Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-03-05
A Huge Iceberg.

an article by Mr.. J. 7. Towson, F. r. G. s., to
the Mercantile Marine Magazine, London January,
1870:
| | have just received an account of an extraor-
binary mass of ice, which, with the exception of
the one observed in the same region in 1854 aud
! 1855, is of an extent without parallel. Ny ac-
count of the ice islands of 1854 and 1855 was
published in your numbers of January and Feb
ruary, 1859, and since we have every reason to
expect that the movement of the ice islands of
the present and next year will be similar to that
of 1854 and 1855, l should be obliged by your
| re-publiShing my account given in 1859, by
which means the mariner maybe warned OF the
danger to which he will be exposed in his voy-
| age to Australia in March, April, May, June and
July, 1870.
"Iu horizontal dimensions, however, the ice
bergs of the south exceed those of the north to
greater extent than in elevation. 1t is only in
the Southern ocean that the existence of ice
bergs of miles in circumference is recorded. In
September, 1910, an iceberg was seen in lat-
tude 40 south, longitude 4lo east, mile in cir
conference. In January, 1858, in latitude $50
30/ south, longitude $40 west, an iceberg three
miles long was observed. But these appear in
significant when compared with body of ice re-
ported to have been passed by twenty-one ships
during the five months of December, 1854 and
January, February, March, and April, 1855 float
ing from latitude 44o south, longitude $50 west,
to latitude 400 south, longitude 200 west. This
mass has received the various denominations of
an immense Iceberg, an ice island, 'groote Use
land aud connected mass of icebergs. Its ell
| ovation in no case exceeded 800 feet but its
horizontal dimensions were sixty miles by forty.
1t was of the form of a hook, the longer shank
of which was sixty miles, the shorter forty miles,
| and embayed btween these mountains of ice was
a space of water forty miles across. The first
account of it was received from the Great Brit
ain, which, in December, 1854, was reported to
have steamed fifty miles along the outer side of
the longer shank This longest range of ice
then bore northeast and southwest, the bay be-
fore alluded to being open to the northeast.
While in this position it exposed ships to but
little danger since the bay could only be entered
on the opposite course to that of ships on their
homeward passage from Australia. But during
the next three months it swung round 800 to the
left, and drited east-northeast about one hun
dred miles, which brought it very near to the
route of outward bound ships, with the bay
open to their track. We can scarcely imagine
any mass of ice in any equally dangerous form,
and regret to add that one emigrant ship, the
Guiding Star, was embayed, and lost among it
with all hands. The Cdmbridge aud Salem
were also embayed in il in March and April,
1855, but through the skill of their commanders
they were extricated from the most perilous
situation in which can conceive ship to be
placed by ice in any form. In 1856 | had the
opportunity of taking the opinion of the late DR..
Scoresby on the nature of this mass, laying be-
fore him the numerous reports had heard con-
cerning it. lie believed that it consisted of
immense number of icebergs that had been
drawn together by some of them having
grounded in the track of others, and became af-
tcrward united by the frost of successive centu-
ries till at length by some convulson or other
wise, the whole mass was set adrift. DR..
Scoresby was very high authority on this sub
H.. ...,.<
Beyond doubt this was an extraordinary phe-
nomenon, there being no record Of any other
mass of ice bearing even approximate horizontal
proportions to those now described"
Although / have received three reports of ice
observed in September last, between latitude 4lo
aud 46o south, longitude 400 to 48o west, ! had
no reason to believe that any was of such dimen-
sions as is now reported The Alice Darts com
manded by Captain John Jones, arrived at Lv-
erpool about the 18th instant. She brings the
report Of having on the 30th of September, in
latitude 45' 30/ south, longitude 3S' 40/ west,
passed on the east side of large ice island, the
extent of which from nortn to south was about
twenty-five miles, and in a northwest direction
further than could be They also counted
thirty-one cebergs, passing the last the lst of
Orlober, at l2O p. M, distant from the ice island
about ] 80 miles north by east, magnetic
The general formation Of these two ice islands
| of 1854 and 1869 Is very different. The former
in numerous parts had the appearance of de-
tached icebergs, but on sounding between the
peaks they were found to have been united a
few inches below the waters edge. On the
other hand, the ice islands of 1869 appears gen
orally to be nearly of equal height, being des-
! crbed % level looking" and "even topped for
about twenty-four miles of the eastern edge, y
and the southwestern side as far could be
observed is stated to be " fiat and level like ta-
| ble-land." At the southeastern extremity there
are, however, several peaks.
! Still there can be no doubt that these two ice
! islands have proceeded from the same region,
and most probably that of 1869 took its depar-
| ture three or four months later in the year than
that of 1854 travelling in the same track and
at the same rate consequently vessels may en-
| counter the new mass OF ice islands on their pas
| sage to Australia from March to July, in the
year 1870 The probability of ships outward
hound to Australia meeting with this ice island
during the first seven months of 1870, will be
avoided by keeping to the north of the parellel
of 400 south till the ship is east of the meridian
of 100 west. After this period 1t will bend its
course southwark, out of the track of commerce.
| certainly recommend all mariners to avoid
this track, but should any by accident fall in
with this ice island, beg to request that most
careful record of its extent, its height, appear
ance and position, &C., be taken.
RATIO OF REPREsENTATIoE.--The present ratio
of representation in Congress is, in round mum
bers, 1875, 900 to IA member The new apportion-
meEt bill fixes the whole number of members at
800. The best authorities of population assume
that the census of 1870 will give total of AZ :
1870, 900. Dividing this by 800, we shall have
l40 433 the ratio of representation for the next
ten years, provided all the population were rep
resentatve. II is probable that the entire repre-