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Friday
Feb. 16

I keep today sixteen hours of
observation watch. McGeary is off his
legs and Goodfellow only allowed
such duty as may be conducive to
his health.

Thinking quietly over our
condition, and God knows there is
at least quiet around me, I can
argue myself into good genuine trusty
hope. At first sight our position
seems an awful one. Out of eighteen
men but six are now partially able to do the necessary
duties of daily life, preparing food
cutting it out from its frozen masses
melting ice for water and breaking up
the woodwork of our brig for fuel.
Two of this party must hunt daily
so that all this work [of the above] falls upon
four men. [Of these I am one.]

The remaining twelve are disabled
by Scurvy, and to the following extent
[Messrs?] Brooks, Wilson, Riley Ohlsen
and McGeary entirely unable to leave
their berths. [except for the adjacent
close stool.] [Mesr?] Goodfellow Sonntag
George Whipple and Thomas Hickey crippled
with stiff or useless limbs. Morton
and George Stephensen are able to work
around the mess table washing dishes
&c, but ought with more propriety 15
be on their backs. Dr. Hayes
free from Scurvy but with an unhealed
amputation. When it is remembered
that of the so called well and
working, nearly all [all except ?]
are tainted by the Scurvy, and [then?]
liable at any moment to be rendered
useless, and that a very little [erosion?]
of disease would thus prevent