The water was very
clear and we could see the rudder, which appeared to have suffered only
a slight twist to port at the water-line. It moved quite freely. The
propeller, as far as we could see, was intact, but it could not be
moved by the hand-gear, probably owing to a film of ice in the stern
gland and sleeve. I did not think it advisable to attempt to deal with
it at that stage. The ship had not been pumped for eight months, but
there was no water and not much ice in the bilges. Meals were served
again in the wardroom that day.
The south-westerly breeze freshened to a gale on the 14th, and the
temperature fell from +31° Fahr. to -1° Fahr. At midnight the ship
came free from the floe and drifted rapidly astern. Her head fell off
before the wind until she lay nearly at right-angles across the narrow
lead. This was a dangerous position for rudder and propeller. The
spanker was set, but the weight of the wind on the ship gradually
forced the floes open until the 'Endurance' swung right round and drove
100 yds. along the lead. Then the ice closed and at 3 a.m. we were
fast again. The wind died down during the day and the pack opened for
five or six miles to the north. It was still loose on the following
morning, and I had the boiler pumped up with the intention of
attempting to clear the propeller; but one of the manholes developed a
leak, the packing being perished by cold or loosened by contraction,
and the boiler had to be emptied out again.
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