The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1826-09-26
THE ICEBERGS.
A NarratiUe of Facts communicated By a
Rr;fish Admiral.

British admiral.
Those immense masses of leo that are |
formed in the northern seas, and, which
occasionally breaking loose, are borne on
the waves into more southern attitudes,
and are generally known by the name of
icebergs, arc very dangerous to navigators;
more SO than rocks; for if a vessel strikes
upon the latter, there is support general
w afforded to the wreck, which allows the !
crew time to use such means for their es-
cape as the nature of the coast may admit |
of: but these icebergs yield none. They
are computed in general to exhibit only
one third of real bulk above water; that
part which is concealed extending in an
irregular shape in all directions, and slant
ing down towards the base. Thus, when
one of them has struck ship, it is impos-
sible that it should uphold her for mo-
ment, being not only Hill of glass, as it
were, on all sides, but also perpetuaily in
motion.
At one particular season Of some years
the icebergs come down in great numbers,
and obstruct the passage on the North A
merican coast, endangering the vessels |
considerably. They appear in every form,
and Of all sizes some scarcely exceeding
the dimensions of small cottage; others
appearing as the ruins of a large town; and
others again of an extent that cannot be
easily calculated, sometimes miles in length,
and of a tremendous height. Not unfre-
quently a ship is caught between two of
them, that are hurled against each other
by the impulse of the waves; in which
case it is generally lifted out of the water,
and either crushed by the violent compress
sion, or plunged again into the sea, by the
parting of these strange and terrible mas
SEES. i have seen them off the coast of
Newfoundland, tossed upon the pillows,
and looking so exceedingly beautiful that II
should have wished for their nearer app
proach, if not aware how perilous it would
be to our vessel. How often do we long
for those things, which, if granted, would
be our destruction, and murmur at those
to which we may perhaps
owe the safety both of our bodies and
souls
met at sea with gentleman who had /
experienced most wonderful and provi- Il
Dental escape when entangled amongst the |
icebergs will relate it, as nearly as my
recollection Of his narrative will permit.
He was captain of merchant vessel $
that traded between the eastern and west $
srn shores Of the Atlantic. It had often I
been his lot to take out missionaries, the
of God to the perishing hea-
hen, who bore the glad tidings offorgive- {
ness and peace to ruined man, through the {
infinite love Of the Redeemer in dying to s
pay the penalty of their sins, and rising a.
gain, openly, to assure them that by His I
Heath He had overcome him that hath the 1
power of death, that is, the devil, and rem q
Tered the grave gate of life to all be-
levers. 1t
Probably it was from the teaching Of '
hese missionaries, that the captain had be- r
come SO we'll acquainted with the glorious t
truths they were sent forth to proclaim G
ne certainly appeared very pious man t
md in the attention he paid to the souls, {
40 less than to the personal advantages oil i
his crew, there was good evidence that his
was a living faith. clarifying God in the q
fruit which it bore. Ii
His vessel had made her last voyage 1
rom England to the West Indies: thence {
she took out a cargo and some passengers I
to North America, but, on the way thith- I
er, was -overtaken with dreadful storm. I
sprung a leak, and would have inevitably :
have sunkswith all on board, had not tlse
Lord mercifully heard the prayers Of the
poor destitute people, and given them
strength to, exert such persevering efforts
as kept the ship afoat until they could put |
into the port Of Halifax, and repair the |
injuries she had sustained.
Once more the vessel sailed, but with
out any passengers. They could not wait
the slow process Of reftting her, and there
fore providentially took their departure in
another, by, which they safely arrived at
the port of their destination.
twas now the season when icebergs be-
gin to accumulate in those seas; and an un-
usual number had already been observed
about the coast.
To pass up the river St. Lawrence was
the captains object; and he proceeded in
that direction, but was driven out of his
course by adverse winds. After a long
time no found himself in the bay of Cas-
pc, and the icebergs became more numer-
Gus around him.
Very thick weather came on; he pro-
ceeded cautiously, for the danger was most
appalling; TO (which side soever no turned.
icebergs met his view, rising in grotesque