Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-02-11
From Me Wesimia,ier Rsviev.
Awful Discovery.

One serene evening, in the middle Of August,
I176, Capt. Warrens. the master Of the Greenland
whale ship, found himself becalmed among an i'm
mense number Of icebergs, in about II degrees Of
north latitude. On one side and within mile Of
his vessel. these were closely wedged together and
succession ofsnow-coloured peaks appeared.be-
hind each other as far as the eye could reach,
showing that the ocean was completely blocked up
in that quarter, and that he had probably been so
for long period Of time. Captain Warren did
not feel altogether satisfied with his situation but
there being no wind he could not move one way or
the other, and he therefore kept strict watch,
knowing that he woul be safe as long as the ice
bergs continued in their respective places
About midnight, the wind rose to a gale, accom-
panied by thick showers Of snow, while success
sion oftremendous Numbering. grinding. and crash
ing noise gave fearful evidence that the ice was in
motion. The vessel received violent shocks every
moment for the hsziness OF the atmosphere pre-
vented those on board from discovering in what
direction the open water lay, or il there actually
was any at all on either side Of them. The night
was spent in lacking as often as any cause Of dam
ger happened to present ITSELF and in the morning
the storm abaled, and Capt. Warrens found, 10 his
great joy, that the ship had no, sustained any SCI
rious injury. He remarked with surprise that the
accumulated icebergs, which had on the preced-
| ing evening formed an impeneirable barrier, had
been separated and disarranged by the wind, and
in one place canal Of open sea wound its course
among them as far as the eye could discern.
IL was two miles beyond the entrance Of this
canal that ship made ils appearance about noon.
The sun shone brightly at the time, and gentle
breeze blew from the north At first some inter-
vening icebergs prevented Captain Warrens from
distinctly seeing anything but her masts but he
was struck with the strange manner in which her
sails were disposed, and with the dismantled aspect
NJ hArv rda md he al In n
before the wind for few furlongs and then ground
ing upon the low icebergs, remained motionless.
/ Capt Warrens curiosity was so much excited
that he Immediately lesped into his boat with sew
eFal seaman and rowed towards her On approach
ing he observed that her hull was miserably weather
beaten, and not soul appeared on the deck, which
was covered with snow to a considerable depth
He hailed her crew several times, but no answer
I was returned Previous TO stepping on board, an
open port hole the main chains caught his eye
and on looking into IT, he perceived man recn'
ing back on chair, with writing materials on 1
table before him, but the feebleness Of The ligh
, made everything very indistinct The party wen
upon deck, and having removed the hatchway
which they found closed, they descended to the
cabin They first came to the apartment which
!, Capt. Warrens viewed through the port hole. A
remour seized him as he entered it. It's inmate
retained his former position, and seemed TO be in
and green damp mould had covered his cheek
| and forehead, and yelled his open eye.bals. II,
!, had a pen in his hand. aud log-book lay beior,
= him. and the last sentence in whose unfinished
! page ran thus ;--"Noy. IA, I762 We have nov
: been enclosed in the ice II days The FIRE wen
out yesterday, and our master has been trying eve
!, since TO kindle it again without success. His wiz
! died this morning. There is no relief"
" Captain Warrens and his seamen hurried fror
the spot without uttering word. On entering III
r principal cabin the first object that attracted the
Z attention the dead body Of female reclinin
d on bed in an attitude Of deep interest and after
g ton. Her countenance retained the freshness
life, and contraction Of the limbs showed thu
+ her form was namimale. Seated on the floor was
e. corpse Of an apparently young man, holding STE
le in one hand aud flint in the other, s in the a
ID lofsiriking fire upon some finder which lay besid
him. In the fore part OF the vessel several sailo
n were found lying dead in their berths and the bod
Up Of boy was crouched at the bottom ofthe gam
re way stairs. Neither provisions nor fuel could
er discovered anywhere, but Captain Wauens W
preyented, by the supersttious preiudices Of h
It. seamen, from examining the vessel as infinitely
at he wished 10 have DONE He therefore carrie
away the log.book already mentioned, and Teur
p ed to his own ship. and Immediately seered TO Il
Of southwark deeply impressed with the awful examp
which he had Just Witnessed Of the danger Of nav
he eating the Polar in high northern ATTITUDES.