1882-01-11:1882-01-20

A storm hits the camp.

Wednesday January 11th 1882

Weather still continuing cold. Lt. Greely favors us with a lecture on “The Poles” which | did not have the pleasure of hearing as I was assisting Israel at the observatory.

He has so much trouble and difficulty in manipulating the instruments and freezing his fingers that I thought I might save him some of it by sending the signals of time over the telephone for him. I was not of much service however. Israel’s work is very hard in adjusting the transit, he inadvertently froze his nose against the frosty instrument. While we were there the temp stood -45. Temp during day ranged from - 30.8 to 52.9 observed and corrected.

Thursday January 12th 1882

Ellison’s birthday. An excellent bill of fare for dinner. Temperature from 31.4 to 36.9 obs. and cor.

Friday January 13th 1882

Clear weather. Ther. ranged from -37.0 to -53.2

Saturday January 14th 1882

Light snow fell during day. Began falling at 10:40 a.m. Max temp 36.1, min -56.4. Obs & Corrected. No pendulum observations taken on account of the stars being observed.

Sunday January 15th 1882

Light snow falling till 6:30 p.m. Maximum temperature -26. Min. 37.1

Monday January 16th 1882

Today we experienced the most severe storm I have ever witnessed. Barometer began to fall a little after midnight, 15th, a light breeze setting in from the west at that time. Sky clouded up at this time a small space at the zenith only being partly clear so that a few stars could be seen shining through. Barometer showing more decided fall as the morning advanced. At 8 a.m. slight fall of snow began wind sprang up from SW, blowing 4 miles an hour. The remarkable fall of barometer induced Lt. Greely to have it observed every 15 minutes. About now the expected storm came in full force, Ralston who was on duty found great difficulty in reaching the instrument shelter when the violence of the wind blew out his candle. He returned and Jewell accompanied him. They succeeded in reading the thermometer of -12° 5 a remarkable rise of 17 ° 8 since 7 a.m. Brainard read the tide gauge. By the time 1 o’clock came round the storm had so increased in violence that although several relays and relief parties attempted to reach the instrument shelter none were successful. Connell and] started for the tide gauge but had not struggled through the blinding drift before our lantern was extinguished and we were compelled to return to the Station. I cannot describe the fury of the storm. It was intensely dark, the wind was howling out of the N.E. at the rate of 60 miles an hour carrying with it clouds of frozen snow that cut the face like powdered glass or sparks of fire. The resistance to the body was tremendous, it was impossible to move in an upright position. We lost the path and tumbled over the hill to the ice foot making no attempt to save ourselves. On returning two volunteers joined us and we started again with a red signal lamp. It was Brainard and Biederbeck who accompanied us, their success at 12 o’clock causing them to (?) our attempt. We all stumbled precariously over the bank but could not find the path. We crawled along a short distance when someone behind me said “Let’s try and get back.” Biederbeck’s red light showed up a little in advance however and we followed it and succeeded by mere chance in reaching the snow house over the tide gauge. Our return was not quite so difficult but we had hard work and returned to the quarters bruised and almost frozen. Our faces were covered with a sheet of ice. Observations were now discontinued at the shelter and a thermometer was exposed at the side of our building near the door. At 2:30 p.m. the anemometer cups were blown away. Several tents were blown down and other damage done. The highest velocity recorded before the anemometer blew away was 65 miles but there is not doubt it increased afterwards and we are inclined to think 80 miles per hour not too high an estimate. It was during a lull just before 12 o’clock that the winds shifted around to N.E. where it remained during the remainder of the storm. It ceased to blow with great violence after 4 o’clock but a stiff breeze was felt all day as soon as the observation at the instrument shelter and the tidal gauge resumed. Life lines were placed for the guidance of the observer.

Temp -11° .0 to -31°.1 obs. and corrected

Tuesday Jan 17th 1882

Snow ended at 3:30 am: clouds cleared away at 6am. Jewell observed the temp of water and thickness of ice today. The working party engaged all day ia repairing the damage of yesterday’s storm. Several tents had to be re-erected: the commissary pile covered up, etc. I again went on duty observing. Temp from -22°.6 to -40.7 obs. and corrected.

Wednesday Jan 18th 1882

This morning we were smoked out at an early hour by the pipe of our stove choking up. Our heating arrangements are very poor, a good deal of gas is (?) and we breathe much more of it than is compatible with health, especially as we have to spend so much time indoors during the long and cold arctic night. As I note this the sooty comets are falling on me and my surroundings. (see further remarks in private journal)

Temps -31.9 to -47.1

Thursday January 19th 1882

The period for monthly magnetic observations has come around and as Israel is still engaged with the pendulum Ralston and Jewell will make the magnetic obs. leaving the regular meteorological work to Henry and I. I find it very tiresome and tedious work—hourly observations, 8 hours on and 8 off. Routine work never suited me.

An auroral arch was observed at 7:35 and strong magnetic disturbances disappeared at 8:30 and another brilliant arch flashed out at 10:30 but disappeared instantly. -34.1 to -43.7 Obs. & Corrected. Gardiner’s 25th birthday. High tide 89 inches.

Friday January 20th 1882

Pendulum observations continued. Israe] sticks very faithfully to the work which is very difficult. Some New England rum supposed to be 10 above proof was exposed when I went on duty at midnight and 1 made the following observations regarding the effect of the low temperatures on it. At 2 a.m. a thin coating of slush formed on it—temp -41.7, at 3. slush 1/2 inch in thickness at -44 temp. I again examined it at 5 a.m. and found that it had thickened to the bottom of the vessel resembling somewhat snow saturated with water. Our highest tide was observed today 8 feet 6 inches. The highest observed by the Discovery while here was between 6 and 9 feet. Temp obs. and cor. -31.8 to -47.4 Cross’ birthday.