. Arctic explorations: the second Grinnell expedition in search of Sir John Franklin, 1853, '54, '55. THE FORLORN HOPE, our wintering ground from a personal inspection ofthe coast. I had been quietly preparmg for such an expeditionfor some time. Our best and lightest whale-boat hadbeen fitted with a canvas cover, that gave it all thecomfort of a tent. We had a supply of pemmican readypacked in small cases, and a sledge taken to pieces wasstowed away under the thwarts. In the morning of THE FORLORN HOPE. 89 the 29th, Mr. Brooks, McGary, and myself, walkedfourteen miles along the marginal ice: i
. Arctic explorations: the second Grinnell expedition in search of Sir John Franklin, 1853, '54, '55. THE FORLORN HOPE, our wintering ground from a personal inspection ofthe coast. I had been quietly preparmg for such an expeditionfor some time. Our best and lightest whale-boat hadbeen fitted with a canvas cover, that gave it all thecomfort of a tent. We had a supply of pemmican readypacked in small cases, and a sledge taken to pieces wasstowed away under the thwarts. In the morning of THE FORLORN HOPE. 89 the 29th, Mr. Brooks, McGary, and myself, walkedfourteen miles along the marginal ice: it was heavyand compHcated with drift, but there was nothing aboutit to make me change my purpose. My boat crew consisted of seven, all of them volun-teers and reliable:—Brooks, Bonsall, McGary, Sontag,Kiley, Blake, and Morton. We had buffalo-robes forour sleeping-gear, and a single extra day suit was puton board as common property. Each man carried his. THE FORLORN HOPE, EQUIPPED. girdle full of woollen socks, so as to dry them by thewarmth of his body, and a tin cup, with a sheath-knife,at the belt: a soup-pot and lamp for the mess com-pleted our outfit. In less than three hours from my first order, theForlorn Hope was ready for her work, covered withtin to prevent her being cut through by the bay-ice;and at half-past three in the afternoon she was freighted,launched, and on her way. I placed Mr. Ohlsen in command of the Advance, andDr. Hayes in charge of her log: Mr. Ohlsen with orders 90 DEPARTURE. to haul the brig to the southward and eastward into asafe berth, and there to await my return. Many a warm shake of the hand from the crew weleft showed me that our good-bye was not a mere for-mahty. Three hearty cheers from all hands followedus,—a God-speed as we pushed off.
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