Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-07-28

/ can scarcely picture the horrors ot
that night, l would fain indeed forget
them, but that is impossible. We had
preserved our lives for the present mo-
ment, but we knew not st what mo-
ment the schooner might break up or
glide off the ice, and then what could
we expect but starvation in its worst
form? Strange to say, we did not suf-
fer so much from the cold as might
have been expected. probably the
sense of our greater danger rendered
us less susceptible to the lesser one.
We had many hours to wait for day
light, but as several of the men had
their pipes and tobacco in their pockets,
and l had box of lights, we smoked,
and by keeping closely huddled tOgeth-
er, got through the night better than
might have been expected. To favor
us still further, the wind fell very
much, and veering round to the south
ward, made it much warmer.
Morning dawned at last, and what a
change from the previous day! Then
we had a good staunch vessel under
our feet; now, we were adrift on an
iceberg, our poor little schooner half
in, half out, of water, with hole in
her bow big enough to drive wagon
through; but the storm had ceased, and
the sea was rapidly going down. A
thick fog came on, but that we cared lit
tie about.
Our first act was to again offer our
thanks to that benefcent Power who
had SO mercifully spared us. This
done, we descended to the wreck, and
then saw that she was so firmly fixed
that, unless heavy weather again came
on, we might yet make her our home
for some time to come, although quite
out of our power to make her sea-
worthy again, even lift had been posi-
BILE for us to launch her, which it most
decidedly was not.
Climbing on board, the cook was at
once set to light the galley fire, and
prepare breakfast, and l then cast
about for some means of securing her
in her position, and this | determined
to do, by laying the bower anchors
out on the ice, and heaving in taut on
the cables.
Breakfast over, we rugged a pair OF
sheets, and dismounting one of our
two guns, got its carriage over the
bows, and lowered the starboard an
Choir into it, contrived by the aid OF
deck tackle to drag it up to the level
space we had spent the night on.
This done, we served the port an
chor the same, and then dragged the
ends of the cables to them and re-
shackled them. We then, by the aid
of pickaxes, buried the anchors secure
" in the ice, and bringing the cables
to the windlass heaved them taut. Do
ing this occupied us nearly the whole
day.
Again night approached, and again
we assembled-but this time on board
the schooner--to offer up our prayers
for deliverance; and then, having set a
watch, turned in and slept the sleep of
the tired.
Another dawn brought no change in
the weather, the fog hanging like a
pail around us, and the sea continuing
smooth and calm; but toward night the
wind sprung up again from the north,
and clearing the fog off, gave us hopes
of being able on the morrow to deter
mine our position, which l had every
reason to believe was not very far from
frequented fishing grounds; but we
were again disappointed, for before day
broke the fog came down again and an
other day was passed in uncertainty
and doubt.
During the afternoon, l endeaVored
to form an idea of the size of the berg,
but was unable to do so. The highest
point we could see appeared to be about
one hundred and fifty feet in altitude;
but it rose so precipitously from the
little plain on which we spent our first
night that we could not ascend it, so
that we were unable to form any con-
lecture as to its shape or size. One
fear alone haunted me, and that was
that it might capsize, and l could not
help remembering that | had on previ-
GUS occasions seen icebergs do so with.
out any warning, save premonitory
rocking; but this was not destined to
be our fate, and our third night passed
..-.,o-l,oI hu anu accident
About noon of the fourth day the
glorious sun shone out, and quickly
dispelled the fog, and our eyes were
gladdened by the sight of the distant
shores of Newfoundland.
Anxiously was the horizon scanned
for fishing vessels, but none were seen;
and then l remembered that it was
Sunday, and that most of the boats
would have made their ports the night
before. Our own boats were stove and
useless, so all we could do was to hold
the usual Sunday service, and patient
" await the event of another day,
Next morning we were up betimes
but hour after hour passed and still nc
welcome sail hove in sight, and we fell
the full truth of "hope deferred maketh
the heart sick;;" but just before sunset
the welcome cry of "Sail, ho!'' sent q
flood of 10y to our bosoms, and couple
of fishing boats were seen heading well
up to US.
GUN and IRE it was but the work OF
moment, and before the smoke had
cleared away we had the JOY of seeing
them working direct for US.
All was now happiness and joy, and
thought no better time could be ehos,
en- for sending up our thanks for our
almost miraculous preservation.
Soon after this was done the boats
hove to close under the schooner's
stern, and heaving lines to us we were
brought alongside.
Unbounded was the astonishment o.
Tho 6shermen. and hearty and warn