New York Wednesday July 2 - 1913. Rolled out of my bunk at 4:45 A.M. into another sweltering day. I might interest psychologists to know that at this minute I didn't care whether we went to Green Island or Guinea - I only prayed to get away. Odd hours turned to at 7:00 A.M. Wagon loads of supplies continued to arrive. Visitors hindered work on deck a great deal. Four of our 19 cases of storage batteries were smashed by rough handling. Cloudy in afternoon with showers. Last bundle I slide runners aboard at 5:10 P.M. Ship is full dressed and decks are piled high with every conceivable thing. I wonder that we have even gotten things on deck as well as we have. I have made desperate efforts to stow everything on the quarterdeck that we might need on the trip up. But I feel that many things have gone below that should not. All of the Expedition have struggled to get us off in time and try them succeeded - Mac Millan and Dr. Hurry have done the best of it - especially the former. At 5:30 we cast off our last line and backed out. A yard tug helped me on the turn. Whistles blew and songs chanted. The Hanover's band played as we passed - We are off at last ! Standing up for Hell Gate! At 7:12 A.M. anchored off City Island and sent the pilot ashore - A good session and we turned in pretty well fogged with heat and loss of sleep.