The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-11-20

And waking me up with the beautiful light
oh, keep me from naughiiness all the long day,
BIes, Jesus, who taught little children 10 pray."
An angel looked down in the sunshine. and
smiled.
Bot she no, the angel, that beautiful child.
Passing Through an Iceberg.
Extract from Journal kept by a seaman
,cho served in the .arctic Expedition ct
lS50-5l.
SUNDAY. June so, lS50.--moored to an
.ceberg; weather calm; sky clOudless, and
beautifully blue, surrounded Ivy vast num-
Der OF stupendous bergs, gittering and glis-
tening bsueath the refulgent rays Of the
MONDAY sun.
A great portion OF The crew had gone on
shore to gather the eggs of the lid sea-
birds that frequent the lonely icebound pre-
cipices Of baffin's Bay, while those on
board had retired to rest, wearied with the
hsrassing tolls of the preceding day.
To me, walking the deck aud alone, all
nature seemed hushed in universal rcpose.
While thus contemplating the stiffness of
the monOtonous scence around me, | Oh
served in Offing large iceberg, completely
perforated, exhibiting in the distance an
arch or tunnel, apparently so uniform in its
conformation that was induced TO call two
of The seamen To see it, at the same time tell
ing them that had never seen read or heard
OF any of our arctic voyagers, passing
through one OF those arches so Frequently
seen through large icebergs, and that there
would be a lovely in doing SO, and if they
chose to accompany me, would get per
mission to take the dingy, "a small boat
and endeavor TO accomplish the unprecent-
&c feat. They readily agreed, and away
we went.
On nearing the arch, and ascertaining
that there was sufficiency Of water for the
boat TO pass through, we rowed slowly and
silently under, when there bust upon our
view ore VI the most magnificent specimens
Of natures handiwork ever exhibited 10
mortal eyes; the sublimity and grandeur Of
which no language can describe-no imagi-
nation conceive.
Fancy an immense arch of so feet span.
50 feet high, aud upwards Of 100 ~ breadth,
rs correct in its formation rs If il had been
constructed by the most scientific artist
formed OF solid ice of beautiful emerald
green, its whole expanse of surface smooth
ar than the most polished alabas,er, and
you may form some slight conception Of the
architectural beauties of this icy temple, the
wonderful workmanship Of time and the
elements.
When we asd got about half way through
the mighty structure, on looking upward
observed that the berg was rent the whole
breadth of the arch, ami in q perpendicular
direction to it's summit, showing two yerti-
cal sections of irregular surfaces, "darkly.
deeply, beautifully -b!ae," here and there
Illuminated by an arctic sun, which DARED
its golden rays between, presenting to the
eye n picture of ethereal grandeur which
no poet could describe, no painter portray
was so enraptured with the sight that Sor
a moment, ] fancied The "blue vault of
Heaven" had opened, and that was actu
ally gazing on the celestial splendor of n
world beyond this. But, alas! in an instant
the scene changed, and awoke as it were,
from a delightful dream to experience all
che horrors of n terrible reality. / observ-
ed the fracture rapidly close, then again
slowly open. This stupeDdous mass Of ice,
millions of tons in weight, was nfioat, con-
sequently in motion, and apparently about
to lose It equilibrium, capsize, or burst into
Fragments. Our position was truly awful;
my feelings at the moment may he concciv-
ed, bat cannot he described. looked down
wasds and around me- the sight was equal
ly appalling; the very sea seemed agitaied
at last shut my eyes from u scene so terri
bie, the men at the cars 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 lis magnitude. Ii supposed it to he
about mile IN circumference, aud its high
est pinnacle $50 feet
Thus ended an excursion, the bare re-
collection of which at this moment awakens
IN me a shudder; nevertheless, l would not
have lost the opportunity Of beholIng n
scene so awfuliy sublime, SO tragieaIiy
grand, for any money. but | would NOT again
run such risk for The worli.
We passed through the berg abou, two
P. M, and at ten O'Clock the same night il
burst, agitatiug the sea for miles around
} 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. af-
ter we were ont Of danger, we having
agreed, previously 10 entering the arch, not
30 spenk word 10 each other, lest echo IL
self should disturb The fragile mass.
n. b. Arctic voyagers differ as to what
porter OF an iceberg - under water. Some
say one-fifth; some che seventh; some more
I refer the reader 10 the works Of Ross and
Parry, as the best authorities.
fIusBAwps WAsrEp.-Four eo.abe,d vo,,.
ladies. Miss Ella Irving, Miss Kate Sey,nour
Aliss Grace Forester, and Miss Eliza MarcI,mon,
advertise themselves ia The Troy Wig as sever,
dlly IN want Of husband. They viii rece,vs
sealed proposals. .hrous btbs post Office. posf n, !;
and widcwers especially, are notified no, 4, n NJ
Ply. NJ the Indies do not deal in second hand
gosds sBeggay shouIdn't be choosers.,'
Tie Secretary Of the Navy, in reply TO p.,;-
ton from the Councils Of New Orleans for = NJ
Wy Yard Al that place, repies-th,t ne think, IN.
service at the present time, requires no addito,,al
yards.