Logo
Prev
Bookmark
Rotate
Print
Next
Contents
All Pages
Related Articles
Browse Issues
Help
Search
Home
'
National Geographic : 1925 Nov
Contents
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE Photograph by Maynard Owen Williams WHEN FOG AND PACK ICE HALTED TIIE SHIPS ON THEIR NORTHWARD PUSI[ THROUGH MELVILLE BAY Three days from Etah the Bowdoin and the Peary encountered fog, which made ice pilotage impossible. The situation looked gloomy. Commander MacMillan decided that a diversion was necessary, so a snowball fight was staged by both crews, after which Chief Aerographer Francis dived into the waters of Melville Bay. The delay caused by this work and the refilling of the bunkers resulted in the Bowdoin proceeding to Battle Harbor, Lalrador, a few days in advance. Here the Peary rejoined us on July 2, both ships going north on the 5th to Domino Run, where we purchased a supply of native sealskin boots, much lighter and warmer for northern work than our homemade product. Five miles east of Cape Harrison both ships met the ice-pack lying close against the land and extending north in an almost unbroken sheet. This was the Peary's first encounter with the pack. It is generally conceded by experienced men that an iron ship is not the equal of a wooden ship for north ern work. When bucking ice, rivets are easily started; when sailing in uncharted waters, grounding is imminent at any moment; and steel hulls are easily punc tured by sharp rocks. There are no dry docks in the North except the beach, which a deep-draft ship cannot reach. A steel hull cannot be compressed without serious injury. A wooden hull will spring back into shape. The Peary, with her 6oo-horsepower triple expansion engines, her 9-foot pro peller, and her triple-plated bow, nosed her way through the ice as if this were mere play. I was relieved of all anxiety about her ice-bucking ability. Before us lay possibly the most difficult bit of navigation of the whole trip-the inside run from Cape Mokkovik to the Moravian settlement at I opedale. The most able captain could never navigate this by chart. On the Labrador coast, north of Hamilton Inlet, experience is the only guide. \With one eye over our bow and the other back over my shoulder at the flaring bow of the Peary, close behind. I directed the Bowdoin over the path she knew so well. When approaching Flagstaff Tickle, 486
Links
Archive
1925 Dec
1925 Oct
Navigation
Previous Page
Next Page