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Friday Jan 17th 1862 28.95 AM -28° Calm Heavy bank of clouds W otherwise Fair 28.925 M -27 N W Light Hazy 28.925 PM -30 N W Light Hazy Now 15 minutes past X O'clk AM & preparations being made for amputating poor Fluker's toes. If sympathy would help the unfortunate man, then indeed would that of all of ours restore him to health & comfort. This Moment Capt. B. says to the steward:- 'Go forward & tell the men to bring "Fluker" Aft.' They now enter with the subject placing him on the table standing in the centre of the Main Cabin. I cease for a few minutes to do what [[end page]] [[start page]] 1862 Jan 17 Fri ever I can in assisting Capt. B. I would that I were spared from witnessing the scene now about to take place in our midst. XI-10 A.M. The scene is passed! - [[underlined]] ten limbs have been severed [[/underlined]] - the wounds bandaged & the poor sufferer returned to his quarters forward. As I said, Fluker was placed upon the table of the Main Cabin - the table having been first covered over with one of the Boat Sails. He looked pale & haggard - but yet felt resigned to his fate. Capt B. had his surgical instruments all in order & placed at hand on one of the White crockery plates. As there were no regular [[end page]] [[start page]] 1862 Jan 17 Fri instruments or other necessaries specially for amputating aboard the ship, Cap. B. was necessitated to rely on such as the circumstances would admit of his providing himself with: to wit: Small pocket knives with razor edges - a hook of steel with which to seize any artery that might be required to be tied up - (this hook made by fileing off the barb of one of my small fish-hooks & putting a handle to it) - in the place of a tourniquet, a handkerchief & stick - pieces of cotton - several ligatures - strips of cotton spead with ointment - bandages sponges &c. The feelings of Capt. B. since the arrival of Fluker on + [[Sunday]] night have been deeply painful. His solicitude in behalf of the patient - his dread of performing the unavoidable operation of amputation, based largely upon the fact of his inexperience in this line, having never been placed in a situation before that required service of this character - the extended & deeply seated nature of the frost bites served to overwhelm the mind of Capt. B. with a flood of [[?tireless]] trouble. [[end page]] [[start page]] 1862 Jan 17 Fri One could have none other but a heart of stone that could not sympathize with Capt. B. under the circumstances. Indeed the responsibilities wh. rest upon his shoulders are of such weight & importance that no three ordinary men could so well sustain them as does Capt. B. He not only exercises the most exalted calculations in means & measures for carrying successfully the men under his Command through this long Winter of imprisonment but he at the same time is planning schemes by wh. he & his Command may prosecute Spring Fishery before the ship is released from her ice prison. So much must I say in justice to (be it to the & honors of) Capt B. - Truth deserves this simple record. I now proceede in making brief notice of the amputating scene. Every thing properly in readiness, Capt. B. commenced amputating. In 30 seconds the five toes of one foot were off! "Fluker's" cries were heart rending. He was asked why he was thus troubled? The reply made by him was that [[underlined]] he did'nt like to lose his toes! [[/underlined]] Poor Fluker! Who could blame you? Another 30 seconds & the 5 toes of the other foot were severed by the dextrous hands of Capt. B. Thus in [[underlined]] one minute [[/underlined]] the dead was divided from the living - that that which was alive might live! During the cutting off the big toe of the [[?last]]
