Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-04-17
.FHE REPUBLICAN,
From BIackwood's Ma-az.ue
THE ICE-WRECKED,


sight of the New World. when . sudden
change occurred IN the Temperatures. and
the balIy days OF April were followed
by May cool and cutting almost as win
ter.
At length we entered the broai Estuary
OF st. Lawrence. and then the mystery was
solved for It's entirs surfa-e was checkerel
with masses of ice; evidently the broken
up winter covering of the river above be-
ing swept BY the current out to sea-
Nothing could exceed the beauty of TIE ice
fields as they flashed and sparklel like q
gsntic gems in their setting of azure sea
Many were of great size also. like floating
islands. and the heaped up blocks upon
their surface CLEANED from distance like
cities Of dazzling crystal.
The wind was in our favor. and our COOL
ship sped mp the gulf. threading her way
through the channels of the floating ice
fields, while, hour after hour. her passen-
gers stood watching with unwearied eyes
the splendid scene around them. Even
when night came. there was the same es-
ger ,hrong. OF gazsrs, for those largo fro
zen plains glittered in the moon light with
q strange spectral beauty none of us had
ever seen before.
After tirls. mass oil ice huger than
common. appeared floating down the
stream subsequently,. we learned that it
was part Of the cone the spray forms every
winter before the falls of Montmoreney-
On ]; came. cleaning pslely against the
deep blac sky like a castle of spotless
marble. rising IN tower and turret. and
massive buttress, and enriched by the most
delicate trscery. Every eye vas fixsi up
on il ia brssthlcss admiration. as it swept
majesticslly by. until. as it passed between
- and the wind. By its lostiness it mo-
nssntarily bscalmsl Us. Suiienly the
stationary ship received severe shock.
which vibra,ed not only through sll her
s;mbers bat through every one OF The hun
[raI, md fosty human beings that formed
her living freight Never shall forget
the shrieks of Terror that followed as wo-
men well nigh. frantic with fear. clasped
tGr children to their bosoms. believing
'tHt he ship had struck upon a rock. AMI
that their las, moment had come. A cry
from the bow. that it was bat blow from
Ans irrs somewhat relieved their fears. and
they stood quietly by. while the helm was
put down. and the sails drawn around, in
the effort to free Us from the hinge masses
OF ice thst still lay across tho vessels bow
pressing and grating audibly against her
iimbers. A minu,e mo.e, and above the
din Of blocks and cordage AMI stamping of
mems feet. there arose wild cry that
echoed fer and wide over the surrounding
ice fields. and through every Granny Of
the nsighbofins. ice castle: 1.-The ship is
sinking!"
IN Vas an appalling announcement: and
yaafsrt unafely itfwasa true one. The ice
bad struck AS heavier than we had thought.
nd its bard. sharp elge. keen and resist
less as that of a knife. pressing against the
bows of our vessel-undesendei as she
was BY the tiinbers needed for ice encaun-
sers~-hsd cut them completely through.
ssosthAt the water rushed in with the force
Isnd rspidity Of cascade. ~
D What a fearful scene Of terror and con-
46sion ensned! The shrieks and lamentations
of ~omen. the cries of children, and the
,Silsnf sngnish of men. As they beheld the
fqaes and danger of those dearest to them.
On none did the blow fall heavier than On
me: for l had q delicate wife on board.
and of my two little ones. the youngest
was an invalid. Meanwhile. no time was
to be lost. There was no space to lower the
boats. and the terrified passengers were
hurriedly passing down by the bowsprit, up
on the ice.-It was touching to see some
snatch cloak or wrapper as they passed.
ths sole relic of their worldly possessions:
while others IN terror. departed without
-svsn< that. A few provisions were next
sent down, quickly followed by the crew;
and then we stood wretchel. covering
group.upon the ice field that had wrought
us so much evil. watching for the last mo-
&rnent Of the good ship. which had brought
,us In peace and safety more than two thou
sand miles. 1t was not long in coming
Suddenly she bent low. as if to salute the
waves, and the stern rose high into the air;
then with rapid forward movement, the
stately ship passed silently down into the
bosom OF the deep. every tall mast and ia
psringsy yard in its place, and every sail
spread to It's utmost and cleaning Whitley
IN. the moonlight. until each in its turn
passed from our sight. For few mo-
ments there was troubled vortex. and
then the moonlit sea roo'ed piacidly on.
AID the gentle night wind swept over the
spot, no trace o. the fearful shipwreck which
IN scarce ten minutes from the time the
ice struck our devoted vessel. had left u.
exposed and helpless upon the broad sea,
our only refuge the desolate field of ice
bare. inhospitable and, shelterless.
THAT tight was one Of infinite suffering
80 hardy men, what then. must it have
been to the feeble and helpless? A few
loose pIanks and spars had been thrown
over from the ship. and the scramble fol
them WAS like Struggle for gold. i wa,
SO fassonats as tosecnre one. aud on it
placed my poor wife and eldest child. roll
ssatogethss iu our only cloak; while throsgl
The live long night | passed to and fro be.
side them, with tho little one wrapped in
the breast Of my coat. striving in vain e
still its cries; and rs walked. my fee,
,elpngfoths frozen pavement beneath them.
and the cold shot up through my limb,
flits IN icy iirs causing intolersble pain.
.gAstbs night passed on the cold increas
ed, or else we felt It the more; and mani
times. as looked on the shivering being
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