Litchfield enquirer., 1851-01-23
Frozen Ship.

At this period, when SO much anxiety
prevails respecting the fate Of Sir John
Franklin, every thing relating to the Po~
lar regions is of interest. The following
sketch is one of the most thrilling we
have ever heard:
One serene evening in the middle of
August, l775, Capt. Warrens, the mas,
ter Of the Greenland, whale ship, found
himself becalmed among an immense
number Of icebergs in about II degrees
OF north latitude. On one side, and with
in a milo of his vessel, these were closely
wedged together, and succession Of
snow.colored peaks appeared behind each
other as far as the eye could reach, show
ing that the ocean was completely blocked
up in that quarter, and that it had prob>
ably been SO for long period Of time.
Capt. Warrens did not feel altogether
satisfied with his situation; but there be-
ing no wind he could not move one way
or the other, and he therefore kept strict
watch, knowing that he would be safe as
long as the icebergs continued in their
respective places.
About midnight the wind rose to a
gale, accompanied by thick showers of
snow, while a succession of tremendous
laundering, grinding and crashing noises
gave fearful evidence that the ice was in
motion. The vessel received violent
shocks every moment haziness Of the
atmosphere prevented those on board
from discovering in what direction the
open water lay or if there actually was
any at all on either side of them. The
night was spent in lacking as often as any
cause of danger happened to present it.
self. and in the morning the storm abated
and Capt. w. found to his great JOY that
his ship had not sustained any serious
injury. He remarked with surprise, that
the accumulated icebergs which had on
the preceding evening formed an impen>
etrable 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.
1t was two miles beyond the entrance
of this canal that ship made its appear
ance about noon. The sun shone bright
" at the time, and gentle breeze blew
from the north. At first some interven-
ing iceebergs prevented Capt. w. from
seeing anything distinctly but her masts !;
but he was struck with the strange man.
ner in which her sails were dis posed, and
with the dismantled aspect of her yards
and rigging. She continued to 60 before
the wind for few furlongs, and then
motionless. s4-.
Capt. WIS curiosity was so much ex-
cited, that he Immediately leaped into his
boat with several seamen, and rowed
towards her. On approaching, he OBJ
served that her hull was considerably
weather beaten, and not soul appeared
on deck, which was covered with snow
to considerable depth. He hailed her
crew several times but no answer was re-
turned. Previous to stepping on board.
an open port hole near the main chains
caug his eye, and looking into he per-
C lived man reclining back on a chair,
with writing materials before him. but
the feebleness Of the light made every
thing indistinct.
The party went on deck, and having |
removed the hatchway, which was found
closed, they descended to the cabin.
They first came to the apartment which |
Capt. w. viewed through the port hole.
A tremor seized him as he entered il. Its |
innate retained his former position, and
,eemed TO be insensible to strangers. He |
vas found to be corpse, and green
lamp mould had covered his cheek and
orehead and yelled his open eye-balls. |
H. had pen in his hand. and a log book |
ny before him, the last sentence in whose
unfinished page ran thus: " Nov. l4th.
762. We have now been enclosed in
he ice seventeen days. The fire went
'ut yesterday. and our master has been
rying ever since 10 kindle it again with
nat success. His wife died this morning.
there is no relief"
Nan.a;. Wa1rans and hia seamen hNrs