The Terror

On April 22nd, Crozier gives the order to abandon Terror, nearly a month after Erebus sank. Alongside Lieutenant Little, he inspects every deck to ensure it’s empty. The men gather on the ice to begin their overland retreat.

As they trudge southward, toward the location where the other men are already waiting, the men see a ship on the horizon, moving across the ice. Their brief hopes are dashed as they realize it’s a mirage of Terror itself. Some of the men break down, and Crozier orders them to keep moving.

At the same time as the remaining ship is abandoned, Dr. Goodsir is at the new “Terror Camp” on the coast south of Victory Point, where the men from both ships are convening. Goodsir’s primary concern is the worsening state of the sick, particularly those suffering from advanced scurvy. The medical tent is overwhelmed, and many of the men are dying.

That night, Fitzjames invites Goodsir to join him for a walk along the beach. He explains the difference between the boats that have been hauled from the ships to the camp, highlighting which can be dragged across ice, which are better suited for open water or river navigation, and which will be left behind.