3-065-950 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

H.M.S. Challenger in a snowstorm, 1874. Engraving from a sketch by Lieutenant Pelham Aldrich, R.N., illustrating '...the voyage of H.M.S. Challenger in the great Southern Ocean, beyond the Indian Ocean towards the Antarctic. Our readers have been informed of the objects, personal appointments, and equipment of this expedition, which set forth a year and a half ago, to conduct a series of scientific explorations...During about fourteen days [in the middle of February last], between the 64th and 53rd degrees of S. latitude, and in longitude from 80 deg. E. to 110 deg., before making for an Australian port, the Challenger was much hampered with pack ice, loose floating pieces, and sometimes large icebergs...The storm of sleet and snow, on Feb. 24, was so thick that nothing farther than 150 yards could be seen. Icebergs on the lee beam were closely approached that afternoon, when, the gale being too strong to put the ship about, head to wind, the full steam power was used to drive her astern, with the aid of the forestaysail, and part of the close-reefed maintopsail, set back. The Challenger happily escaped from this perilous region in a few days, and arrived on March 17 safely at Melbourne'. From "Illustrated London News", 1874.