A Diary and Journal from the Second Grinnell Expedition

[verso] Mon. Apr. 23.

Hard at it, all our light sail is triced up to dry in order to await McGearys recovery when the spare canvas will be used for boat sails. He is an old and prodigal whaler I will leave the fitting out of the whale boats entirely to him. Morton and others continue at the saw, two half lengths of the beam are already cut. The broken whale boat was carried to the sunny side of the brig. On the [after] starboard [?] quarter where Petersen and Ohlsen have their joint workshop. A tent with black india rubber cloth presenting to the sun I rigged upon a stage on the forecastle as a thawing spot for Goodfellow Wilson, Sonntag and our stiff legged patients. Every thing is cheerful bustle and alacrity. It is hard to realise the changes wrought by our last two loads of walrus meat: it comforts me - who still am sore and stiff with the long journey, that my people are so loosened out.

Hans has not returned but although our meat gives out tomorrow we give ourselves little concern about it. I am momentarily looking for the boy, not liking the condition of the team who are overtraveled and foot sore, both "Jenny" and "Big Yellow" wear boots.

Tomorrow have determined to clear off our snow [and] turf roof on deck. This will be a hard but necessary job for the increasing heat of the sun. Now + 26^o max. by a puched therm: will soon thaw us out. I am not without hopes that this dislodgement of winter snow will now as much increase our warmth as its presence did during the winter cold.

Our winter lodge room before being dismantled may be understood a rough section. We are completely entombed in moss. While the galley by acting as a ventilating [?] gives us ready

[recto] Section of Brig looking aft I Galley House Ventilator II Our lodge room III Cable line a Snow drift b deck covering 3 feet deep c Turf lining e [Fig 2?] Entry [Sketch depicting brig from two angles and showing the sections listed above]

access to the outer air. It is but the work of a minute to flood our room with fresh air, and renew atmosphere after atmosphere. By a single current I can condense the cold air of -50^o in a white hoars frost over wood work metal and every tolerably conducting surface, close my valves let my fire have its full draught and in a few minutes after we will be clean warm and dry. The non conducting wall which encases having hardly changed its temperature. This contrivance alone has enabled me to lodge eighteen men in an apartment of 18. x 16. x 6.

Tuesday Apr. 24

Completed one slab of the beam, Ohlsen is placing bottom timbers - good and strong in our whale boats. These will stiffen and strengthen them much for sledge carriage. McGary is able to lay up by hand small cordage for his boats.

Have got the port side of deck cleared of snow [and] moss, and the guage taken for flour [and] bread bags. Tarpaulined [and] hung out to dry 14 bags of measured sizes. These were made up during winter by my poor sick folks. Every body is busy - working too with a will I have but one bos[s] - I my self. Tis hard this but can't be helped.

Bim! Bim! Bim! The signal again - Hans has come. We will have meat for supper if we did dine on beans!

[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.