The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-10-27
Gales, skttt5es, 3netootts, &e.
WRECKED UPOEICE.

Some twenty years ago, in consequence
OF the encTOacl mems of French and
American fishermen upon our fishing
grounds on The coast of Newfoundland,
The commander mischief of the North
American Station hired and equipped a
number of small fast sailing schooneIs.
and despatched them from Halifax. Nova
Scotia, to cruise on The banks, for the
double purpose of stopping encroachment,
and also OF preventing the Newfoundland
hshermen from smuggling capelin "a small
fish used for bait for cod) to the French
island of Saint Pierre, on whose rock
bound coast it is not to be caught. ~Uf
one OF these schooners | was put in charge,
and It was while running through the
Straits Of Belieisle, that the adventure
am abOnt tO relate occurred to me.
had been visiting The stations on the
coast OF Labrador, and was returning TO
It Johns, Newfoundland, through the
straits. when one evening was caught in
heavy northerIy gale. AS night closed
in, reduced our sail 10 treble reefs, and,
knowing that ice was knocking about,
placed extra lookouis on, and remained
or deck in charge OF the vessel myself
To say the night was dark would give
no idea of the inky obscnrity in which we
appeared to be sailing. One could scarce
y see an arms length, and as for discern
ing any thing ahead, hat appeared impos-
slble. say appeared, because there is
much difference in having something to
look at and nothing because, in the latter
case, you fancy that nothing can be seen,
even If anything were there to be seen
Meantime. the breeze kept increasing
and l had the close reefs taken III, Al
midnight we were heading we'll out of the
straits, and | thought woDld go below
and endeavUr To snatch an hours sleep,
and was in The act of giving my orders to
the officer of the watch, when loud CRY
from the lookout men of, "A sail ahead,
standing right for US, sir u startled me
Rushing forward, saw the heavy, indls-
rinct form of what | thought to be large
vessel under "a press of canvas, within a
cables length Of US.
"Lufi luff all you can /" be bellowed to
The man at The helm but he, either mis-
understanding my order, or else having
caught sight oi the object we were ap-
preaching, WAS too terrified to carry il
out ,and, instead OF putting the helm down.
put il hard aweaifer. The schooner fell
off, felt the full force of the gale, and few
with redoubled epeed through the water.
In almost less time than ii has taken To-
write the above haIt.dOzen lines, | saw
that it was no sail, but gigantic iceberg!
4 IL l. Il L. d
chance have. weathered IT; but il was now
too late, aud, with a loud and fearful
crash, which threw myself and all near
me to the deck, the schooner struck full
upon it, her toremast going short off by
the board, but fortunately irjuring no one
Cries of hon ror and distress arose from
all parts of The vessel. The watch below
rushed up on deck, many of them with
out their clo;bes All was for "A moment
dismay and confusion, and as the schoons
er rose and fell with the heave of the sea.
the crashing forward showed that her
bows were stove in. and [ at once saw
that, unless Sue fixed herself upon tie ice,
she must, if she backed off it, 90 down
Most fortunately, she showed no sign of
doing this, and, IA the force of The wind,
aided by every heave of the sea, forced
her sill iu'iher on the berg, l began 20
entertain some slight hopes of saving my
crew
Collecting all hands, told them that
the only chance we had of escape was by
their regaining their co. lness ard strIctly
obeying my orders, and that, could we
but land on The berg, we should be- com
parativeiy safe.
then directed one watch to get I'D
provisions while with the other | got the
main mast safely cut away This done.
| secured The end of the deep see lead
line round my body, and, laying out along
the bowsprit. lowered myself by rope
end, and landed oa part OF the ice which