A Diary and Journal from the Second Grinnell Expedition

Rensselaer Harbour June 8th

Sunday June 4

Brig Advance now frozen in quarters Rensselaer Harbour June 8th

8

[Margin:] Tuesday June 13.

and exempt from hygienic rules - physic or restraint - our one repartory and hitherto worthless Goodfellow. It would rejoice me for God's sake if he would turn over a new leaf and buckle to like a man.

Bill is better spirited he can take the dog journey!

William Godfrey said that he was unable to start this morning to continue the search to the north west.

Although I am convinced that this man is malingering I cannot force him to a stop which desirable as it may be to me might inspire him against his reported wishes. I never send a man upon a journey unless by his full consent and the secret of my success lies in this. Every man is a volunteer.

This William is a bad non reliable man - already in arrears - for unnatural offences. He and John have done more to disturb the efficiency and comfort of the crew than scurvy, darkness, and cold combined. But we are all weak in health William among the rest. I therefore said not one word of reproof but opened to him how much I lose by his not driving to the absent party and left him to his reflections.

Hans came in this evening with another Reindeer - a good sized male. The antlers were quite recent in growth - about 10 in in height but not yet palmated. A hairy pubescence completely covered them.

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were undecided as to their course, one tired man left them he is now my third officer [*+ Riley*] but the rest either urged on by the sanguine conviction of the others or by a false shame pushed on. They found the water free between [Hackluyt?] and our own Capes, and after entering the same ice which baffled my own attempt a month earlier, urged their way until return was impossible by the 21st of Sept only twenty five days after their withdrawal from the Expedition they were arrested by the ice.

The horrors of the coming winter then stared them in the face. They could not now retrace their steps and all attempts at a land journey to our brig were fruitless. Godfrey and John, my two desperados broke out into absolute defiance of restraint eating and acting as they pleased. They could not even allowance the provisions, and starvation was before them. Under these circumstances this wretched little party formed two divisions or messes, the good and the bad or rather the better and the worse. A hut was built and one of the boats burnt for fuel. They were nearly two hundred miles to the South of our own position and had of course a longer sun and milder weather. Here they lived, living from hand to mouth, and waiting for the iron [winter?] to bridge their return to the commander they had abandoned.

Several efforts were made but want of unity among themselves and trouble in dealing with the natives brought failure and it was not until Dec. 1 that Mr. Petersen & Bonsall effected

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These men can never be my associates again. Hayes has more stuff in him he is in love too, with me a vast extenuator of every abomination. Petersen is a double faced mischief maker, able to walk 250 miles over an arctic waste but unable to travel 50 during two years of service. He was paid in full when he left the brig.

All my attention and time taken in organizing the second mess. John & Godfrey being outlawed by their late associates have to each by themselves, but all shall be made equally comfortable. The party generally are full of thanks.

Received a letter from Messrs Hayes Bonsall and Sonntag expressive of their confidence in my direction their trust in me & my generosity for final escape from the trials which surround us and desiring to be received under my command.

De facto as inmates of my ship they were such already, but deeming it essential that a decided subordination should exist, I granted their request, but with the understanding that it in no wise implied a renewal of their old employments and occupations. This reply was given orally but entered in the log of this date.

They shall be employed upon no duties connected with the Expedition, but contribute to their daily routine of mess so as not to tax my own people. In fact such is the feeling of these latter [?] that I am

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[I feel my gums a little sore. Brooks is better. McGeary the same.]

My new mess behave gratefully and [after a fashion] do their best. I allude only to my late messmates for the three rebels are only kept under by severity. John has recovered from his late knock down and was informed by me that the next mutinous expression or act would be punished by a resort to [second?] weapons and the third by death. These are grave words, but not uttered lightly, or without painful thought, Under our present circumstances. Every man must be knit together, how is a subordinate question. Every real man already feels this and from my old guard down to my new seceeders there is but one sentiment, both written and and expressed "to be governed implicitly by my will. The men Godrey & Blake are the two rebelious members of a community which does not admit of even the agitation of doubt. No man must think here but me. Except in ordered council they must be govered blindfold. I am their appointed and chosen leader and must consult the good of the greatest number. I have therefore made up my mind [after consultation with my officcers]. That if the day comes when we must work outdoor and together without the means of confinement or exclusion, I must then check descension by an immediate, and fearful example. These men have threatened my life but are already afraid to