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Voyage of Six Months on an Iceberg

10 (145) time food was furnished to save them.

Meyer succeeded in taking an observation on New Year's eve, showing that in In about half the crew proceeded to carry Cannibalism was thought of, but each them to a more secure place. The boats had been lowered, and in the middle of the night, in the midst of a terrific storm, the Polaris broke loose and immediately nine weeks they had drifted southward disappeared, leaving on the ice the nine- about 525 miles. This was cheering news, teen persons who had gone there to save though the thermometer stood 39° below the provisions, at which they labored all zero. This was early in January. night. In the morning they attempted February they encountered several storms to reach the shore, but failed. The and very cold weather. The close of the Polaris was seen during the day under month found them nearly out of provisail and steam, but soon changed her sions, but early in March they caught some course, and disappeared. Another glimpse seals, and had food in abundance. Imof her was caught a few hours later, but mense icebergs surrounded the floe, and she again disappeared, and they very it was soon cracking and splitting with naturally believed that they had been as much noise as is made by artillery purposely abandoned. and musketry in battle. Everything was broken in pieces, and the party stuck to Dreadful Sufferings.

The hardships endured by those who the largest piece. On the last day of were left upon the ice are beyond descrip- March an observation showed them that tion. For 195 days these nineteen men, during the last five days they had drifted women and children drifted on floating at the rate of twenty-three miles per day. ice through an Arctic winter, at the At that time their piece of ice had grown mercy of wind and water. The floe on much smaller, and they were in clear which they found themselves on leaving water, no other ice being in sight. the ship was soon shattered, and the Afloat in a Leaky Craft. party found themselves distributed on The month of April came in with a different pieces of ice. They had two terrific storm, and it became evident that boats, with which they finally succeeded they must take refuge in the boat. They in gathering all upon the principal floe, got under way early in the morning, but where they remained all night. found their craft leaking badly, and Several attempts were made to reach loaded too deep to carry them. Meat and the shore. The dogs and sledges were clothes were thrown overboard, and nothput in readiness, and each attempt to ing was carried but a tent, a few skins escape proved a dismal failure. When it for covering and a little bread and pemwas seen that there was no prospect of mican. About fifteen miles were made reaching the shore, snow-houses were in a southerly direction, when a landing built, and everything possible was done was made to lighten the boat. to make the time pass comfortably and The tent was pitched, and the party pleasantly. Land was seen for several remained all night, although the ice was days, but as the weather was unfavorable cracking and breaking up all around for taking observations, it could not be them. The voyage was resumed again recognized. Sometimes they were in a in the morning, but had only proceeded condition bordering on starvation, and about two hours before they encountered saw death staring them in the face. a gale. They had a number of narrow The escapes before a piece of ice large enough with much difficulty she was taken back, to land upon could be found; upon land- and Meyer was saved. The canoe was ing the boat was rapidly making water, then secured in a similar manner. and when cleared a great hole was found tent was taken down and erected again in her side. Repairs were made as soon on the centre of what had then become a as possible, and they took to the water, small piece of ice, and a snow-hut was only to find themselves again surrounded constructed at its side. Again the wind by ice in such a manner that they were commenced blowing a gale, and prepcompelled to seek refuge on a floe. arations were made to take to the Gale succeeded gale, and as the ice boat. They were literally washed out of continued to break they were constantly the tent and snow-hut. The women and