Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-07-14
AFOUL OF AN ICEBERG.

RFUUl UF AN ICtbEhG.
You had better go below, sir, said the man
at the wheel. cts a raw, bad day, and you
are not used to this ere weather.
"I am well protected against it," replied.
81 couldn't stay below now. II we have to
encounter any icebergs, had rather be mp
here "
lie looked Mt mo for amomcnt, and then NUT
tered, with n grim smile
at matters little where You are, il we do
meet any,"
He had scarcely spoken, when the lookout's
voice rang out sharply and startling'y:
i" Ice! ice ! dead ahead" -
At tho same instant. We saw huge object
looming up in the gloom, scarcely two fathoms'
lengths ahead Of ,ls. The wheel turned like
lightning, and the vessel swung suddenly
aroun'.
"My God !" cried. seizing the old man 8
arm. - Are you mad?"
He threw me of, ficrcely and held the wheel
down with almost s,lperhuman strength. An
other instant, we went crashing into the noun
tain of ice, striking it with our broadside. The
ship qnivered violently, and groaned like n
human being in mortal agony. The tall masts
and yards, which were of iron, snapped as
though they had been reeds, and heavy masses
of ice came crashing down upon the deck. 1t
was moment of fearful horror We had
escaped destruction for the time but how long
could this last? We had scarcely struck before
the captain was at the Wheel
That was well done, Ben, he said, hoarsely,
to the old stecrsman. "If we had struck her
bow foremost, we'd have gone down at once
Keep her steady. just as she IL, and we'll try to
forge ahead slowly. With God help, We may
clear the berg yet" He disappeared in the di-
rectio II of the engne-room.
1t was a fearful situation. We were l,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 feet The first col
lision had injured us greatly. The hull Of the
ship, though made Of iron, was bent in in several
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, and every moment dragged off huge blocks
Of it, which fell on the deck with deafening
crashes. Had we struck fairly on the bows, in
stant destruction must have been our doom and
as it was, only the immense strength of our iron
hull saved us.
The incidents which occurred after the col
lision did not occupy more than three-quarters
of an hour, but they seemed then like a lifetime
Words are not strong enough to depict them.
They occurred in much less time than am con-
suming in describing them.
The passengers crowded ON deck at the shock,
but were driven into the saloon and steerage
by the captain. So great was their terror, that
they obeyed without hesitating. AS the vessel
moved slowly ahead, the masses Of ice, caught
by the wreck Of the rigging, fell faster on the
deck.
They'll crush in the decks if they are not
stopped" cried the old steersman. "Aloft,
there, and clear away that rubbish Nv lie
shouted.
Desperate as was the undertaking, several
men with axes sprang aloft, and soon their
energetic u,ows severed the mass Of rubbish
from the ship. The vessel recovered her equi-
ibrium, and moved forward more freely.
We could do nothing but forge ahead
slowly, and await the turn of events. The ice
borg was fully milo 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 col.
lision it seemed to me that the ship would go
to pieces.
Forward, there ~ shouted the captain, to
the lookout in thebow.
GAY, ay, sir!'
"What do YOU see ahead"
ha11
answer. 1t came slowly and mournfully, and
smote painfully upon our hearts.
"Nothing but ice, sir"
Again we went crashing into the berg, and
again the ship quivered as with vi lent spasm.
Since the first collision, had not moved from
my place near the wheel.
"How long can we stand this?' asked, of !
the old steersman.
"God knows" said he. clam only surprised
that we are living now.'
"Starboard your wheel p cried the lookout,
Suddenly. "There's crack in the ice, and we
are going into it,
The vessels head swung around from the
berg, and we moved slowly by an immense
aperture in the glittering mass. Here was an
other danger. Suppose we should be drawn,
or should run into one OF these flaws. No
human power could save us then, for we could
never extricate the ship fro II such position.
Forward, there ~ shouted the captain.
again.
Gay, ay, SIR"
"What do you see aheadl'
Oh, how our hearts ached as we listened TO
the answer! "Nothing but ice sir "
He had hardly spoken, when tremendous
stream Of water burst from the iceberg and
swept down upon the decks. The men could
scarcely stand against it. There was n rush
Of passengers from below, and they swarmed
out on deck, thinking that the vessel was
sinking
"Drive them backr' yelled the captain.
&" The matches and doors must be closed, or the
ship will be filed with water in an instant
There was desperate struggle, but the pas
sengers were finally forced down below, and the
doors and matches secured. Still the water
rushed down upon the decks from the dizzy
heights OF the ice The vesseroled and rocked
ani at every strain her hnll creaisi
\ slsrisii,s!y. The men wcro completely drench,d
md could scarcely keep their footing. l had