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

which we were. had opened and formed a
lane OF water Sc feet wide, communicating
ahead al the distance of 60 feet with ice o
about one foot in thickness (which had form.
ed since the Sd. The vessel was secured
to the largest foe near us (ths. on which
our spare stores were deposited.) Atm
The ice was again in motion, and began to
close, affording US the pleasant prospect o
an inevitable nip'' between two foes of the
heaviest kind. In a short time the promi
nent points took our side, on the slarboard
us. about the main rigging, and on the por,
under the counter, and at the fore-rigging
thus bringing three points ofpressure in such
q position that i. must have proved fatal ia
a large or less strengthened vessel.
The "Advance," however, stood it brave
ly. After trembling and grooming in every
joint, the ice passed under and raised her
about 2 l-2 feel. She was let down again
for moment, and then her stern was raised
about FIVE feet. Her bows being unsupport-
ed, were depressed almost as much. In this
uncomfortable position. we remained. The
wind blew gale from the Eastward, and
the ice all around was in dreadful commo-
tion, excepting, fortunately, ,ha, in immedi-
ate contact with US. The commotion Of The
ice continued all through the night; and we
were in momentsry expectation Of witness
ing the destruction of both vessels. The
eas,erly gale had Sc, US some two or three
miles to the West
A soon IS it was light enough to see on
the 9lb, i. was discovered that the heavy ice
in which the "Rescue" had been imbedded
for so long time, was entirely broken up,
and piled up round her in massive hum
mocks. On her pumps being sounded,
was gralified to learn that she remained tight,
notwithstanding the immense slraining and
pressure she must have endured.
During this period, of trial, as we'll as in
oil former and subsequent ones, | could no,
avoid being struck with the cslmness and
decision of the officers, as we'll as the sub
ordination and good conduct Of the men,
with out an exception. Each one knew the
Immincnce Of The peril ,ha, surrounded US,
and was prepared to abide i. with a s,ou.
heart. There was no noise, no confusion.
did no, de,ecr, even 10 the momen, when
the destruction Of the vessels seemed inevi-
table, single desponding look among the
who....t-re on the contrary. each one SEEM
ed resolved 10 do his whole duty, and every
thing went on cheerily and bravely.
During the remainder of December the
ice remained quiet Immediately around us,
and breaks were all strongly cemented by
new ice. In our neighborhood, however,
cracks were daily visible. Our drift TO the
eastward averged nearly six miles per day,
so ,ha. on the las. of the month, we were q,
The entrance Of the Sound, Cape "Os5orn"
bearing Worth from US.
January, 1851. On passing out Of the
Sound, and opening Baffin's Bay, to the
north was seen a dark horizon, indicating
much open water in ,ha, direction.
On The 1lth, crack took place between
us and the "Rescue," passing close under
our stern. 1t opened and formed lane Of
water eighty feet wide. ln the afternoon
the foes began 10 move, the lane was closed
up, and The edges Of the ice coming in con-
tact with so much pressure, threatened the
demolition Of the narrow space which sepa-
rated Us from the line Of fracture. Forum
a,ely the foes again separated, and assumed
q motion by which the "Rescue" passed
from our stern 10 the por, bow, and increas-
ed her distance from US 700 yards, where
she came to stand. Our stores that were
on the ice, were on the same side of The
cracks as the sRescue," and Of course
were carried with her.
The following day the ice remained quiet.
bu. soon after midnight, on the 18Th, gale
having sprung up, from the Westward, it
once more got into violent motion. The
young ice in the crack near our stern WAS
soon broken up, the edges Of the thick ice
came in contact, and fearful pressures took
place, forcing up q line Of hnmmoeks which
approached within ten feet Of our s,ern.-
The vessel trembled and complained a
great deal
At las. the foe broke up around Us into
many pieces, and became de,sched from the
sides of the vessel. The scene Of frighlful
lasted until A. NJ. Every mo-
ment expected the vessel wonld be crush
ed or overwhelmed, by the massive ice fore
ed up far above our bulwarks. The "Res-
cue" being further removed on the other side
Of The crack from the line of crushing, and
being firmly imbedded in heavy ice, was
in hopes would remain undis,urbed. This
was not the case; for on sending to her as
soon as it was ligh. enough to see, the foe
was found 10 be broken away entirely up
to her bows, and there formed into such high
hummocks tha, her bowsprit was broken of,
together with her head, and all the ligh,
wood work sbou, il. Had the action of the
ice continued much longer, she mus. have
been destroyed.
On the morning Of the 18th there was
again some motion Of the foes. That ou
the port side moved off from the vessel two
or three feet, end there become stationary.
This left the vessel entirely detached from
the ice round the water line, and i. was ex-
pecled she would once more resume on up