ENPages
31
Thursday July 19th Weather thick fog in A-m Wind N.E. Still tied up to the ice. Strs. Alexander & William Baylies came up.
Friday July 20th Weather fine Wind N.E. Ice started to go off shore. At 6 p.m. "Jeanie made a start North and was followed a few hours later by all the other steamers. Two sailing vessels at Anchor off Cape Belcher. Bar. 29.80.
Saturday July 21st. Cloudy weather with rain at times Fresh wind blowing from E.N.E. At 4 a.m. {working?] ice. Jesse H. Freeman ahead at 4.30 a.m got through the scatering ice into open water along the shore. At 6.30 tied up to ground ice at Cape Smith. Freeman 1st Beluga 2nd.Mr Kelly the station Superintendent - came aboard for breakfast. Reports 22 whales caught at 7p.m let go and started for Point Barrow but had to tie up South of the Point. Thick fog and ice coming up from the Southard at the rate of about four knots. Broke through and got in between the ground ice and the Shore.
32
Sunday July 22nd Fine and pleasant weather calm three sailing ships to the southard of us Lee hard on Point Barrow Bar. 29.50
Monday July 23rd Thick weather and baffling wind Orca towed in the John& Winthrop Wanderer also came in the tow of the thrasher. Anchored along side the John & Winthrope.
Tuesday July 24 Thick fog in a-m-&fresh N.E.wind "jeanie" went to Cape [?] to discharge stores for the station. All the steamers are waiting to get East Bar. 29.40
Wednesday July 25th
Fine clear weather and nery warm Light Southerly wind. At 11.30 a-m "Thrasher" hove up anmd started in to the Eastward followed by all the Steamers. Jesse H. Freeman towed the Bark John & Winthop round the point out of the way of the ice & left her at anchor. Then started after the other Steamers, Found good leads & some places they ice had to be broken through by the Stamers that were ahead. At 6 p-m- got into clear water and
__________________________________________________________ Line 4: Point Barrow or Nuvuk is a headland on the Arctic Coast 9 mi. NE of Utgiagvik.
33
passed Smith's Bay all clear ahead at 10 p-m.
Thursday July 26th Comes in fine and clear. Wind S.S.E. light at 5 a-m Came to anchor in 4 1/2 fathoms. Cape Halket bearing East by Compass. Distant 5 miles ice hard on the land. Bar 29.50 All the Steamers in Company. P. in thick fog & wind N.W. Tied up to the ground ice. At 9 p-m cleared up. and all made a start to the east, working ice.
Friday July 27th Fine and pleasant weather with light Northrtly wind. Working ice for this 24 hours. At 12 non got into 1/4 less 3 shoal water. Hauled the shi North working flat ice till 2 p-m in company with the other steamers At 8 p-m came to see clear in 3 1/2 fathoms of water at Return Reef. We went ashore so that I could say I had landed at the spot which was the most westerly of Franklin's voyage Took a photograph of an empty barrel which had washed up on the shore.
34
[Unable to transcribe due to faded ink] [Unable to transcribe due to faded ink] [Unable to transcribe due to faded ink] [Unable to transcribe due to faded ink]
Saturday July 28th Thick fog all a-m. At noon we hove up anchor & started alone. Crawled round the points of floes in 3 fathoms of water till we passed Return Reef, and kept on to the N.E. till 3 p.m. Could not get any further and tied up to ground ice off Cross Island, about 8 p.m. The other steamers came up and tied up also. Wind Northerly.
Sunday July 29th Fine pleasant weather. Tied up to ice.
Monday July 30th Found three fathoms of water & stopped engines & anchored. Str Alexander just ahead of us trying to get inside the Island passage went aground in 12 feet of water. She worked all day with an anchor out astern without any assistances from the other vessels and got off a 6 p.m. Two vessels in sight to the Southard of us thought to be the "Jeanie" with Bark Wanderer in tow.
35
Tuesday July 31st Foggy at times with light W.S.W. wind. No open water to be seen and the ice is not moving. All the steamers are tied up to the same pieces of ice except the "Jeanie" which is a bout 5 miles South. There is nothing to do but visit around among the ships and talk over the situation. It is very monstorous but we are altogether and "misery likes company."
Wednesday August 1st Foggy and light baffling wind. There are 11 vessels in sight to the Southward including the "Jeanie " & "Wanderer" which are the nearest that makes 19 vessels altogether which are on their way to Herschal Island.
Thursday August 2nd Weather about the same. Ice also and vessels at anchor to the Southard Bar 29.90
Friday August 3rd Weather the same and no change in the ice We received the following note from Captain McGregor this a-m