Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-09-15

IEceTIu8 uldSts-l HuTF!cu Oh. SbNciHUSS TuHRiUg
along the brink OF a circular opening n the ice
and sometimes leapng trigh,ful cEasns--
all the while unconscious ofhayng any oh Iect IN
view The ice every where creaked under my
feet, and knew that death awaited me, whether
fled away or remained on the spot. felt as one
would dc, if forced by some presenting fiend to
range over the surface of black and shoreIess
ocean; and aware, that whenever his tormen,or
withdrew his sustaining power, he would sink
down, and be suif;jcated among the pillows that
struggled beneath him.
At last night came on, and exhausted by IA
tiguc and mental excitement, | wrapped myself
in my cloak, aud lay down upon the ice. 1t was
50 dark could not have moved one step, without!
running the risk Of falling into the lake. almost
wished that the drowsiness produced by intense
cold. would begin to affect me; but did not feel
in the slightest degree chilled, and the tcmpera-
turc Of the air in reality above freezing. |
had lain only few minutes when | heard the
howl Of Il wolf The sound was indescrbably de-
lghif;ll to my ear and started up with the in
tention of Fastening TO the spot from whence it
seemed to proceed but hopeless my situation
then was, my heart shrtinl< within me when |
contemplated the dangers ! would encounter in
making such an attempt. Aly courage failed. and
resumed my former position. and listened to the
undilations of the waters as they undermined, and
beat against the lower part of the ice which
lay.
About midnight the storm ceased, and most OF
the clouds radualIy forsook the sky, while the ri
sing moon dispeIIed the darkness that had previ-
ously prevailed. However, thick haze covered
the heavens, and rendered her light dim and
CHASTITY, and similar to that shed during eclipse.
succession of noises had continued with little
interruption for several hours, and at last the
benea tn me began to move. started up, and,
on looking around, that the whole surface OF
the lake was in a state of agitation. My eye be-
came dim, and stretched out my to catch
8, .,it cd tbipoS
were passing away.
TIE kissing, grinding, and crushing, produced
by the different masses of ice coming into coils
ion were tremendous. Large fragments some
times got wedged together, and lmpeded the pro-
gress Of those behind them, which, being pushed
forward by others still further back, were forced
upon the top Of the first, and fantastic shaped
pvra mids and towers could be distinctly seen ri
sing among the nists of night, and nomentarily |
changing their FORMS and finally disorganizing |
themselves with magical rapidty and fearful tn
multi. AT other times, an immense mass OF ice !
would start up into perpendicular position and
continue cleaning in the moonshine tor 4 little |
period, and then vanish like spectre among the !
abyss of waters beneath 1t. The piece of ice, on
which had first taken my position, happened to
be very large and thick, but other fragments were
soon forced above it, and formed mound six or
seven feet high on the top of which stood, CON
templatng the awful scene about me, and feeling |
rs if no longer had the least connexion with the
world, or retained anything human or earthly in
my composition.
The wind which pretty strong, drove the
ice down the lake very fast. My alarms and anx-
ieties had gradually become less intense, and l
was several times overcome by sort of stupor;
during the continuance of which mag nation and
reality combined their distractlng influences AT
one time iancied that the snow still drifted rs
violently as ever, and that distinguished through
It's hazv medium, Il band of Indian chiefs walking
past me, upon the surface of the lake. Their
steps were noiseless and they went along with
wan and detected look and downcast eyes, and
paid no attention to my explanations and entrea-
les for relief. AT another thought. was floating
N the middle OF the ocean, and that blazing sun
famed in the coudless sky, and made the ice
which supported me melt so fast, that heard
streams of water pouring from its sides, and felt
myself every moment descending towards the
surface OF the pillows. | usually Weakened
rom such dreams by some noise or violent concus-
ion but always reiapsed into them whenever the
ause of disturbance ceased to operate.
The longest and last OF these slumbers was bro
zen bv a terrible shock, which my ice island re-
eived. and which threw me from my seat, and
earlv precipi,ated me into the lake. On regain
nc my former position, and looking round, per-
civ ed to my Joy and as.onishment, that was IN
river The water between me and the shore
vas still frozen over, and was about thirty yards
vide. consequently the fragment on which l
food. could not approach any nearer than this.
fter moment OF irresolution, leaped upon the
rozen surface and began to run towards the bank
+ the river Nv feet seemed scarcely to touch
he ice, 50 great was my terror lest 1t should give
,av beneath me; bat reached the shore in safety
nd dropped down completely exhausted by ia
igue."