Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-09-09
SHIP BYRON-THE ICEBERGS.
Perilous Encounter with an Iceberg near
the Ranks IF Npwfnuud Iuud.

iron, salt, &c. and having on board, IN pas
sengers and crew, 10 or 100 souls. On
the morning of the Sd of August, 81 days
out, in lat. "A %, lon az so, scene occur
red which can never be effaced from memo
ry. 1t was the watch Of the first mate, a
man of great fidelity, but being indisposed
his place was taken by another. An unu-
sual degree of levity and thoughtless secur-
ty among the passengers, had just given
place TO sleep And now all was still, save
the tread Of the watch on deck, or the occa-
sional toll of the bell to warn fishing craft, it,
near, of our approach: but we had more
need to be warned ourselves than to give
warning to others of approaching danger
Abont 2 o'clock A. NJ. hurried step awoke
the writer Of this sketch and the rapid whis-
pering OF some created the suspicion that all
was not right. Sprnging from his berth,
he asked one Of the men near the cabindoor,
what was the matter ave are in the midst
of ice" said he; "Will you inform the cap
tain and mate2 ?" The captain was instantly
on deck; he ran forward to look out In
moment the vessel, going at the rate OF bve
knots, struck as if against solid rock. II
was an island Of ice 1t lifted its head a
bove the water more than one hundred feet
and leaned over, as if ready to fall down up
on US The word was given 10 put up helm
and back the sails As the sailors were has.
tening to obey the latter order-as the terri
fled passengers were rushing on deck and
looking up at the immense, overhanging
freezing mass, the ship struck again with
increased force o what a shock Crash
Crash it seemed as il the mnsls were fall
ing one after another on the deck. The Sc
cond mate entered the cabin and clipping
violently his hands together exclaimed, my
God our bows are stove in-we're all
gone"
An awful death appeared now inevitable.
In this moment of general panic, the com
handing officer gave orders to clear away
the boat Then, while the knife was being
applied to the cordagc fastening her along
side the ship, rush was made to her by
men and women. That small boat was IN q
moment filled with thirty or forty persons
1t seems utterly marvellous that she did moi
break down. precipitating every soul into the
deep. Had this taken place, our command
ing officer must have shared the same fate
for, from desire to gain possession oil he'
for himself and crew, or 10 save the mlsera
Bile crowd that had got into her from desiruc
ton-it NAV be from both motives-he en-
tered the boat and stood in her I'LL he drove
f out every one at the point OF the sword
Then was scene OF terror In front OF th'
cabin the passengers had collected, hall ma
ked-some on their knees calling for mer
cy-some capping their hands, and utter
ing the most appalling shriels. Nothlnt
distinctly could be heard, All was coniu
sion and horror. 1t was enough 10 pene
: trate n heart of stone. Some, more collect
/ ed. were dressing themselves preparing L
q resist the cold, if perchance they should SUI
/ yiye on The wreck Others were looking TO
q something to which they could lash them
/. selves for support for time in the water
. Here YOU might see one with safety be
sluno over his shirt, endeavoring TO fill
. with air: there another, pale and agItate'
e inquiring, is there any hopeF And 'her
another one standing as II in sullen despal
Il saving, 1t is no use to do any thing. "
!, must die Are we sinking, uncleF cries
d dear boy. A child running to brave sal
d or says, Won't you save me And the lou
% wailing and amentation from the crowd ros
:. higher and higher Then as ifto close Ii
If painful scene, the ship struck again on NJ
.. quarter. The shock everberated like thu
n der, making every joint of the vessel shah
4 as if coming apart. Hope now'fully he'
,s all hearts were dismayed the despairng CT
~ was renewed, and the most calm brace
a themselves in preparation for immed'a
ar death. Even the dogs covered down on Il
!, deck in silence
n. 1t appeared that at the first shock again
re- the mountain, the jib-boom was broken a.
&c thrown over the bows into the vessel. III
IN second shock carried away the bowspr
;s head and cul-water lodging the tImbers
-. cross the bows. Had it struck us on eth
de side or had il struck the hull, we must ha
no perished but by the mercy OF God, the hi
or was unmiured After the bowsprlt was CT
Of ried away the stem of the ship must ma
~. been held down for an instant by the ov'
We hanging column and her not immediate
rising in 'front.' gave the idea to the most
perienced, that she was stove IN, and was
ling with water. This created the panic.
~. But the sails being backed, the helm put ma
n. mn. she turned off from her enemy, a
re. swinging clear, received the last shock
on her larboard quarter, which, though its sou
DIV was terrible, did no injury. 1hat 'nsf'
, a she aoas free. Now was the contest betwe
ur. despair and hope The carpenter ,repor
mo thai the hull was sound and the bowsI
in could be repaired, but then she may nj
md sprung aleak, and the foremast is IN dan'
og- Of falling The word was TO the pun
ne. The pump was rugged and worked. 1t
i've moment of painful suspense, until the pu
had sucked, showing that all was tight II
avs hone pilded the countenance OF our capti