'Alert' (1856) with the crew working to free the ship from the barrier of 'floe-bergs'.
A view from the starboard bow of 'Alert' (1856) looking towards the Polar Sea with the crew working to free the ship from the barrier of 'floe-bergs'. On 23 July 1876 a strong southwesterly wind had driven the pack ice away from the shore. On the return of shooting parties on 24 July, preperations were made to depart with the re-embarkation of stores, instruments and equipment. After considerable labour by means of powder to blow a passage through the grounded 'floe-bergs', the ship was freed on 31 July 1876 and proceeded to round Cape Rawson and entered Robeson Channel. The motionless polar pack ice can be seen in the distance.