necessary 
to be performed, previously to the vessel leaving her second 
winter harbour: an event, which was daily to be looked for, and 
which required a vigilance on the part of the officers, that 
gave them little leisure for any other occupation. 
Early on the morning of the 27th, the moorings, which had 
been fastened to the shore, suddenly snapped, from the heavy 
strain, that was continually upon them: all hands were turned 
out to secure the ship again, but although it was effected, the 
situation, in which the vessel lay, was not considered as wholly 
exempt from danger. At 8 o’clock in the evening, the wind 
blowing from the westward, the ice became all in motion, 
driving to the southward and the eastward. Six of the men 
were sent in one of Franklin’s boats, for the purpose of ascer¬ 
taining the state of the clear water, that had opened to the 
northward 
The 28th was the day of emancipation of the Victory from 
her long confinement in her second winter harbour. The morn- 
incr broke, with fresh breezes from the south, but at 8 o’clock, 
the wind changed to the W.N.W. All hands were employed 
in clearing the ice from the ship. At 9, hove the larboard 
hawser taught, and then cut it, as it was under a piece of ice, 
that was aground. Several hands were now sent on shore, to 
bring off whatever remained belonging to the ship ; and at 
1 p. m. the ship was warped up to windward. At 4 p.m. the ship 
was made fast to a piece of ground ice. Commander Ross, 
