A Diary and Journal from the Second Grinnell Expedition

[verso] Sunday, Apr. 29. 8. P.M. No Mitek . Eider duck has not flown this way.

Our sick get along bravely Mr. Wilson Mr. Goodfellow and Sonntag - being the only cases which hang back. God willing we can piggy-back them in case of need

The state of preparation considering our recent helplessness is satisfactory and unlooked for but still with the wide area of ice between us and the water, we are behind hands.

My plan is to construct two long sledges of 17.6 feet length - arra[n]ged so as to cradle stiffly our two remaining whale boats. The boats to be washboarded and strengthened with bottom timbers. These as soon as ready I move step by step towards Anoratok - the wind loved spot - which is to be filled up for a depot: - in the interim the provision bags and heavy articles of equipment will be taken down by our dog team. Hans and myself taking alternate trips Thus I hope that the heavy strain upon the boats will be postponed to the latest moment and the sick retained at the brig until a very short time before our final departure

Anoratok - or rather its empty hut will be fitted with a door, stove, and sleeping gear - and a half way tent erected at Basalt Camp - By those two [halts?] I hope to convey the three four sick who have not lost the use of their legs - to a comfortable spot where they can await the slow arrival of the main party.

In the mean time I will remain at the brig waiting until the changes of the season render certain the future imprison- ment of our little craft. For this I will retain four faithful henchmen and

[recto]

the red boat. now mounted upon her sledge the old "Faith." When the thing is clear and written signatures from my offi- cers declare the palpable fact of "no release" I put my documents - hard earned - into the Red Eric - and join my boats at Cape Alexander.

Every thing that my powers admit of I have done. I clung to the vessel and would cling to her yet but for the higher duty which I owe to my people. We can stay here no longer for our provisions are nearly gone. I'm starved out. Now if Mitek will only give me the means of completing a second travel I will feel my conscience clean and commit myself trustingly to the long journey.

Should Providence and dry powder carry us through this fearful medly of ice and water, we will have made a boat journey unexampled in the annals of trial that of Barentz' crew along the Lapland coast will be childs play beside it. Eighteen men with two frail boats no resources for animal food but their guns must travel [more than 1000] 900? miles over ice [and] water with the certainty that the changes of the season will freeze them in unless they travel this distance within a period which is fearfully short, for the means and resources of the party. This journey will be clogged by sick and rendered tardy by the want of animal force to drag our boats across the ice.

The day up to 4 P.M. was a busy one Sunday can no longer be a day of rest. Now however all around is quietude prayers are read. The sleepy sleep and the watchful talk in hopeful ignorance of the long tramp ahead of them.

42 [verso] are thus free to labour upon the boats.

This object had been the leading one of the month - to [mature?] and carry out a complete organization for boat travel in case it be necessary to abandon the brig.

Next to this but with me as near my heart and nearly as much a duty comes another journey northward to complete the line of Kennedy Channel, and search its shores for wrecks. For this purpose I have planned and schemed as well as worked. Our own feeble team could never undertake such a journey as of all our dogs now amounting to sixty two there remain but four. Among the natives famine had been more fatal than desease with us barely but not over thirty dogs belong to the entire nation and they are dependent upon these and their progeny for absolute existence. Never the less I managed to get the two best teams with leading men of best reliance to our brig and [these?] requested a bear hunt with certain conditions as to northern progress which if addressed to would have placed me beyond the region of my hopes. We started but in the excitement of the chase my drivers became savaged. Scouted contracts provided and rewards - and after a [furious?] journey up to the very breastwork of the great glacier only returned to the ship by compulsion.

Thereupon I persuaded my friends [Ma?]- lutak and [?] to lend me each one dog out of their team of six, and to urge [Mitak?] (of [?]) to come up [?] [?] four dogs. My own team being then away on their food providing journey Monday - the day of this record - is here and no [Mitak?] . So much for my efforts thus far in favour of

43 [recto] my original duty of search.

This last day of April has led me to make a hurried review of a month full of blessings. Our entire crew can, with a few exceptions, - now contribute somewhat to our heavy accumulation of work. Mr. Goodfellow [and] Mr. Wilson - George Whipple George Stephenson D: Hayes and Mr. Sonntag are all who now remain incapable of locomotion. I can eventually look to the sufficient recovery of all of these to prevent them becoming a burdge to the rest, but here again I have to except Mr. Wilson and Mr. Goodfellow - the latter too inert and impracticable the former too much bro- ken for duty. Mr. Goodfellow I no lon- ger consider as a member of the Expedition but on Tom's account have refrained from any formal act to that effect. I give him every thing that he can desire, but find it difficult even in this non operative relations of passenger to keep him out of hot water with his comrades.

During this month I brought back William Godfrey who is now on duty.