Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-05-15
EXTRACTFROMCAPT. wuKFyNAp-

EXTRACT FROM CAPT. WILKES MAR.
RATIvE OF THE U. S. EXPLORING EX.
PEDITION.-"On the 10th Of January. lS4O.
the three vessels were in lon. l57 deg. 40 min.
+. Birds Of vafieus kinds were seen around
the ship. Sounding, with two hundred and
thirty fathoms, the Vincennes found no bot
tom. On this day appearances, believed at
the time to be land, were visible from all three
vessels. = From this day, therefore,
we date the discovery which is claimed for the
Squadron"
Ice, in great quantities, was encountered,
and we give in the Commanders w language
the position in which they saw themselves
placed:
The feeling Is awful, and the uncertainty
most trying, thus to enter within the icy bar
rier blindfolded, as it were. by an impenetra.
ole log, and the thought constantly recurring
that both ship and crew were in imminent
danger. . We were swiftly dash;no
on, Tor ! telt 1t necessary to keep the ship un.
der rapid way through the water, to enable
her to steer and work quickly. Suddenly ma
ny voices cried out 'ice ahead!' then, son the
weather bow and again, 'on the lee bow and
abeam9 All hope OF escape seemed in a mo-
ment to vanish. Return we could not. "A
large ice islands had just been passed to the
leeward; so we dashed on, expecting every
moment the crash. The ship in an instant.
from having her lee guns under water, rose up-
right, and so close were we passing to leeward
OF one OF those huge islands, that our try sails
were almost thrown aback by the eddy wind.
Inc helm was put up to pay the ship off, but
,ne proximity or those under our lee, made me
keep my course. All was NOW still save the
distant roar of the wild storm, that was raging
behind, before and above us. The sea was ;5
great agitation, and both officers and men were
In the highest degree excited. The ship CON
tnucd her why, and as we proceeded, a glim-
mering ofhope arose-for we accidentally had
hit upon a clear passage between two ice
islands, which, in fine weather, we should not
have dared to venture through. The suspense
endured while making our way through them
was intense, but OF short duration and my
spirits rose as | heard the whistling of the gale
grow louder and louder before us, as we emer-
ged rom the passage. We had escaped an
awful death and were again tempest-tost."
enclosed in regions of thick ribbed ice" and
all the horrors attending their impending fate
says:
Few are able to estimate the feelings that
such an occasion causes to a commander, who
has the responsibility of the safety of a ship
and crew operating as a heavy weight upon
his heart, and producing a feeling as If ON the
verge of some overwhelming calamity all
tends to satisfy him that nothing could guide
in safety through, or shield from destruction
those who have been entrusted to his charge
but the hand of an all-wise Providence" .
The appearance of the icebergs is happily
described: '
"lf an immense city of ruined alabaster pal
aces can be imagined, of every variety of shape
and tint, and composed of hug e piles Of build
ings grouped together. with long lanes or
streets winding irregularly through them, some
iaint idea may be formed of the grandeur and
beauty Of the spectacle"
Many of the scenes described in this work
outstrip the widest scenes of fiction, and will
appeas uASGesy 5sadefs to border on the won
ders of the "Arabian Nights"