“July 20.—­Shortly before breakfast the raucous voice of the emperor penguin was heard, and afterwards two were seen some distance from the ship....  The nearest mainland (in vicinity of Cape Washington) is ninety miles distant, as also is Coulman Island.  Franklin Island is eighty miles south-east by south, and the pack is in motion.  This is the emperor’s hatching season, and here we meet them out in the cheerless desert of ice.... 10.45 p.m.—­Heavy pressure around ship, lanes opened and ship worked astern about twenty feet.  The wires in the ice took the strain (lashings at mizzen chains carried away) and carried away fair-lead bollard on port side of forecastle head.

“July 21, 1 a.m.—­Lanes opened to about 40 ft. wide.  Ship in open pool about 100 ft. wide.  Heavy pressure in vicinity of ship.  Called all hands and cut wires at the forecastle head. [These wires had remained frozen in the ice after the ship broke away from her moorings, and they had served a useful purpose at some times by checking ice-movements close to the ship.] 2 a.m.—­Ship swung athwart lane as the ice opened, and the floes on the port side pressed her stern round. 11.30 a.m.—­Pack of killer whales came up in the lane around the ship.  Some broke soft ice (about one inch thick) and pushed their heads through, rising to five or six feet perpendicularly out of the water.  They were apparently having a look round.  It is strange to see killers in this immense field of ice; open water must be near, I think. 5.15 p.m.—­New ice of lanes cracked and opened.  Floes on port side pushed stern on to ice (of floe); floes then closed in and nipped the ship fore and aft.  The rudder was bent over to starboard and smashed.  The solid oak and iron went like matchwood. 8 p.m.—­Moderate south-south-west gale with drift.  Much straining of timbers with pressure. 10 p.m.—­ Extra hard nip fore and aft; ship visibly hogged.  Heavy pressure.

“July 22.—­Ship in bad position in newly frozen lane, with bow and stern jammed against heavy floes; heavy strain with much creaking and groaning. 8 a.m.—­Called all hands to stations for sledges, and made final preparations for abandoning ship.  Allotted special duties to several hands to facilitate quickness in getting clear should ship be crushed.  Am afraid the ship’s back will be broken if the pressure continues, but cannot relieve her. 2 p.m.—­Ship lying easier.  Poured Sulphuric acid on the ice astern in hopes of rotting crack and relieving pressure on stern-post, but unsuccessfully.  Very heavy pressure on and around ship (taking strain fore and aft and on starboard quarter).  Ship, jumping and straining and listing badly. 10 p.m.—­Ship has crushed her way into new ice on starboard side and slewed aslant lane with stern-post clear of land-ice. 12 p.m.—­Ship is in safer position; lanes opening in every direction.