The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-11-09

Extract from jourhol kept byd seaman t0ho ~iUed W
the areiie Expedition Of ls30-5l
SUNDAY, June 80, ls5o.-Moored to az iceoeIg
weather calm; sky cloudess, and beautifully blue J;
surrounded by vast number oil supendous berys gni-
tsng and Sistsninx beneath the refuEen rays OF mid
day sun.
great portion Of the had gone shore to gather
the eggs OF The wild birds that frequent. the lonely
ice bound precpices Of Bans Bay, while those on board
had retired TO rest weaed with The harassing tolls OF Tue
TO me. walking the deck and alone all Nature seemed
hushed in universal reposc. While thus contemplating
the Stiffness Of the monotonous scene around me- OBJ
served in the ohng large iceberg, completely perio-
rated, exhibiting in the distance arch or tunnel ap.
pareny 20 nniioIm ~ It's conformation ina, was In
time telling them that had never read or heard OF
any of Arctic yoyagers passing through one OF those
arches frequently through large beTgs, and that
there would be novelty doing So and, il they chose
10 accompany me, would get permission TO take the
dingy Ia small boat and endeavor to accomplish the
unprecedented feat They readily agreed. and away we
went.
On nearing the arch, and ascertaning that there was
sutcency OF water for the boa. to pass through, we
view Of the most magnificent specimens OF Ma.
lures handwork exhibited TO mortal eyes, the sub.
Unity and grandeur OF which no language can describe
Fancy an immense arch OF so feet span, so feet high
and upwards OF 100 in BREADTH correct in lis conform
lion us il had been constructed by the scientific
artist formed of solid ice Of beautiful emerald green
ITS whole eypanee Of surface smoother than the most pol
sed alabasler and you may form some slight conception
delfu workmanship OF time and the elements
When we had got about half way through the mighty
structure looking upward observed that Inc berg
was rent The whole breadth OF the arch. and IN per.
peniicular direction to its summit showing two vertical
sections of irregular surfaces, "darky deeply, beau
fully blue" here and there iumined by Arctic
which dar,ed its golden rays between, presenting to the
eye picture OF ethereal grandeur which no poet could
describe, no painter portray was so enraptued with
the sight, that for moment tancied the "blue vault OF
heaven had opened and that actually gazed on the ce-
lesal spendor OF world beyond this. But alas IN an
instant the changed and awoke, as 1t were. from
delightful dream experience all the horrors OF
fbe reality observed the fracture rapidly close then
again slowly open This s.upendous mass Of ice mil
lions OF tons in weight, was ahoa consequently in mo-
ton, and apparently about 10 lose its equilibrium cap
size, or burst into fragments. Our position was truly
| awful. My feelings at tno moment may be conceived,
| bu, cauno, be described. | looked downwards and
around me: the sight was equally appalng-the very
seemed agi!aed at last shut my eyes from scene
SO terrible at the as il by instinct, gave
and our little craft swiftly gded from beneath the
gigantic mass
distance IRON it, in order TO Judge OF its magnitude.
supposed il to be about mile in circumference, and its
highest pisnacle TWO hundred and fifty feet ,
Thus ended excursion the bare recollection OF
which at this awakens in shudder: never
heless would not have lost the opportunity OF behold
ing scene awuliy sublime SO iTagicaliy grand. to
any money; bul would not again run such risk ol
tue world.
We passed through the berg about two. p. IN and a
len o'clock the night burst agtating the sea to-
miles around. .
| / NAV also observe that the two men who with
me The boat did observe tina, the berg was rent un
III told them, after out OF daDgtr-we having
agreed previously 10 entering the arch, not to speak
word to each other lest echo itself should disturb the
fragile mass.
u B-Arctic voyagers differ as to what portion OF an
seventh some refer the reader TO the works OF
Ross and Parry az the best authorizes.