Adrift on an Ice-Pan

by Wilfred Thomason Grenfell

One of the popular works written by the well-known doctor, Wilfred T. Grenfell. Sir Wilfred Grenfell is a legend in Newfoundland and Labrador. He arrived from England in 1892 to investigate the lives of the people who fished on "the Labrador." He found poverty and destitution, and decided to change it. Through his tireless efforts - fund raising, building hospitals, nursing stations, schools, and more - Dr. Grenfell enriched the lives of thousands of people.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, History, Adventure, Memoir, Survival

112 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1909

About the author

Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell, KCMG (28 February 1865 – 9 October 1940) was a medical missionary to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Grenfell moved to London in 1882. He then commenced the study of medicine at the London Hospital Medical College (now part of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry) under the tutelage of Sir Frederick Treves: he graduated in 1888. His immediate family came from Rugby, Warwickshire.

The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen sent Grenfell to Newfoundland in 1892 to improve the plight of coastal inhabitants and fishermen.[2] That mission began in earnest in 1893 when he recruited two nurses and two doctors for hospitals at Indian Harbour, Newfoundland and later opened cottage hospitals along the coast of Labrador. The mission expanded greatly from its initial mandate to one of developing schools, an orphanage, cooperatives, industrial work projects, and social work. Although originally founded to serve the local fishermen the mission developed to include the aboriginal peoples and settlers along the coasts of Labrador and the eastern side of the Great Northern Peninsula of northern Newfoundland. For his years of service on behalf of the people of these communities he was later knighted.

Reviews

[Janet Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most Fridays in the long-ago, my brother would sit breathless soaking up the week’s adventures in The Eagle and The Hotspur. Sometimes the same day, but Saturdays for sure, they came my way and filled several hours with action-packed drama involving high adventure in the most unlikely situations and with the most incredible characters. Back in Victorian times it would have been The Boy’s Own Magazine that a young Wilfred Grenfell might have been reading. But not to worry if he didn’t, because in 1909 he created something every bit as gripping from start to finish.

It's a story. A true story. There’s the madcap hero - a frontier medic, highly educated, public spirited with, at least in this story, more get-up-and-go than brains. The setting is the north coast of Labrador where winter frosts bite deep and melt quickly and cutting winds chill to the bone. And there’s the hapless victim - a young man, far away, in urgent need of medical attention. So our hero harnesses his dog team, packs a sled and even though he sees the ice in the bay already cracking up, takes a shortcut across the water. No prizes for guessing what happens next.

It’s a great story, well told. And not much longer than some of the tales of derring-do from those Boy’s Own adventures. Give it a go and marvel at the doctor’s story-telling ability and the sheer excitement of man’s survival against the odds.

You may also enjoy my review:

A Labrador Doctor: The Autobiography of Wilfred Thomason Grenfell https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few of these type of adventure/lost at sea/ alone in the far north type of accounts, and this one is unique in that the ice pan Grenfell finds himself adrift on is within sight of land. Again, for me, its the things that go on in the person's mind that interest me the most. Grenfell is curiously divided. On the one hand, he can see the benefit of his own death to the community (!) and is not afraid of the prospect, on the other, he is continually thinking of ways to aid his survival and carries them out tirelessly. The description of the effort to rescue him is quite moving. Such a short story, I hesitate to call it a book, but whatever it is - I recommend it.

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting piece of Newfoundland history and a fascinating account of the experience by Sir Wilfred Grenfell.

[Chinchilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book consists of a single account of Grenfell's misfortune during his journey to the home of a young patient. I enjoyed his descriptive storytelling, both of the landscape and his turmoil. This has sparked interest in me to read more about his other writings. The complimentary material included at the end of the book (and read by someone with a Newfie accent) was a nice bonus. However, the intermittent music in the audiobook was positively dreadful. It was loud (compared to the narration) and intrusive. I cannot recommend the audiobook to anyone in my good conscience.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this real-life account by Wilfred Grenfell to be very interesting. H was on an emergency call and got stranded with his dog team on a chunk of ice (known as an ice pan) with no way to move forward or move back. Not only was he at risk of frostbite and hypothermia, but he also had no food or water with him. It was touch and go whether he would make it or not, but the fact that the memoir exists is evidence that he did survive.

