Washington telegraph., 1851-11-26
PASSING THROUGH AN IcEBERG.-The following

PASSING THRoUGH AN ICEBERa-The followin:
is an extract fn m journal kept by seaman
who served in the late Arctic expedition:
Sunday. June 80, IS50-Moored to an ice
berg; weather calm; sky c!oudIess. and beautifully
blue, surrounded by vast number OF stupendous
bergs, glittering and gslening beneath the reiul-
gent rays Of a mid. day sun.
A great portion OF the crew had gone OH shore
to gather the eggs Of the wild birds that fre-
! quent the lonely icebound precipces of Baffin's
Bay, while those board had retired to rest,
wearied with the harrassins tois vi tho preceding
day.
10 me, walking the deck and alone, all nature
seemed hushe1 in universal repose. While thus
contemplating the stiffness Of The monotonous
scene around me, / observed in the offing large
ice berg completely perforated, exhibiting in the
distance an arch or tunnel, apparently so uniform
IN Its conformation that was Induced TO call two
OF the sealnen 10 look at it, at The same time
telling them that had never read or heard of
any Of our arctic voyagers passing through one
ol those arches SO frequently seen Though large
bergs, and that there would be novelty ln DONG
SO. and if they chase to accompany me would
get permission to take The dingy Ia small boat
aud endeavor TO accomplish this unprecedented
feat They readily agreed, and away we went.
On nearing The arch, and ascertalning that
there was sufficirncy OF water for the boat to
pass through, rowed slowly and silently under,
when there burst upon one of the most
magnificent specimens OF nature s handwork ever
exhibited to mortal eyes; the submty and gran
deur OF which no language can describe-- no i'm
agination conceive.
Fancy an immense arch of so feet span, SO
feet high, aud upwards Of 100 in breath--as cor
rect in It's conformation if IT had been con-
structed by the most scientific arlis--iormed OF
solid ice of beautiful emerald green, its whole
ex ofS her han he mo pi,l-
ished aIabaster, and you NAY form some slight
conception of the architectural beauties OF this
icy temple, the wonderful workmanship of time
and the elements.
When we had got about half way through the
mighty structure, on looking upward l observed
that the berg was rent the whole breadth OF the
arch, and in d perpendicular direction 10 It's sum
mi, showing Two vertical sections OF irregular
surfaces, darkly, deeply, beautifully blue here
and there illumined by arctic sun which darted
It's golden rays between, presenting to the eye
picture o ethereal grandeur, which no poet could
describe, no painter portray. was so enraptured
with the sight that for moment l ianced the
'blue vault Of heaven had opened, aud that |
actually gazed on the celestial splendor of world
beyond this But, alas. in an instant the scene
changed, and awoke as it from delight
iul dream to experience all the horrors OF terrible
reality. l observed the fracture rapidly close,
then again. slowly open. THIS stupendous mass
Of ice, millions OF tons IN weight, was afloat, con-
sequenty in motion, and apparently about to lose
its equilibrium, capsize, or burst into fragments
Our position was truly awful; my feelings at the
moment may be conceived, but cannot be de-
scribed l looked downward ds and around me;
the sight was equally appalling; the very sea
seemed aglatrd. l at last shut my eyes from
scene terrible, the men at the oars as If BY
instinct gave way and our little craft swiftly
gded from beneath the gigantlc mass.
We then rowed round the berg, keeping at
respectful distance from it, IN order TO judge OF its
magnitude. l suppose it to be about mile IN
circumference, and its highest pinace $50 feet.
Thus ended an excursion, the bare recollection
of which at this moment awakens IN me shud-
der; nevertheless, would not have lost the OPP
portuniiy Of behodng scene so awiully sublime,
SO tragicaly grand, for auy money, but would
not again run such a risk Tor the world
We passed through the berg about two P. NJ,
aad at ten O'Clock the mig Int 1t burst, agitat-
ing the for miles around.
| may also observe that the two seamen who
were with the in the boat did observe the berg
rent until told them, after we were out Of
danger, we having agreed previously to enterIn g
the arch, not to speak word to each other, lest
echo itself should disturb the fragile mass.