The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-05-27
THE POLYNESIAN'S VOYAGE.
Remarkable Rescue Of Two of the Crew
From the Ice.

Remarkable Rescue Of Two of the Grew,
From the Ice.
The Toronto Mail has a long descrip
] ton of the recent voyage of the steamer
POlynesian, which left Liverpool for Que
| bee, April Is, having on board forty-iiv
cabin and $50 steerage passengers. VIZ
! quote:
"Cape Ray'was passetbat 2:25 p. m. or
Sunday, April %. A fog came on, and al
10 O'Clock at night ice was again sighted
The passengers Monday morning saw q
magnificent spectacle. The ship had got
into the center of large field of ice. Fol
miles around, extending far beyond the
range OF vision, gigantic icebergs fioated
rapidly past, glistening in the flashes OF
the mornings sunlight like mountains OF
diamonds. or, as one of The spectators ex
| prescott like castles in the air. The
sight was grand beyond comparison, but
awful in its possible effect upon the fate OF
the precious human freight of the gallant
Polynesian. The favorite occupation was
leaning over the sides of the vessel and
wafching-the -plowing mp -ot,-tlsea SINAI.
pieces of ice, while only few feet away
were tremendous blocks of crystal of from
eight to twenty. feet thick. On the 9th
the ice grew thicker The vessel strug-
gled, but from noon on Monday to noon
on the 21th she only proceeded thirty
seven miles. A consultation was held be-
tween the Captain and the First Engineer,
and it was agreed Oh both hands that to
proceed would be impossible. The fires
were accordingly let down, and the vessel
was practically allowed to drift. During
the night tbeice settled. and it was ap-
parent TO every body that at least two or
three days would have to be spent all
among the icobergs.' On Wednesday be-
tween forty and fifty of the passengers,
with one of the officers, formed an eXplOr-
ing expedition, armed with poles, ropes,
and guns, the latter being taken in hopes
of having some seal hunting, as large
numbers of these creatures were observed
mile away. As the evening set in most
Of the aiventurerS returned, but as
five of them were still two miles
off. gun was fired rs a signal. Three of
them succeeded, after great deal of
trouble, in getting back before nightfall.
They stated that their two companions
were on large detached floating block of
ice, and could not get off. Darkness i'm
mediately set in, bringing fears for the
safety of the two wanderers. Two of the
officers, three sailors, and one passenger
were chosen among the volunteers to 90
in search of the lads. The brave company
announced their intention of either reScu-
ing Tom and Jerry, as the boys were
Familiarity called, or perishing in the at
tempt. With lanterns, ropes and ladders
the forlorn hope departed, amidst the
cheers of encouragement of the whole
ship load. This was at S O'Clock at night.
While they were absent the greatest eX-
citement prevailed on board. and several
volunteers renewed their offer and wanted
to make second rescue party; but the
captain did not think this advisable. All
through the night anxious watchers peer
ed through the darkness, and ever and
anon they caught sight Of the flashing of
a lamp. The beating of the waves against
the ice sounded like funeral knel in the
ears of the listeners, while the grinding of
the icebergs rubbing against each other
seemed to indicate what was the fate OF
the missing ones. For several hours no
light was seen; but at l O'Clock in the
morning, just as those on the ship were
casting hope aside, twinklings were seen
in the distance, and shortly sflerward the
searching party were at the side of the
vessel, having with them the unfortunate
Tom and Jerry. Nearly all the passen-
gers received the deliverers snd the deliy-
cred as they stepped on deck. They were
saluted with rounds of cheers of rejOic-
ing. Tom and Jerry-whoSe correct
names were Thomas Davis and James
Turner-had drifted five miles from the
ship, and were only saved at extreme haz-
ard.r