The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-02
ON BOARD THE CITY OF HALrFAx,t
Jan. o. l672

ON BOARD THE CITY OF HALIFAx,t
Jan. %, 1S72
this morning by the repeated cries of "Ice on the
starboard bow " "Ice Off the port bow p' and "Ice
dead ahead r. In a dense fog OF the coast of New
foundand these announcements are far greater
cause for fear than the raging OF the hurricane
which threatens 10 tear asunder the hull and spars
that are battling againstit.
AN OCEAN SCENE IN THE MORNING.
About breakfast time this morning the log began
to clear on. and at nine A. M. sublime but me-
not0nous scene occupied all the visible space
around u.s. from the snip to the horizon in every
direction. Nothing save little lake OF open water
about the ships length ahead separated US from an
ocean OF ce B0uders nllcOcks and plains q
heavy neld Ice, with an occasional bergh towering
above the hugh excrescences OF the frozen sea,
biockaded us on all sides
DOWN THE SIDE AND HUNTING IN THE ZOE.
We remained thus hemmed in for ten hours
during which several OF the passengers ventured
out on the ice desirable relief from the
ennM OF shipboard. An additional inducement to
disembark arose from the report that seals had
been seen by the lookout" at the mast head
Armed with revolvers and double barrel rifle q
party composed OF four gentlemen left the ship.
Fearing to lose sight OF the ship we took dire0-
ton in which the ice was not obstructed by berghs
and Douders.
We mad travelled about quarter OF mile
through the rough field ice when the surface be-
came 0minously soft and slushy. 1t was therefore
proposed by the chief oflicer, who was one OF our
party, that we would return to the SHIP but In Q
different direction.
SIGHTING GAME AND TUMBLING IT.
Returning, we had not advanced more than hum
dred feet when saw Two dark moving objects On
boulder about the same distance ahead OF us. On
examining them with my field glass at once pro-
nounced them to be old seals. Our rifles and re-
voivers having been tested we moved on toward the
game as quickly as u Is possible to move through
broken clumpers and over hlllocks and oouders OF
field Ice. Beng within gunshot o. the two unf0rJu-
mates stood and cast lots for the first shot OF the
rifle, the winner TO bear the expense OF winng the
party.
An elderly Scotch gentleman whose fame as an
expert sportsman Is OF no mean degree, drew the
longest lot and then drew the nrst trigger. splen-
did Old harp SEAL oily ana plump, tumbied over
the boulder to the Level ice. The other barrel
being discharged, the c0mrade OF the fallen phoca
fell dead peslde rs mate. and then we all rushed to
witness the spells OF our romantic tournament on
The surface OF the North Atlantic, 400 hundred miles
from sight OF land. One OF the victims lay quite
dead, Its clippers calmly folded on its breast and Its
head hanging over a lump OF Ice. The Otner was
dying slowly from bullet wound In the neck, but
the chief officer despatched the suffering animal ~
+ a sn0t from his revolver.
The skin OF those animals was of the most deli
cate texture aud their forms were large and beautl
AS none OF the party would undertake to procure
the valuable skins proposed TO nire the services
OF one OF the seamen or the butcher for that pur-
pose.
A WONDERFUL AND AGREEABLE SURPRISE.
Having reached spot within rifle range OF our
steamer we discovered that there were other
hunters on the ice besides ourselves, for we heard
two shots nred in rapid succession about twenty
yards on our right. Placing red 'necktie on q
boulder OF Ice near Nv as guide TO the spot where
be the direction n Which the SHOTS Were eG red. We
had not advanced many PAGES when we were ex-
were admirlng the form OF a dying seal.
One oil these ladies', well known Newfound-
lander. Mrs. Warrington. Is an excellent shot,
i
fclent 1t was Mrs. Warrington who shot
IN e sng ana US se Dn e o s s
II, as practised by her countrsmen, was very SIM
e IN U nr w M " 0s naa sa
this seal IrOm the deck OF the steamer and instnct-
lively she procured six-shooter and shea.hing
knife, with the one to Kill her game and with the
Otner to secure It's skin.
PROFITABLE OPERATION AND WELL PERFORMED.
The latter operation was performed with a skill
that any young surgeon might envy. Aaroitly seiz-
ing the sneaIhIng knife Mrs. Warrington made
the hinder ripper OF the seal. she then puS on o
pail OF coarse gloves, and neatly removed the rich
ton. looking trnmphantly at u.s. al shall get the
butcher 10 take away that fat, and then, when get
to Canada, shall have my beautiful sealskin cape,
worth forty guineas."
Tne soft and SirShy ice to which / referred was
the Mat indication or the soft, but squay weather
which so0n followed our seal hunt. Hardly had
Mrs. Warrtngton's sealskin been taken on board "
Tie Obligng butcher when goodly space OF water
separated the City OF Halifax from the body or the
ice. lOWuTC quarter past seven OcOck when Tue
cabin bell rahg for tea the immense body or Ice was
hardly visible In our lee. IL was the captains
opinion that we could not have passed much less
than seventy miles OF field ice. Next morning
t29th) at breakiast the chief topic concerned our
pleasant seal hunt, and several OF the ladies, regret
tlng That they had not participated In It, expressed
themselves ambitious Of meeting with more ice Ne.
lore we reached Halifax
AFTER A STORM.
At noon to-day we spoke the brig Brentano,
bound from Halifax to ST. sohn's She had lost ner
upper topmast u gale on The previous evening.
and a large quantity OF her Canvass had been CAR
ried away.
HAPPY HOPE.
In conclusion ] may refer TO the fact that the
appearance OF ice and seals so near the Newfound-
land coast at this early portion o. the season II
suggestive Of another abundant harvest OF oil for
the fishermen OF that island.
P0IlTlCAL M0VENENIS AMI EIhAUS