e not going to rest till two o'clock on the
morning of the 21st, we got about fifty tons' weight of coals and
provisions on board the Fury, which, in case of necessity, we considered
sufficient to give her stability. Having hauled the ships out a little
from the shore, and prepared the Hecla for casting by a spring at a
moment's notice, all the people except those at the pumps were sent to
rest, which, however, they had not enjoyed for two hours, when, at four
A.M. on the 21st, another heavy mass coming violently in contact with
the bergs and cables, threatened to sweep away every remaining security.
More hawsers were run out, however, and enabled us still to hold on;
and, after six hours of disturbed rest, all hands were again set to work
to get the Fury's anchors, cables, rudder, and spars on board, these
being absolutely necessary for her equipment, should we be able to get
her out. At two P.M. the crews were called on board to dinner, which
they had not finished when several not very large masses of ice drove
along the shore near us at a quick rate, and two or three successively
coming in violent contact either with the Hecla or the bergs to which
she was attached, convinced me that very little additional pressure
would tear everything away, and drive both ships on shore. I saw that
the moment had arrived when the Hecla could no longer be kept in her
present situation with the smallest chance of safety, and therefore
immediately got under sail, despatching Captain Hoppner with every
individual, except a few for working the ship, to continue getting the
things on board the Fury, while the Hecla stood off and on. Captain
Hoppner had scarcely been an hour on board the Fury, and was busily
engaged in getting the anchors and cables on board, when we observed
some large pieces of not very heavy ice closing in with the land near
her; and at twenty minutes past four P.M., being an hour and five
minutes after the Hecla had cast off, I was informed by signal that the
Fury was on shore. As the navigating of the Hecla, with only ten men on
board, required constant attention and care, I could not at this time,
with propriety, leave the ship to go on board the Fury. I therefore
directed Captain Hoppner by telegraph, "if he thought nothing could be
done at present, to return on board with all hands until the wind
changed;" for this alone, as far as I could see the state of the Fury,
seemed to offer the smallest chance of clearing th