The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-11-29
Select Stogg.
AFOUL OF AN ICEBERG,

have TO encounter icebergs, had rather
be up here"
He looked at me moment. and then
muttered, with grim smile
at matters little where you are, II we
do meet any"
He had scarcely spoken, when the look.
outs voice rang outsharplY and startling
'lyi ,on a...0.
AT the same instant we saw huge OBJ.
ject looming up in the gloom, scarcely two
fathoms' length ahead of us. The wheel
turned like lightning, and the vessel
swung suddenly around,
any God" / cried ,seizing the old mans
arm, Are you mad2"
He threw nae off fierCely, and held the
wheel down with almost superhuman
strength. Another instant, and we went
crashing in the mountain of ice, striking it
with our broadsde. The ship quivered
Violently,and groaned like a human being
in mortal agony The tall masts and yards,
which were of iTon snapped as though
they had been reeds, and heavy masses
Office came crashing down upon the deck.
IL was moment Of fearful horror. We
had escaped destruction for the time,but
how long could this last? We had scarce
ly struck before the captain was at the
wheel.
"That was well done, Ben" he said,
hoarsely, to the old steersman. IF we
had struck her bow foremost, we'd have
gone down at once. Keep her steady as
she is,and we'll forge ahead slowly, With
Gods help we may clear the berg yet.
He disappeared in the direction Of the
engine room.
1t was fearful situation. We were ly'
ing heavily against the berg, neither end
of which could be seen through the fog.
The dense mass lowered above us as far
as we could see, and am sure do not
eXaggerate when estimate its height at
five hundred ieet. The first collision had
injured us greatly. The hull ofthe ship,
though made of iron, was bent in sever
al places, and the bulwarks on the port
side were almost entirely destroyed. The
masts were gone, and, together with the
heavy yards and rigging, which were, of
iron and wire, hung over on the ice aud
every moment dragged off huge blocks of
it, which fell oh the deck with deafening
crashes. Had we struck fairly on the |
bows, instant destruction must have been |
our doom.
The passengers crowded on deck at the
shock, but were driven into the saloon and |
steerage by the captain. Sogreat was their
terror that they obeyed without hesita-
ting AS the vessel moved slowly ahead,
the masses of ice, e,caught by the wreck of
the rigging, fell faster on the deck.
"They'l crush in the decks if they are
not stopped" cried the old steersman.
"Aloft, there, and clear away that rub.
bishl he shouted.
Desperate as was the undertaking, sew
eral men with axes sprang aloft,and soon
their energetic blows severed the mass Of
rubbish from the ship. The vessel reCov-
cred her equilibrium and moved forward
more freely.
We could do nothing but forge ahead
slowly, and wait the turn of events. The
iceberg was fully mile in length and as
yet we could not see the end of it. Each
moment seemed an age of agony, and we
were constantly crashing against the berg,
and at every collision it seemed to me
that he ship would go to pieces.
Forward, there!" shouted the captain
to the lookout on the bow.
GAY. ay, sirw
"What do you see ahead2"
We held our breath as we waited for
the answer. 1t came slowly and mourn
fully, and smote painfully upon our
hearts,
Nothing but ice, sir"
Again we went crashing into the berg,
ana again the ship quiyered as with vi
olent spasm. Since the first collision /
had not moved from my place near the
wheel.
"How long can we stand thisP" I asked
of the old steersman. ..... .
"God knows" said he. II am only sur
prised that we are living now"
"Starboard your wheelp cried the
lookout, suddenly; there's crack in the
ice, and we are going into it,"
The vessels head swung around from t
the beIg,and we moved slowly by an i'm {
mense aperture in the glittering mass.
Here was another danger. Suppose we :
should be drawn or should run into one
of these flaws. No human power could
save usthen, for we could never extriCate I
the chip from such position.
Forward, thereW shouted the captain ,
again.
"Ay, ay, sir"
"What do you see aheadW
Nothing but iCe sir?"
He had hardly spoken, when tremen-
dous stream of water burst from the ice. !
berg and swept down upon the decks.
The men could scarcely stand against it. t
There was q rush of passengers from be. l
low and they swarmed out on deck, think }
ing that the vessel was sinking.
"Drive them baCk2" shouted the cap.
tain. The matches and doors must be i
closed, or the ship will be filled with wa.
ter in an instant" I
There was desperate struggle, but the
passengers were finally forced below, and
the doors and hatches secured. Still the
water rushed down upon the decks from
the dizzy nights of the berg. The vessel r
rolled and rocked violently, and at every !
strain her hull creaked alarmingly. The :
men were completely drenched, and could
scarcely keep their footing. / had not
left my post by old Ben, and was wet 7
through to theskln; but / could not move. !
I was powerless to stir. '
"This can't last much longer" said Ben, I
as he held the wheel hard down. "This {
heavy fall of water, and this constant
humping against the ice, will knock her
to pieces in few minutes, if she is iron" |
The fog seemed to be growing lighter,
anC l could see more of the iceberg As :
far as my sight could reach in any direc. :
ton there was nothing but the clear crys-
tai surface with its huge assures and jag
ged pinnaces. Every minute the ship I
would crash against the fearful mass'and 7
l felt that old Ben was right. We could t
not stand it much longer. The rush of !
water lessened, and soon ceased entirely; |
but the fall of blocks of ice recommended
The captain cried out
Forward, therelD
"Ay, ay, sirp
"What do you see ahead"
There was no answer. A deep silence /
reiQDed, along the deck for a minuta or