The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-06-12
DANGER OF SAILING IN
HIGH LATITUDES

HIGH LATITUDES,
Que severe evening in the middle of
August, l775, Captain Warrins the
master ofa Greenland wbaleship, found
himself becalmed among vast number Of
ieebcrgs, IN about II deg. north latitude.
On one side, and within mile Of his yes
sci, these were Of immense height and
closely wedged together, and succession
OF snow covered peaks appeared behind
each other as far as the eye could reach,
showing that the ocean was completely
blocked up IN that quarter. and that il had
probably beer SO for long period oftimc.
Captain Warrens did not feel altogether
satisfied with his station, but there being
no wind he could not move either one
way or another, and he therefore kept q
strict watch, knowing that he would be
safe as long as the surrounding icebergs
continued in their respective places.
About nidnight the wind rose to
gale. accompanied by thick showers of
snow, while a succession OF tremendous
laundering, grinding, and crashing noises
gave fearful evidence that the ice was in
motion. The vessel received violent
shocks every moment, for the haziness
ot the Atmosphere prevented those oD
board from discovering in what direction
tho open water lay, or actually if there
was any at all on either side of them.
The nisht was spent in tacking as often
as any cause of danger happened t. pre-
sent 'tself and in the morning the storm
abated and Capt. Warrius found to his +.
grea, JOY that his ship had not sustained
any serious injury. He remarked with
surprise that the accumulated icebcrgs
which had on the preceding evening form.
ed an impenotrable barrier, had been sep
arated d disarranged by the wind and that
IN one place canal of open sea wound It's
course among thcn as far as the eye could
discern.
II wastwo miles beyond the entrance
OF this canal that ship made its appear
ancc about noon. The sun shone bright
Y q. the time and us Ssnss s64g sgeszs blew
ing icebergs prevented Capt. Warrins
from distinctly seeing any thing except
her masts, but bo was struck with the
strange manner in which her sails we're
disposed and with the dismaniled aspect
other yards and rigging. She continued
to 90 before the wind for few furlongs
and then grounding upon the low lee
bergs remained motionless.
Captain Warrins' curiosity was so
much excited, that he immediately leap
ed into his boat " with several seamen, and
rowed towards her. On approaching
nt,c vAI tI.ot hnr la,
weather beaten, and not "A soul appeared
upon the deck which was covered with
snow to considerable depth. He hail
cd the crew several times, but no answer
was returned Previous TO stepping on
board. an open port hole near the main
chains caught his eye, and on looking
into it, he perceived a man reclining
back in n chair, with writing materials
on small table before him, but tho
feebeness Of the light made every thing
very indlsiinci. The party, therefore
went upon deck, and having removed
tho hstchway which they found closed.
they descended 10 the cabin. They
first camo to the apartment which Capt.
Warrins had viewed through the port
hole. A tremour seized him as he en-
tered it. Its inmate retained his former
position, and seemed to be insensible of
strangers. He was found to be corpse,
and green dark mould had covered his
cheeks and forehead, and his open eye
balls. He held pen IN his hand, aud
"a log book lay before him, the last SEN
tence in whose unfinished pnge ran thus:
al Nov. 1862 we have now been en-
closed in the ico seventy days. The
fire went out yesterday and our master
has been trying ever since to kindle it a.
gain but without success. His wife died
this morning. There is no relief"
Captain Warrins aud his seamon bur-
ried from the spot without utiering
word. On entering the principal cabin.
the first object that attracted their atten-
ton was tho dead body Of female re-
clining on n bed in an attitude of deep
interest and attention. er.noNptensnce
retained the freshness Of II COLI
traction of the limbs alone 81 that
her form was in animate. SeasUuon the
floor in one corner Of the room, was the
corpse Of an apparently young man
holdings a steel IN one hand and flint IN
the other, as il in tho act Of striking
fire upon somo ,indcf which lay before
him.
Ia the fore part Of the vessel several
sailors were found lying dead in their
bcrths, and the body Of dog was found
at the bottom Of the gansway
stairs. Neither provisions nor fuel could
bc jiscerned any where, but Captain