Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-01-14

and their crews were exposed during the
winter they passed in the ice is graphically
detailed.
All through October and November we
drfted to and fro by the changing wind, bu
never passing on, Of Wellington Channel
On the Is, Of November, the new ice hat
attained the thickness of 81 inches Still
frequent breaks would occur in it, often in
fearful proximity to the vessels. Hum
mocks, consisting Of massive granite-lIke
blocks, would be thrown up to the beigh
of twenty and even thirty feet. This action
in the ice was accompanied with q variety
of sounds impossible to be described, bu'
when heard never failed to carry feeling
of awe into the stou,es. hearts. In the still.
ness of an arctic night, they could be heard
several miles, and often was the rest Of oil
hands disturbed by them.
To guard agains, The worst that could
happen to us-.he destruction Of the ves-
sels-lhe boats were prepared and sledges
built. Thirty days provisions were placed
in for all hands, together with tents and
blanket bags for sleeping in. Besides this
each man and officer had his knapsack con-
tanning an extra suit Of clo,hes. These were
all kept in readiness for use at moments
notice.
For the sake Of wholesome exercise, as
we'll as to nure the people to ice travelling
frequent excursions were made with our
laden sledges. The officers usually took
The 'ead At the drag ropes, and they, ss " ell
as the men, under ent the Ia Dor Of surmount
ing the rugged hummocks, with grea, cheer
fulness and zeal. notwithstanding the low
temperature, all hands usually returned in q
pIoiuse perspIrsiion. We had also other
sources OF exercise and amusemen,s, such
as football, skating, sliding, racing, with
theatrical representation. on holidays and
national anniversaries. These smusemen.s
were continued throughout the winter, and
contributed very materially to the cheerful
ness and general good health Of all hands
! The dri, had sci US gradually 10 the S.
E until we were about five miles TO The S.
w. Of Beechy Island. In this position we
remained comparatively stationary about q
week. We once more began TO entertain q
hope that we had become fixed for the win-
Ter, but 1t proved vain one, for on the last
dav OF November strong wind fIom the
| westward set IN with thick snowy weather.
| This wind created an immediate movement
| in the ice. Several fractures took place
near us, and many heavy hummocks were
THROWN up. The foe in which our vessels
| were embedded, was being rapidly encroach-
lei upon, SO that we were in momentary
fear Of the ice breaking from around them,
and that they would be once more b,ok en-
| out and left TO the tender mercies Of the
crashing foes.
On the following dav (the 1st Of Decem.
ber.) The weather cleared of, and the few
hours Of lwilish, which we had about noon,
enabled us TO get glimpse Of the land. As
| well as we could make j, out, we appeared
to be off "Gascoigne" Inlet.
We were now clear Of "Wellington"
Channel, and in The fair way Of Lancaster"
Sound, to be set either up or down, Al The
mercy of the prevailing winds and currents
We were no. long left in doubt as to the
direction we had TO pursue. The winds
prevailed from The westward, and our drift
steady and rapid towards the mouth Of the
Sound.
The prospect before US WAS now any
thing but cheering. We were deprived Of
our las. fond hope, ths. of becoming fixed
in some position whence operations could
be carried on by means Of travelling parties
in the Spring. The vessels were fast being
set out Of the region Of search.
Nor was this our only source Of uneasi-
ness The line Of our drif. was from Two
to five miles from the North shore, and
whenever the moving ice met with any Of
the Cspes or projecting points Of land, the
obstruction would cause fractures in il, ex.
tending off 10 and far beyond us.
Cape ''Hurd" was The first and most
prominent Point-we were but two miles
from i. on the third Of December. Nearly
all day the ice was both seen and heard to
be in constant motion al no grea, distance
from us. In the evening crack in our foe
took place not more than 25 yards ahead of
the "Advance." 1t opened in the course
of the evening to the width Of 100 yards
No further disturbance took place until
noon of the 5th, when we were somewhat
startled by the familiar and unmislskeable
sound of the ice grinding against the side of
the ship. Going on deck, perceived lha,
another crack had taken place, passing along
the length Of the vessel.
IL did not open more than foot this,
however, was sufficient to liberate the ves-
sci, and she rose several inches bodily, hav-
ing become more buoyant since she froze in.
The following day, in the evening, the
crack opened several yards, leaving the sides
Of the Advance entirely free, and she was
once more supported by and rode in her
own element. We were not, though, by
any means, in a pleasant situation. The
foes were considerably broken in all direc-
lions around us, and one crack had taken
place between the two vessels. The "Res-
cue" was not disturbed in her bed Of ice.