On the 26th, an accident happened which was like to have deprived us of one of our boatsteerers; but, fortunately, was not finally attended by any evil consequence. He was thrown out of the boat by the stroke of a whale’s tail, but kept himself on the top of the water by his oar. The crew were in such disorder, that before they got him into the boat, he was almost senseless with cold, and still worse before they could row him to the ship. He was brought down to the cabin, stripped, and laid on a blanket before the fire. His hair was like so many icicles, and the body exhibited a very cadaverous appearance. No pulsation was to be found in any part, and I held a mirror before his mouth without producing the least evidence of respiration. I immediately ordered the soles of his feet to be rubbed with strong brine; his temples were chaffed with strong volatile spirits, and the same were applied to his nose. Hot flannels, moistened with camphorated spirits of wine, were applied to the spine, and over the breast, and renewed every quarter of an hour. Stimulating powders were put to his nose, but without any apparent effect; he never showed the least symptoms of animation; nor could the body be brought to any degree of warmth, notwithstanding being rubbed with hot coarse cloths. As the last resource, I ordered one of the men to blow into the patient’s mouth, as strongly as he could, holding his nostrils at the same time lest any of the air should escape. When I found, by the rising of the chest, that the lungs were properly inflated, I ordered him to quit blowing, and with my hand pressed down the chest and belly, so as to expel the air. This imitation of natural respiration was pursued for a short time, till, putting my hand on his left breast, I found his heart give some feeble beats: soon after, the pulse at the wrist was found to beat. In a short time he opened his eyes, and looked round in wild amaze; then shut them again. As soon as he was able to swallow, I gave him a gentle cordial, which was repeated every five minutes, till he was a great deal recovered. The Captain was so kind as to order him to be put into his own bed, with two of the men, one on each side, to bring him the sooner to a natural heat. Plenty of clothes being put over them, he soon fell into a profound sleep and gentle perspiration, and so remained for two or three hours, when he awoke quite well and refreshed, but had rather a wild look. On giving him a glass of brandy, he arose and went to his own berth as before. All the time I was on board, the poor fellow expressed the greatest gratitude to me, and thankfulness to God, for thus being providentially rescued from the grasp of death. It is almost needless to remark, that in this inclement region, swimming is of little or no use to any person who may chance to fall overboard, as his muscular motion is almost instantaneously obstructed by the intensity of the cold.
Colds and coughs are the disorders most prevalent among sailors in this country. Sometimes the scurvy breaks out amongst them, but I never saw any symptoms of it. Fractures, dislocations, sprains, bruises, cuts, and frost-biting, give the surgeons a good deal of trouble. A certain complaint, either contracted in England, or the Orkney or Shetland Isles, is very common.
The Resolution did not lose a single man in either of the voyages I made to this country. By the blessing of Providence, they were again all safely restored to their native land.
30th, Latitude 76° 37´; Longitude, as near as we could calculate, 1° West. Steered due south. The men were employed in cleaning the ship, drying the lines, &c.
From July 1st to July 5th, course southerly. Weather fine, but hazy. Ice diminishing, and the sun getting gradually nearer the horizon. Saw several whales; they were now become extremely furious, and made considerably more noise in blowing.
Voyagers are, in these high latitudes, often surprised and delighted by the appearance of mock suns and moons, but I was not so fortunate as to perceive any. The frozen particles floating in the atmosphere are supposed to be the cause of these phenomena.
From the 5th to the 7th, wind at N. E. Course S. S. W. Lat. 71° 10´. Greenland ships, from their clumsy make, when heavily loaded, sail with but very little expedition.
July 8th, Strong breeze from E. N. E. Course S. S. W. ½ W. Ice totally gone. Sun almost coincident with the horizon.
From the 8th to the 17th, excellent weather. Course generally S. S. E. ½ E. On the 17th, we fell in with the westernmost of the Feroe Isles. Our dead reckoning was considerably to the east.