Following Grenfell's account in the audiobook I listened to was an account of the rescue by one of the locals who participated in said rescue. This was told in "Newfoundland vernacular" which made me so happy. I have many family members from Newfoundland, and this part of the audiobook was so true to how they really speak.

[Jennifer ☁️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This harrowing true story of artic survival left me truly grateful for the comforts of home. The story is a bit graphic but worth reading nonetheless.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilfred Grenfell was quite the explorer. He did a lot of good for the people of Labrador. He raised money to supply doctors by giving lectures and showing pictures of what the country looked like. Some say he went too far. This story in probably one example. He shouldn't have gone across the ice as a short cut that late in the season. He should have died. It was only his good luck that someone saw his bone flag. He tied dog bones together to make something higher than his arms to wave so that it could be seen. He had to kill some of his team to eat, to feed his other dogs, and for warmth. He used the dog skins for a coat. He wasn't dressed correctly for a dog sled run. (my opinion) Of what Grenfell writes- he is ingenious with his ways of survival. Which I do believe he was. He was creative or he would have died. He loved his dogs and put up a memorial to the dogs he had to sacrifice. He was so famous that no one questioned his stupidity in taking the journey at all. He is an excellent writer. I loved his account. He is descriptive and his language is amazing. I can see why people gave him money. His charisma shines through. There is more to learn from this man.

[Katelin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
A short story that depicts a man's near death experience, the harshness of pioneer times, and a first person view into the realities of settlement life. An aspect I was not expecting from the story was Grenfell's perception of God. As a person not of god, I particularly found Grenfell's portrayal of his faith endearing and familiar. Although short, I enjoyed the story. All in all it was a quick listen on my drive home from college for spring break, but I found myself listening intently and was quite invested in the story. This short little tale certainly made me interested in Wilfred Grenfell as a person and in the future I may read more accounts of his life in Newfoundland and Labrador!

[Aleia Tipton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Atypical lost at sea, adrift on ice, true survival story account from the 1900’s.

I listened to this on a road trip with my Dad, and the story is certainly wild and entertaining, though very old timey. Hard to call it a book, but definitely an incredible account from a wild Northern experience.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars & 3/10 hearts. I read this little book a little too fast and didn’t quite understand the whole situation, but it was very interesting. The dialect of the fishermen was so interesting, and I loved the dogs at once. MILD SPOILER! Their ending made me sad... END OF MILD SPOILER.

A Favourite Quote: “We all love life. I was glad to be back once more with possibly a new lease of it before me. I had learned on the pan many things, but chiefly that the one cause for regret, when we look back on a life which we think is closed forever, will be the fact that we have wasted its opportunities. As I went to sleep that first night there still rang in my ears the same verse of the old hymn which had been my companion on the ice, ‘Thy will, not mine, O Lord.’”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “...when they came within shouting distance, I heard some one cry out, ‘Don't get excited. Keep on the pan where you are.’ They were infinitely more excited than I. Already to me it seemed just as natural now to be saved as, half an hour before, it had seemed inevitable I should be lost, and had my rescuers only known, as I did, the sensation of a bath in that ice when you could not dry yourself afterwards, they need not have expected me to follow the example of the apostle Peter and throw myself into the water.”

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖊 My review: This is a short recounting of Wilfred Thomason Grenfell’s experience on an ice pan and his subsequent rescue, where “It was Easter Sunday at St. Anthony in the year 1908, but with us in northern Newfoundland still winter. Everything was covered with snow and ice. I was walking back after morning service, when a boy came running over from the hospital with the news that a large team of dogs had come from sixty miles to the southward, to get a doctor on a very urgent case.”

I had a difficult time getting through his dogs’ sacrifice. Shockingly sad, it was.

The Project Gutenberg version of this book has illustrations, whereas the Kindle version does not.

🔥 Dénouement: Upbeat.
✔️Published in 1909.
📌 Would I read this again? Maybe.
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🟣 Media form: Kindle version.
🟢 Media form:Project Gutenberg.

[Ramona Jennex · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treat! I was delighted to find this audio offering of Grenfell's misadventure in our library's offerings. Usually books that we find on audio have been published within the last 15 years. There are a few classics available but this account published well over a hundred years ago is a treasure.
It is a step back in time!
Having been the the area that Sir Grenfell did his mission work gave me a better visual to the area. Hopefully, other readers will google and explore this beautiful area of Newfoundland and Labrador. And also learn more about Sir Grenfell and his work and life.
(Grenfell and his work is revered in Newfoundland.)

