“Forty tons of coal is all that we now have left and this alone must impose strict limitations on us. Once we refill the now empty boiler and get up steam we shall have to keep the fires constantly going, whether the ship is held up by the ice or otherwise, to prevent the water in the boiler from getting cold freezing. Once the decision is made to get up steam, it would be a serious consideration if we were again held up for a month or so waiting for the ice to open up.”

— Thomas Orde-Lees