Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1851-11-07
Passing through an Iceberg.


in the .4rctic Expedition Of l850-5l.
SUNDAY, June 30, I85O.-Moored to
an iceberg; weather calm; sky cloudless
and beautifully blue;' surrounded by a
vast number of stupendous bergs, glttering
and glistening beneath the refulgent rays
of midday sun.
A great portion of the crew had went
on shore to gather the eggs of the wild
sea-blrds that frequent the lonely ice-bound
precipices in Bat1in's Bay, while those on
board had retired to rest, wearied with the
harassing tolls of the preceding day.
TO me, walking the deck and alone, all
Nature seemed hushed in universal repose.
While thus contemplating the stiffness Of
the mOnotonOus scene around me, OBJ
served in the ofling large iceberg, COM
pletely perforated, exhibiting in the dis
tance an arch, or tunnel, apparently so
uniform in its conformation that | was in
duced to call two Of the seaman to look at
it, at the same time telling them that had
never read or heard of any of our arctic
voyagers passing through one of those ar
ches so frequently seen through large bergs,
and that there would be novelty in doing
SO, and ifthey chose to accompany me |
would get permission to take the dingy "a
small boat and endeavOr TO accomplish the
unprecedented feat; they readily agreed,
and away we went.
On nearing the arch, and ascertaining
that there was 4 sufliciency of water for
| the boat TO pass through, we rowed slow
! ly and silently under, when there burst
upon our view one of the most magnificent
/ specimens of natures handiwork ever ex-
hlblted to mortal eyes; the sublImlty and
grandeur of which no language can de-
! scribe, no imagination conceive.
Fancy an immense arch Of eighty feet
span, fifty feet high, and upwards of one
hundred feet in breadth, as correct in lis
conformation as if it had been constructed
! by the most scientific artist, formed of solid
/ ice of beautiful emerald green, It's whole
eXpanse of surface smoother that the most
! polished alabaster, and you may form some
slight conception of the architectural beauty
Of this icy temple, the wonderful workman
ship of time and The elements.
When we had got about halfway through
the mighty structure, on looking upward
| observed that the berg was rent the whole
breadth of the arch, and in perpendicular
direction, 10 It's summit, showing two yertl-
cal sections OF irregular surfaces, 'darkly,
deeply, beautifully blue here and there
Illuminated by all arctic sun, which darted
lis 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
moment | iancied the blue vault OF
heaven had opened, and that | actually
gazed on the celestial splendor of a world
beyond this.
But alas in an instant the scene changed,
and | awoke, as it were, from a delightful
dream TO experience all the horrors of a
terrible reality. | observed the fracture
rapidly close, then again slowly open.-
This stup ndous mass of ice, millions of
tons In weight was ahoat, consequently in
motion, and apparently Y about TO lose It's
equilibrium, capsize or burst into fragments.
Our position was truly awful; my feelings
at the moment may be conceived; cannot
be described. | looked downwards and a.
round me the sight was equally appalling
the very sea seemed agiIated. at last
shut my eyes from a scene so terrible the
men at the oars, as if by instinct, gave
way and our little craft swiftly glided
from beneath the gigantic mass.
We then rowed round the berg, keeping
at a respectful distance from it, in order to
Judge OF its magnitude. | supposed it TO
be about a mile in circumference, and lis
highest pinnacle $50 feet
Thus ended an excursion, the bare re-
collection of which at this moment awakens
in me a shudder; nevertheless, | would
not have lost the opportunity of beholding
/ scene so awfully sublime, so tragically
: grand, for any money, but would no
t again run such risk for the world.
5 We passed through the berg about two
: p. NJ, and at ten o'clock the same nigh
: it burst, agitating the sea for miles around
| may also observe that the two mer
: who were with me in the boat did not OBJ
t serve that the berg was rent until | tol(
l them, after we were out of danger; WI
1 having agreed, previously to entering tht
t arch, not to speak word 10 each other
, lest echo itself should disturb the mass.
: n. B.-Arctic voyagers differ as tC
. what portion of an iceberg is under water
Some say one-tilth; some one-seventh
some more. lreler the reader to the work
of Ross and Parry as the best authorities
b. A COURAGEOUS BoY.-In town not ia
from Boston, a clergyman was visiting
q district school where little boy was pu
forward by the teacher 'to speak piece,
because he was bold. When he wa
S done, the clergyman praised him by say
D mo Inv my lIi1le Ind lLnM are not airald