July 26, Prince of Wales

July 26— Today around noon we were met by a whaler, the Prince of Wales out of Hull, with Captain Dannet commanding. We exchanged pleasantries and offered an invitation to supper on board but, unfortunately for our social agenda, a favourable wind came up (favourable for the whaler), and Captain Dannet felt he could not let it go so we parted company. Our island of ice has become quite homey with our observation huts scattered over it and men walking everywhere for exercise, but I wish for a fair wind to speed us on our way also.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

July 13, 1845—We are begun.

Image
Her Majesty’s Ship Erebus, off the coast of Greenland. Sunday, July 13, 1845, 11 p.m. —My Dearest Elizabeth. We are begun. All the endless preparation is done. The supplies are loaded and we have said a last farewell to civilisation, or what passes for it in this barren land. We weighed anchor on the tide last night, beneath the most beautiful clear sky you could imagine. The sea was as flat as a glass and peppered with a most remarkable assortment of icebergs which shone on the horizon like a twelfth cake with each occasional gleam of the midnight sun. This really is the most extraordinary of lands we have entered. Around eight the wind picked up and has moved us quite briskly northwards all day. There was some discussion before we sailed as to whether we should head straight across Baffin’s Bay to Lancaster Sound or sail north and around the top of the ice. A Dane from Lievely who had married an Esquimaux came over to visit us at Disco and indicated that this was the one of ...
Read more

August 12, Continuing storms

Image
August 12—The storm continued against us all last night, although the wind abated to sudden short squalls by morning. Around 10 we espied some leads of open water and cut a passage out to them to recommence our tedious passage westward, but as we went, the leads became more numerous and wider until, by mid-afternoon we were sailing with some ease in relatively open water. It seems Reid was right and the ice has all been blown farther down the channel. Since the whole channel appeared open, we set course across to the shore of North Somerset which may be a continuation of Boothia. Our speed is still slow as there is much ice around, but the backbreaking work of cutting and hauling is done, at least for now.
Read more

August 6, Proceeding Cautiously

August 6—Some fog this morning which made us proceed with caution, but the breeze increased from the southeast around ten, blew away the mists and helped us proceed with our errands. At this rate, we should tomorrow be at Prince Regent Inlet which has been so well explored by Parry and John Ross. Even if it is open, which seems likely, given the lightness of the ice this year, we must sail on. It is not our orders and we cannot afford the time nor the risk of becoming entrapped in an area so far from our goal.  At dinner this evening on the Terror, Sir John talked about the supplies left by Ross at Fury Beach and speculated on their probable condition. As a midshipman, Crozier helped deposit this cache and well remembers what was laid there. Apparently, John Ross spoke to Franklin of the supplies and suggested them as a possible goal for any party that might have to abandon these vessels on the far side of Boothia. Ross also promised to mount a relief expedition for his old frie...
Read more