From the mast-head no land could be seen within
twenty miles, and no land of over 500 ft. altitude could have escaped
observation on our side of long. 52° W. A sounding of 1900 fathoms on
August 25 was further evidence of the non-existence of New South
Greenland. There was some movement of the ice near the ship during the
concluding days of the month. All hands were called out in the night
of August 26, sounds of pressure having been followed by the cracking
of the ice alongside the ship, but the trouble did not develop
immediately. Late on the night of the 31st the ice began to work ahead
of the ship and along the port side. Creaking and groaning of timbers,
accompanied by loud snapping sounds fore and aft, told their story of
strain. The pressure continued during the following day, beams and deck
planks occasionally buckling to the strain. The ponderous floes were
grinding against each other under the influence of wind and current,
and our ship seemed to occupy for the time being an undesirable
position near the centre of the disturbance; but she resisted
staunchly and showed no sign of water in the bilges, although she had
not been pumped out for six months. The pack extended to the horizon in
every direction. I calculated that we were 250 miles from the nearest
known land to the westward, and more than 500 miles from the nearest
outpost of civilization, Wilhelmina Bay.
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