454 
EXTRACT Of A JOURNAL [API*. N° VI. 
icc; and the last gives an example of one of the most ex¬ 
traordinary deliverances from premature death, which the 
records of the whale-fishery perhaps can furnish. 
Monday, Aug. 12.—At 4 r. m., blowing a fresh gale 
with rain, the floe to which the ships were made fast set 
down towards the lee ice, so as to render our situation peril¬ 
ous. The Baffin and Fame having cast off, we followed 
their example. Some of our boats that had been sent to 
look out for fish in the inlets on each side of Traill Island, 
had by this time returned on board, and at 7 p. m. the last 
reached the ship. Towards midnight we became unex¬ 
pectedly entangled among heavy rank ice and floes, so that 
we had to call all hands to take care of the ship. Soon afi. 
terwards, while endeavouring to pass through betwixt a 
large floe, and some loose ice that was setting down upon 
it, the ship received some severe blows on the bows. Find¬ 
ing it then impossible to get out, we lay to, and in half an 
hour the ship was close beset. The Baffin and Fame got 
out just as the ice closed, and, in the mist, we soon lost 
sight of them. Though this discouraged us, we were quite 
confident that they would hover about until we got free 
again, or pick us up, in the event of the ship going down. 
Tuesday , 1 3th .—Though I retired to bed when the ship 
was fast enclosed, I endeavoured in vain to sleep, as I 
every minute expected to be called to quit the ship. About 
3 a. M, a large piece of ice pressing on the outside of the 
ship, opposite to my bed-cabin, broke two or three of the 
timbers, with a dismal noise. Thinking all was over, I 
sprung out of bed. The first person I saw was the mate, 
who was employed filling a canvas-bag with flannel shirts, 
stockings, &c. out of his chest. Being greatly alarmed, I 
burned on my clothes, and then followed his example, in se- 
