Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-03-04

( Inc Inc OF our drift was rom two 10 five miles
/ from the North shore, and whenever the moving
/ ice net with any of the Capes or projecting
( points Of the land, the obstruction would cause
fractures in II, extending off to and far beyond
I US.
/ Cape Hurd was the first and most prominent
+ point-we were but two miles from it on the Sd
of December. Nearly all day the ice was both
seen and heard to be IN constant motion no great
distance from US. In the evening a crack in our
I foe took place not more than 26 yards ahead OF
the Advance. ltopened IN the course of the even
l ing 10 the width OF 100 yards.
/ No further disturbance took place until noon of
/ the 9TH when we were somewhat startled by the
( familiar and unmistakable sound of the ice grind
ing against the side OF the ship. Going on deck /
/ perceived that another crack had taken place.
passing along the length Of the vessel
/ II did not open more than foot; this however
was sufficient TO hbeTale the vessel. and she rose
I several inches bodily, having become more buoy
ant since she froze IN. The following dav in the
evening, the crack opened several yards leaving
the sides of the Advance entirely free, and she
/ was once more supported BY and rose on her own
element We were not, though, bv any means,
! m pleasant situation. The foes were consid-
eTdbIy broken in all directions around US and
! one crack had taken place between the two yes
sells. The Rescue was not disturbed In her bed of
{ ice.
/ December 9th, at 4. NJ, the crack in which
E a water
90 .leet wide, communicating ahead al the distance
Of 90 feet with ice OF about one foot in thickness
which had formed since the third The vessel
was secured TO the largest foe near US (that on
which cur spare stores were deposited Atnoon
the ice was again in motion. and began 10 close.
affordIng US the prospect OF an inevitable nin'
between the foes Of the heaviest kind In a short
time the prominent points took our side, on the
starboard just about the main rigging, and on the
port unaer the counter, and at the tore rigging :
thus bringing three points OF pressure in such
position that II must nave proved fatal to a large
or less strengthened vessel
The Advance, however stood it bravely. At
Ter trembling and groanIng in every Joint the ice
passed under and raised her about ~ feet She
was let down again for a moment. and then her
stern was raised about feet Her bows being
supported were depressed almost as much In
this unfortunate position we remained The wind
blew gale from the eastward and the ice all
around was IN dreadful commotion, excepting,
( fortunately, that IN immediate contact with US
IAe connection IN the ice continued all through
the night and we werein momentary expectation
OF witnessing the destruction of both vessels
Inc edsterly gale had set Us some two miles to
the west.
As soon as il was light enough to see on the
9Th, was discovered that the heavy ice luTuhich
the Rescue had been imbedded for so long time
was entirely broken up, and piled up around in
0
ed was gratfed to learn that She remained tight
notwithstanding the immense straining and press
uTe she must have endured.
During this period of trial as well as in her
former and subsequent ones, | could not avoid
beng struck with the calmness and decision OF
the officers, as well the subordnaton and good
conduct OF the men, without any exception
Zach one knew the Immlneuce OF the peril that
surrounded us and was prepared to abide it with
a stout heart There was no noise, no confusion.
uld not detect, even IN the moment when the
destruction of the vessels seemed inevitable a
single despondlng look among the whole crew;
on the contrary, each one seemed resolved TO do
his whole duty and everything went on cheeriIy
and brayely.
For myown part had become quite an invalid
so much so as TO prevent my taking an active
part IN the dJtties OF the vessel as I always Rad
done, or even from incurrIng the exposure neces-
( sary 10 proper exercise. However, l felt no ap-
PTeheuslon that the vessel would not be properly
taken care OF, for / had perfect confidence in one
and all by whom l was surrounded / knew
them TO be equal TO any emergency, but felt
under special obligations to the gallant comman-
der OF the Rescue for the efficient aid he rendered
me. With the Andest consideration and most
cheerful aiacTIty he volunteered 10 perform the
executive duties during the winter and relieve me
from everything that might ted in the least to
rftard my recovery.
During the remainder of December the ice re-
.naIned quiet Immediately around US, and breaks
were all strongly cemented by new ice. In our
HelgnboFhoOd, however. cracks were daily visible.
I Our drift 70 the eastward averaged nearly six
miles per day. 50 that on the last OF the month we
were at the entrance of tie Sound Cape OsbuTn
bearing north from US.
January, 1881. On passing out of the Sound.
and opening Battins Bay, 10 the north was seen
a dark horizon, indicating much open water in
( that direction.
4 On the lIth, a crack took place between us and
the Rescue, passing close under our stern. 1t
opened, and formed a lane Of water feet wide.
J In the afternoon the foes began to move the lane
was closed up, and the edges of the ice coming in
contact with so much pressure, threatened the
4 demolition Of the narrow space which separated
us from the line Of fracture Fortunately the
foes again separated and assumed a motion by
which tie Rescue passed from our stern 10 the
port tow, and increased her distance from us 700
yards, where she came 10 a stand. Our stores
that were on the ice We're on the same side of the
crack as the Rescue, and of course were carried
. with her
The following day the ice remained quiet, but
soon after midnight, Oh the 18TH a gale having
sprung up from the westward, it once more got
INTO violent motion. The young ice IN the crack
near aur stern was soon broken up, the edges OF
the thick ice came in contact and fearful press
ures took place, forcing up line of hummocks
which approached to within ten feet of our stern.
The vessel trembled and complained a great deal.
At last the foe broke up around us into many
pieces, and became detached from the sides Of the
vessel. The scene of frighttul conlnoton lasted
until ten A. NJ. Every moment ! expected the
vessel would be crushed or overwhelmed by the
massive ice forced up far above our bulwarks-
he Rescue being further removed on the other
side OF the crack from the line of crushing. and
beins firmly imb bedded in heavy ice was in hopes
would remain undisturbed. This was not the
case: for on sending to her as soon as II was lgh1
. enough TO see, the foe was found to be broken
away entirely up 10 her bows, and there formed
into such high hummocks that he- owsprIt was
broken of, together with her heed, and all the
light woodwork about II, had the action OF the
ice continued much longer, she must have beer
destroyed.
We had the misfortune TO find that sad havoc
had been made among our stores and provision,
left on the ice and few barrels were reserved
but large portion were crushed and disappeared
[CoHcluded nert treek.
A lady on being separated from hel
husband, changed her religion. being de
I