The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-11-20
Passing through AN Iceberg.
Extract from Journal kept by a Seaman who
served in the Artic Expedition Of lS5O-5l.l

| 'iiuiiy oiue' surrounGcd Dy vast number OF
stupendous bergs, glittering beneath the reful-
gent rays Of mid day sun
A great portion of the crew had gone on shore
| to gather the eggs of the wild sea birds that
| frequent the lonely ice-bound precipiees of
Bafiin's Bay, while those on board had retired to
rest, wearied with the harrassing toll. of the
preceding day.
To me, walking the deck and alone, all nature
seemed hushed to universal repose While thus
! contemplating the stiffness of the monotonous
scene around me, observed in the ofing
large iceberg completely perforated, exhibiting
in the distance an arch, or tunnel apparently
| go uniform in its conformation that was induced
! to call two of the seamen to look at it. at the
same time telling them that had never read or
heard Of any Of cur Arctic voyagers passing
/ Vign one OF those arches so frequently seen
through large bergs, and that there would be
novelty in doing SO, and if they choose TO ac-
company me l would get permission to take the
dingy IA small boat and endeavor TO accom-
plish the unprecedented feat. They readily
agreed, and away went
On nearing the arch, and ascertaining that
there was a suficiency of water for the boat to
pass through. we rowed slowly and silently un-
der, when there burst upon our view one Of the
most magnificent specimens of natures handy
work ever exhibited TO mortal eye; the sublimity
and grandeur of which no language can des-
cribe-no Imagination conceive
Fancy immense arch of 80 feet span so
feet high, and upwards of 100 in breadth-as
correct in it. conformation as if it had been
constructed by the most scientific artist-formcd
of solid ice of beautiful emerald green, its
whole expanse of surface smoother than the
most polished slabaster, and you may form soae
slight conception of the architectural beauties of
thi. icy temple the wonderful workmanship of
time and the elements.
When we had got about halfway through the
mighty structure, on looking upward observed
that the berg split the whole breadth of the
arch, and in perpendicular direction to the
summit, showing two vertical sections of regu-
lar surfaces, 'darkly, deeply, beautifully blue"
here and there illumined by arctic which
| darted it's golden rays between, presenting to
the eye picture of ETHEREAL grandeur which no
poet could describe, no painter portray. was
so enraptured with the sight that for a moment
l fanced the blue vault of heaven had open
splendor of a world beyond this. But alas. in
an instant the scene changed, and awoke as it
were from delightful dream to experience all
the horrors OF a terrible reality. l observed
the fracture rapidly close, then again slowly
! open. This stupendou. mass Of ice, millions of
tons in weight, afoat, consequently in
ton, and apparently about to lose its equilibri-
um, capsize, or burst into fragments. Our pe-
sitien truly awful; my feelings at the mo-
ment may be conceived, but cannot be described.
| | looked downward and around Re; the sight
was equally appalling; the very seemed
| agitated. | at last shut my eyes from scene
SO terrible, the men at the as if by instinct
'.gave way" and little craft swiftly glided
! beneath the gigantic
! We then rowed round the berg, keeping at a
respectable distance from it, in order to judge
| of its magnitude l supposed it to be about a
mile in circumference, and it's highest pinaclc
| $50 feet
Thus ended an excursion, the bare recollec-
| ton of which at this moment awakens in me a
shudder, nevertheless, would not have lost the
opportunity of Witnessing scene so awfully
sublime, so tragically grand, for thousands ster-
! ling, but would not again run such a risk for
| u world.
! We passed through the berg about P. NJ,
and at 10 o'clock the same night it burst, agi-
| tating the sea for miles around.
| l may also observe that the two men who
| were with me in the boat did not observe that
the berg was rent until told them after we
were out of danger, We having agreed previously
to entering the arch, not to speak n word to
each other, lest echo itself should disturb the
fragile mass.
N. B.-Arctic voyagers differ as to what por-
ton of an iceberg is under water. Some say
one-ffth; some one-seventh; some more.
refer the reader to the works of Ross and Parry
as the best authorities.
| PENNsYLvANANs IN LUcK.-In addition to the
election of John Bigler of this State as Governor
of California, we note the election of Robert
McClelland, Esq, formerly of Chambersburg,
as Governor of Michigan; and the election OF
Edward Johnston, Esq, formerly of Westmore-
land county, and a brother of VIM. F. Johnston
our present worthy Governor, as one of the
Supreme Bench Of lows