The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1851-11-25
Passing through an Iceberg.
Extract fiom Journal tept by Seaman who served
in the Arctic Expedition of 1s505l.

IN the Arctic Expedition of ls50-51.
SUNDAY, June 30, 1850.
Moorcd TO an iceberg; weather calm, sky
cloudlcss. ard beautifully blue surrounded by
| vast number Of stupendous bergs. gi,terinp
and giistening beneath The refulgeGt rays of a
mid day sun.
! A great portion of the Grew had gone on
shore TO gather The eggs of The wild sea-birds
tha' frequent the lonely ice bound precipices
OF Bsffin's Bay, while those on board had re-
tired TO rest, wearied with The harrassng tolls
Of the preceding day.
| TO mo, walking the deck and alone, all ma.
tnte seemed hushed in universal repose -
While thus contemplating the stiffness Of the
monotonous scone around me. observed in
the oting large iceberg. completely perfora-
| ted, exhibiting 10 the distance an arch, or
tunnel, apparently so uniform in its confurma-
ZION that was induced TO call two Of The sea
men tn look al IT, at the same time telling them
that had never read or heard OF any Of our
Arouo voyager, passing through one of those
| arches SO frequently seen through large betgs
and that there would be q novelty in doing so.
and If they chose TO accompany me would get
permission TO take the dingy, Ga small boat,)
and endeavor IN accomplish the unpreccdent-
ed feat. They readily agreed, aud away we
went
On nearing the arch. and ascertainiug that
tuCiu Nd> ebIhNicucN VI WuIeT the DOdt
to pass through, NO rowed slowly and silently
uoder when there burst upon our view one
of The most magnificent specimens OF natures
handy-work ever exhibited % mortal eyes; the
sublimily and grandeur of which no language
can desctbe--no imagination conceive.
Fancy an immense arch of so feet span, so |
feet high, and upward Of 100 breadth---as cor
rect in its conformation as il IL had been con
structed by tho most scientific artist-formed |
Of solid ice of u beautiful emerald green, its
whole expanso Of surface smoother than the |
most polished alabaster. and you may form
some slight conception Of The Architectural
hcauues oi this icy temple, the wonderful
workmanship of time and the elements.
When we had got about half way through
the mighty structures on locking upward OBJ
served that the berg was split the whole breadth
of the arch. aud IN perpendicular direction
TO It's summit showing two vertical sections of
regular surfaces, 'darkly, deeply. beautifully
blue here and there eliminated by an arctic
sun which darted It's golden rays between, pre-
sen,ing TO the eye picture Of ethereal gran
leur which no poet could describe. no painter
portray. was so eoraplorcd with the sight
hat for moment | faocied The blue vault oil
heaven had opened and that actually gazed
on the celestial splendor Of world beyond
his. But this! 10 an instant the scene chang /
ID, and awoke as il were from a delightful s
iream to experience sll The horrors Of terri !
,le reality / observed the factute RAPIDLY 1
lose, then again slowly opon. This stipend !
,us mass Of ice. millions Of tons In weight. | r
vas ai1oat, consequently 10 motion and appar- ,
'ntly about TO lose its equilibrium, carsize, or
'urst into fragments. Cor position was truly /,
wful; my feelings at the moment may be con- )
eived, but cannot DO desbrbed. | Looked i
downward and arouad me; tho sight was equal /,
y appalling; the very sea seemed agitated. a
{ last shut my eyes from scene so terrible, T
he men at the oars, as IL by instinct, "gaye
'ay.' and our little craft swiftly glijed from
enealh the gigantic mass.
We then rowed round the berg, keeping at
respectable distance from u. In order TO Judge
I its magnitude. supposed Il to be about 4
,ile in circumference, and its highest pinnacle
so feet. "
Thus ended an excursion. the baro recollec- a
on Of which at This moment swskens in me
hudder; nevertheless. l would not have lost n
no opportunity Of witnessing scene so sw. n