Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-11-28
MistelI
ICE-WRECKED.
TFrom Blackwood's Mag,

| trrom Blackwoods Magazine.
We had hardly crossed the Atlantic,
and were beginning to look eagerly for
our first sight of the New World, when a
sudden change occurred in the tempera.
cure, and the balmy days of April ;ere
ioIlowe d by May cold and cutting al
most as sharp as winter. At length we
entered the estuary of the St Lawrence,
and thea the mystery was solved, for its
entire surface was checkered with masses
of ice; evidently the broken-up winter
covering of the river above being sweet by
the current out to sea. Nothing coull
exceed the beauty Of the ice fields as they
flashed and sparkled like gigantic gems
in their setting ofazure sea. Many we're
OF great size also, like floating Islands,
and the heaped up blocks upon their sur
face cleaned from distance like cit Is
of dazzling crystal.
The wind was in our favor, and our
good ship sped up the gulf, threading her
way through the channels of the floating
ice fields, while, hour after hour, her pas.
sengers stood watching with rnwearied
eyes the splendid scene around them
Even when night came, there
was the same eager throng of gazers, for
those large frozen plains glittered in the
moon light with strange spectral beauty
which none OF us had ever seen before
After time, mass Of ice huger than
common, appeared floating down the
stream. Subsequently, I'VE learned that
IT was part of the cone the spray forms
every winter before the falls OF Mont
morency. On it came, cleaning palely
against the deep blue tky like castle of
slsotless marble, rising in tower and tur-
ret, and massive buttress, and enriched
by the most delicate tracery. Every eye
was fixed upon it in b-eathless admira-
ton, as il swept majevtically by, until, as
1t passed between US and the wind, by its
loftiness it momentarily lecalmed us
Suddenly The stationary ship received
severe blow, which vbrated not only !
through all her .imbers but through every |
one of the hundred and forty human be-
lngs who formed her living freight. New
or shall forget the shrieks of terror that
followed, MS women well-nigh frantic with
fear, clasped their children to their bos-
ons, believing that the ship had struck
upon rock, and that their last moment
had come. A cry from the bow, that it
was but q blow from the ice, somewhat
relieved their fears, aud they stood quiet.
y by, while the helm was put down, and
.he sails drawn round, in the effort 10 free
is from the huge mass of ice which still
ay across the vessels bows pressing and
grating audibly against her timbers. A
minute more, and aoove the din of blocks
md cordage, and the stamping Of mems
eet. there arose wild cry that echoed
ar and wide over the surrounding ice
ields, and through every Granny of the
,eighborlng ce-castle--"The ship is sink.
ngf' t'..
IL was an appalling announcement and
it was true one. The ice
lad struck us heavier than we thought
md its hard, sharp edge, keen and re-
istless as that OF knife, pressing against
he bow of our vessel--undeferded as she
was by the double timbers needed for ice,
Encounters had cut them completely
through, SO that the water rushed in with
he force and rapidity of cascade IL lC
What fearful scene of terror and confu- J
ion ensued the shrieks and lamentaiion !
Il women, the cries of children, and the J
ilent anguish of men, as they beheld the
ears and danger of those dearest to them, {
IN none did the blow fall heavier than Q
N me; for had delicate wife on board, Q
nd ofmy two little ones, the youngest
Ias an invalid. Meanwhile. no time was $
,st There was no space to lower the s
oats, snd the pale, terrified passengers 0
ere hurriedly passed down. by the bow =
prit, upon the ice. 10 was touching to u
20 some snatch cloak or wrapper as a
hey passed, the sole relic OF all their a
orldly possessions. while others. in their "
error, departed without even that. A a
w provisions were next sent down, G.
uickly followed bv the crew and then 81
g stood a wreiched. covering group
pom the ice-field that had wrought us p
much evil watching for the last mo- u