Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1840-09-12
rlIr prRlLs ok rnE SEA

4
rcrhaps tho records OF The hanln rlcc d, not pre-
sent q case OF more narrow escape from apPorenily
inevitable destruction and death 10 the whole o' a gal
ships crew Than m the case oithe fcar~k "Heoi
the sloops of war ia the Exploring Expedition "heh
she sustained the injuries which Obliged her 10 return
early in last March. to S, dncy, (Sew South Wales
to repair and reiir. The lollowin; extract Of leuer
tom a person on boanl that ship will give the reader
some idea of i. though he nautical terms Will mike u
less clear tp some of somc of Que readers ,hln 10 Those
who ae smilile with them
SYDNEY. Nav SoUrn WALES
"luurcs 10, 1910.
Before this reaches you, you will probably have
heard ofour return To this port Tor repairs, having been
compelled to do 81 by injuries susiai icd IA the ice. by
which We were confined fr forty most anxious hours
for twenty hours with the imminent fear of most
awful death. 80 closely was the ice packed around
rs. and in such masses. that even under n press orcan-
vaSs. assisted by lee anchors and every other means
u at experience or necessity could suggest, we nj times
ren.ained mouun!ess tor houn-the ice cutting into the
vi,als Of lhc ship. AMI threatening to grind US to
oowder.
aOn Inc r,-,...::- OF Ihe-lda;e forgotten. and. being
now IN town. cannot rcCtr)-n.. . nrocnred sound
ilgs aad seen appearances OF land. cheered w'.- the
lrssl ct Of reaching II, We worked r through heavy
Crit. zee and ueyi monlin. abont9 \. NJ. IN cndea'
VnTing 10 av0id n large mass ahead, we gave her q
stcrnboarJ. which ainos, Instantly brought the ruddeI
ia contact with another mass. and. - stulent was the
shock. that the mIdcrhead was wrenchcd off. AMI The
rudJer fixed immOy=bly aIhwari ships. rendering the
ship almost entirely unmsnageahle. We used every
effort TO wear her. but. like mad, she dove on iaFougi
the ice. ill II became - close as 10 be impasSa6le
We then lurleI SAIL, planted ice ANCHORS. aud resnlv
ed 10 Ic quiet al we could repair our rudder. wheI
suddenly "A large body Office under our stern slsilic'
- position. the anchors come home, and we drov'
doyu GA a range OF ice berss mast head high. and over
hanging the deck. AMI with GREATNESS anxiety AWAITED
tic shock. (which no lining human could prcvent)-
ava iamcl>e IN reniing mass lotiering 10 Is fali. AM
( threatening 10 crash us henc,th n. Our sponkcr bOou
-~iriEglcd Coz a moment. and thcn broke lake a reed
.Ic scri-lu1t crushed like an cccshel.: anl then wen
item dINtts ani all the upper works ON the sia'hoar
tide, A. far as the gincNny-evcry sjinchion brokei
,ipH OF The ship rebouHitd! We bselshcl again
anI hiniOd at jb AMI saysail -hceIs. aud gave her
cant ug from our inhospi,abie nc'ehhor. We the
Ipadc sail. AMI. b. great Ncruons. had a most Prov
dental cs"apc. after dumping OF our mrse'ut. and cut
uns into the sicrn within an Iigh and a half of IN
i'so)dcnls. or I'm ~ gOpi Eosli.h) wiih.n n inch am
. hall Or oar lives. Had our conin-ncni been pr,
ll,ngcl another holT. we shonlL all have gone 1
, Davy Jones.
, 81 have mentioned he anxiety with which we view
III The oyerhangm2 miss loiicrin- to Iis fab Assoc
20 n ~.'lilscienI splce had inicryerci between our sieF
aud the iceberg. IL fer harniessly ia our wake"