Dr.

Journal entry 12, June 16, 1889.

The mood aboard the ship is soured since today's news reached us.

If Captain Fletcher hadn't barred me from leaving the ship, I would have had a chance

to read the letter myself. Now, I have no choice but to relay what I've heard second and third

hand. As it stands, Fletcher hasn't let anyone other than

the officers read it, probably because he knows the effect those words would have had on morale.

But that in itself has caused the men to conjure up various reasons for this secrecy.

Seafaring men are a superstitious lot, so some of their suppositions are rather fantastic.

As a seasoned newsman, I believe I have the knowledge and experience to parse out the fantastical,

separating reality from the superstitious fiction

that seagoing men are wont to spread.

But in my role as recorder of this expedition, I feel I must also include what are certainly false claims and elements of the average Siemens imagination.

After all, these factors are an important part of the expedition, as they get to the heart of what really

goes on in men's minds during a lengthy mission such as this.

First, I'll start with the facts. Two days ago, we made landfall on an icy

and rocky patch of earth just a few hundred yards away from the crippled HMS wraith.

When we first spotted the half-sunking away from the crippled HMS Wraith.

When we first spotted the half sunken ship, Hope slid through the crew like a

sharks fin cutting the ocean surface.

However, when a small contingent headed over to inspect the ship and search for survivors, they found

that the vessel had been abandoned.

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