Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-04-14
The BaltIc and the Icebergs.
Correspondence Of the n. Y. Journal Of Commerce.

LIyERpooL, March 81, 1854. \
The fact that considerable uneasiness has
been felt among friends in England, and that
the same may be shared among those in the
United States, in consequence Of the unusually
long voyages of the Baltic from New York to
Liverpool, induces me to give you some par
ticaiisrs of the hindrances encountered.
We left Sandy Hook, 9Th March, a. m, and
had made very fair progress until Thursday,
March 8, when, in latitude Acc longitude 4So
about p. M, we fell in with some floating ice;
the water and atmosphere being 38 deg. and
theShorizon loaded with rain and fog. Captain
Comstock proceeded with much caution until
4.30 D. M, when he found our course com
pletely hedged up by an unbroken field of DRIFT
ice, interspersed with a considerable number
of large bergs of cliff ice from which there APP
peared no practicable escape The ice extend
ed from E. around the southern board to s. w.
The engine was slowed, and we were compelled
to the north and westward, with the hope that
five could not get to the eastward, we might
at least be able to retrace our course. The eff
fort was, however, fruitless for, on following a
vein of water, we found the ship enclosed in a
complete labyrinth of heavy cliff ice, dotted
made to force the good ship Baltic through the
and the breakage of part of both wheels
This stopped the vessel. A merciful Provi
dence sent us but slight breezes, and a compa
ratiyely calm weather.
On the following day the sea remained en-
tirely filled with ice to the horizon, as far as
masthead observation could reach. At 6, q. M,
started for streak of water visible at q short
distance On following it, we found ourselves
heading at every possible point Of the com
pass. Our general course was w. s. W., and
distance run about 200 miles. During the
stoppage necessarily required by the thick fog
that enveloped US, some repairs of the wheels
were made.
March llM.-At q. m. we were still in
the ice, and fresh gale was blowing from
S. E., mixed with snow and hail. At 81 a. m.
started the engine for any vein of water we
might find, and at half speed we found our
selves heading southwark. Just before noon
we cleared what appeared to be the s. and w.
extremity of these fields and mountains of ice,
and the captain ventured to head once more to
the eastward. At this time the gale had be,
come exceedingly fresh, and a heavy sea was
running. Rain and fog obscured our vision for
long time, and prevented all observation. We
found ourselves this day about latitude A,
and longitude 48o, having run to the southwark
and westward some 800 miles.
When God gave US this escape from the
horrors of shipwreck on icebergs, we could
not but feel thankful for His kindness to US,
and solicitous for any other vessels that might
be involved in the same difficulties. We, how
ever, saw no vessels, though we passed what
appeared to be the rudder of ship, and shortly
afterwards mast AS to the Baltic, she
proved herself to be worthy Of all praise, and
~ c., lr,,n, - r,,,r. lav
ger but would prefer, if occasion required, to
reembark in her, rather than in any other yes
SELL She is noble boat, and Commanded by
noble commander. What more can be said !?
If Capt Comstock had consented, the passen-
gers would have wished to show their sense of
his attention and seamanship by more than
usually magnificent testimonial. The fact, how
ever, that such things are far too commonly
abused rendered it expedient to refrain from
this course.
I could not but feel assured at the cool Bos-
ton calculation Of young lady, who could not,
of course, hail from any other land than good
Nep England. Surrounded as we were by
floating ice and large ice-bergs, and at the i'm
minent peril of the ship and passengers, "what
q fortune could we Make said she, "could we
only get some Of them icebergs to Boston ?"
My fellow-voyagers were, on the whole, more
gentlemanly and more harmonious than | an
ticipated from my experience of preceding voy-
ages. There was the usual number of mishaps
from the soup dishes being broken by the mo-
ton of the vessel, emptied in our laps, or
turkeys and gravy thrown into our bosoms.
But the larder did not seem to be exhausted,
and we ate on, regardless Of these losses. Not
withstanding the extreme roughness of the sea,
/ do not remember that we shipped more than
one. 1t was, however, a smashing one, liter
ally and fguratiyely. The water poured down
the companion-way, deluging several Of the
berths. One gentleman, who had to that mo-
ment been grooming and signing, and retching
in his berth, unable from seaTsickness to do the
least thing for himself, the instant the water
dashed into his room, made but one spring from
his bed and rushed with the alacrity of restored
health into the general sitting-room. His cloth
ing was only that which sleep generally lends
to nature. At the sight Of theladies he rushed
back again, and few men could have cAthed
himself with greater speed than he did.
From that moment nobody heard anything
more of the sickness of that gentleman. He
was thoroughly cured. One poor German gen.
teman was also foated out OF his state-room a
perfect human representation of drowned rat.
could scarcely refrain from smiling. "What
is the matter ?" asked fellow passenger. ooh,
OIL" said he with arms extended like the limbs
of a parabola, II am all wet Swell, go and
get on dry clothes" All my thinks" replied
he, "is vet too ~ He was pitiable, not to
say, a ludicrous object to look upon-wet to the
skin, with red flannel shirt, whose color was
continually oozing through to his shirt and pan
falcons, which constituted his outward attire.
The OLNEY BURGLARY.-Thus far there
have been no new developments, beyond those
already made public, in regard to the glaring
burglary which was perpetrated at the house