State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-09-13
SHIP pyRoN-THE ICEBERGS.


On the 3Oh June last the ship Byron
left Liverpool lur New York, heavily laden
with iron, salt, &c. and having on board,
in passengers and crew, 10 ur 100 souls.
On the morning of the 81 OF August, 81
days out in lat. III o. Ion. Is so, scene
occurred which can never he ellaCed from
memory. 1t was the watch Of the first
mate, man Of great fidelity, but being IN
disposed, his place was taken by another.
An unusual degree of lcvity and thought
less security among the passengers, had
Just given place to sleep. And now all
was still, save the tread of the watch on
deck, or the occasional toll Of the bell to
warn fishing craft, linear, ofour approach ::
but we mad more need To be warned our
selves than to give warning 10 others of
approaching danger. About o'clock, A..
M. a hurried step awoke the writer oi this
sketch and the rapid whispering Of some
created the suspicion that all was not right.
. Springing from his berth, he asked one Of
the men near the cabin door, what was the
matter. we are in the midst OF ice, said
he will you inform the captain and mate /"
The captain was instantly on deck he ran
forward to look out. In moment the YES
sci, going at the rate OF five knots, struck as
If against solid rock. Ii was an island Of
ice 1t lifted It's head above the water more
than one hundred feet, and leaned over, as
il ready TO fall down upon us. The word
was given 10 put up helm and back the
sails. As the sailors were fastening to a.
hey the latter order-as the terrified pas
scngers 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 !
Crash it seemed as if the masts were fall
ing one after another on the deck. The
second mate entered the cabin, and clap
ping violently his hands together, exclam-
ed, MY God our bows are slove in
we're all gone An awful death appeared
inevitable. In this moment Of general pan
ic, the commanding officer gave orders to
clear away the boat Then, while the
knife was being applied to the cordage ias-
tcning her alongside the ship, rush was
made TO her by men and women. That
small boat was in moment filed with thiT-
" or forty persons. ii seems utterly mar
veous that she did not break down, pre-
cpitating every soul into the deep. Had
this taken place, our commanding officer
must have shared the same fate; for, from
a desire To gain possession of her himself
and crew, or to save the miserable crowd
that had got into her, from dcsiruction--il
may be from both motives-hc entered the
boat, and stood in her until he drove out
every one at the point OF the sword, Then
was scene of terror In front Of the cab
in the passengers were collected, la lnaked
some on their knees calling for mercy
some clapping their hands, and uitering the
most appalling shrieks. Nothing distinctly
could be heard. All was confusion and
horror. II was enough TO penetrate heart
Of stone. Some, more collected, were dres-
sing themselves, preparing to resist the
cold, fperchance they should survive on
the wreck. Others were looking for some
thing TO which they could lash themselves
for support for lime in the water. Here,
you might see one with u saicty-belt slung
over his shirt, endeavoIing to fill it with
air: there, another, pale and agiiated, in
quirng is there any hope?' And there,
one standing as if in sulIen despair, saying
1T is no use to do any thing. We mus
de- Are we sinking, uncle ? cries dear
boy. A child running 10 have sailor
says, wont you save me ? And the loud
waiing and amentation from the crowd
rose higher and higher. Then, as if To
close the painful scene, the ship struchk a
gain on her quarter. The shock reverber
ated like thunder, making every joint ofthe
vessel shake as if coming apart. Hope
now fully fled all hearts were dismayed:
the despai:ing cry was renewed, and the
.;,ost calm braced themselves in preparation
for immediate death. Even the dogs cow
cred down on the deck in silence.
Ii appeared that the first shock against
the mountain, the jib-boom was broken
down and thrown over the bows into the
vessel. The second shock carried away
the bow-sprif, head, and cutwaier, lodging
the timbers across the bows. Had it struck
us on the other side, ~ had il struck the
hull, we must have persisted: but, by the mer-
cy Of God, the hull was uninjured. Alter
she bowsprit was carried away, the stem Of
the ship must have been held down for an in
slant by the OverhanginG column; and her
not immediately rising in front, gave the
idea to the most experienced that she was
stove in, and was filing with water.
This created the panic. But the sails be-
ing backed, the helm put hard up, she turn
cd OH from her enemy, and swinging clear,
received the last shock on her larboaid qua
ter, which, though its sound was terrible,
did no injury. That instant she aaas free.
And now WAS the contest between despair
and hope. The carpenter reported that
the hull was sound, and the bowsprit could
be repaired, and then she may have sprung
a-leak, and the ioremast is in danger of ial-
ling The word was "to the pump" The
pump was rugged and wrought. II was
moment Of painful suspense until The pump
sucked, showing that all was tight. Then
hope gilded in the countenanee OF our cap
tain, and all hearts began to live in lis ra-
dance. Still we waited 10 hear the crash
OF the foremost as the vessel was rolling in
,ko non hni il stnnh firm, nn,.l;.l, -