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's sad to see that people are reviewing this book from 1908 on the fact that the author killed 3 dogs to survive on ice in the ocean. He regretted the loss of them, created a lasting memorial for them once he returned, and included them in this book as another memorial. If he was not found he and all the dogs would have ended up dead. Instead, he and all but 3 of his dogs were able to return home alive and relatively well. This is a non-fiction survival account, not a sensationalized account of dog-killing.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been to St. Anthony and toured the Museum honouring the Grenfell Mission and shopped at the Co-op store he opened there. His hospital ship brought hope to many along the coast of Labrador but this first person tale is about a trip across sea ice along the Great Northern Peninsula on a mission of mercy to save a boy in need of surgery. How he managed to operate with frost-bitten hands and feet is a tale this pragmatic skillful surgeon was too modest to tell.

[Shey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, harrowing true story of Doctor Wilfred Grenfell keeping alive while marooned in the open ocean on a small ice block with 12 dogs.
"There was little slumber that night in the villages, and even the men told me there were few dry eyes, as they thought of the impossibility of saving me from perishing. We are not given to weeping over much on this shore, but there are tears that do a man honor." page 52

[Translator Monkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story of Grenfell's survival of certain death at the hands of the icy waters - drifting for several days without food or fresh water - off the coast of Newfoundland. I don't know what pulls me into these stories, but this was among the best because it was penned by the man himself. A nice addition at the end by one of the rescuers, who recalls the day Grenfell was spotted, almost by accident. A very quick read, and well worth the time and effort.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short memoir of one incident of this doctor's life in Newfoundland. There are many things to take away from this story. How the doctor did what had to be done. How the people on shore were quick to respond. The differences in how each person reacted and what influenced their decisions.

We are lucky that this one piece of history was saved to be retold. It is a story of the preserverance of the people in a harsh time and place.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intriguing story about a man that gets stuck on an ice pan (small iceberg thingy I think) for a day or two with his team of sled dogs. He has to kill three of his dogs to survive, and he contemplates killing a fourth dog so he can drink the dog’s blood in order to avoid dying of thirst. True story. My dad would love this book!

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best stories I've read this year.
This story by and about Wilfred Grenfell is a short account of how this medical missionary almost died but made necessary sacrifices to survive being adrift at sea upon a block of ice.
Unique and incredible, stories like this one are the reason for the saying "Truth is stranger than fiction."

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! So incredibly moving. Without giving anything away, I'm so glad the dogs were honored for the role they played in this true narrative.

I listened to the audio version which is narrated well. Only an hour long, it is great for listening to while driving. It takes you away from concrete roads & snarled traffic to a remote coast of eastern Canada.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short audio-listen of a time long ago (early 1900s). Although I cannot relate at all to the circumstances, I found encouragement in the story. Namely when you feel hopeless, lost and darkness, remember that you don't know the whole story, you can't see the whole picture and you have no idea how your circumstance will turn out. ❤

[Daniy ♠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so sad to read but still hopefull in a way.

I've seen some reviews bashing the fact that some dogs had to die and being like "oh he killed dogs that could have been saved" but like.... is that really your take on this story? that he made a mistake on the middle of a ice sheet all alone and freezing? fucking hell is this site.

[Clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, touching story about a real-life adventure and a man's heartbreaking decision to sacrifice a few members of his beloved dog team in order to save his own life. Sad and touching. I enjoyed this!

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The account of how Labrador doctor Wilfred Grenfell became adrift on an Ice pan. He was saved by locals and was fortunate to have survived. 1908. He was a respected physician and wrote a full autobiography. This is a short clip from that book.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting story of a harrowing experience. There were bits that I had a hard time picturing, perhaps due to inadequate description or possibly due to unfamiliarity with some of the vocabulary- most likely a bit of both.

[Mrs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a bit surprised Lisa has this in her collection. It is pretty graphic at times. A well-written true story. I'd like to read more about Grenfell's life in Newfoundland.

[Belinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, true story from 1908, describing the days Wilfred Grenfell was adrift on an ice pan off of Newfoundland and Labrador.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and interesting. Audiobook had music interludes.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The length of a short story. A scary adventure off the coast of Newfoundland.

[Tom Oman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading a lot of these survival stories but this one seemed especially desperate. A short but harrowing adventure.