Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-02-05
ENTOMBED IN ICE.
Four Men and Woman Shut Fast in a
Newfoundland Iceberg.
New YORK Star


Mass, in the schooner Fdrt, of St.
Mary's, N. j., told very narrowing
story. 1t is to the effect that, while ice
bound in Pacentia bay, on the south
coast of Newfoundland, on the 4th inst.
he described what appeared to be a
dsmantled vessel apparently about two
miles off his lee bow. The vessel was
also ice-bound On the folio yirg morn,
ing he proposed to walk to the vessel,
more for the sake Of satisfying his
curiosity than anything else. THE ice
was frozen solid, and he experienced no
difficulty in obtaining the company of
a number of the sailors aboard his
schooner. Preparatory to starting
the party were provided with
axes and other articles necessary
on exploring trips. After tiresome
Journey, throughout which climbing
over and sliding over immense, irregu-
lar masses Of ice were the most notice
able features the vessel was reached
and discovered to be the hull of a large
brig careened over on the port side and
imbedded solidly in the ice. OF the
two masts only jagged stumps remained.
On the stern post was painted "Adel-
aide Folquet, Dieppe.'
With the aid of The axes, Capt. Kane
says the men assembled the starboard
side of the vessel, and upon gaining the
deck terrible sight met their GAGE.
Near the gallery door lay the body of a
man, face downward, imbedded in the
ice so firmly that recognition was I'M
possible until after the corpse had been
thoroughly thawed. The steps, leading
down to the forecastle were completely
blocked up by the frozen sea water.
The exes were called into requsition
and the passageway soon cleared. Be
low there was a horrifying sight to be-
hold. Diagonally across the floor Of
the once cosy forcastle another body
lay stretched. The appearance OF the
eyes, mouth and neck gave assurance
that decomposition had been arrested
in its course by the atmosphere of
the improved ice-box in which it lay
Another corpse was found in the fore
castle, with its back nearly upright
against, and firmly frozen to, an old
sea-Chest. The head and face OF the
corpse also presented the appearance
of skull from which every particle of
flesh had faded away, and such it would
literally have been but for the frail and
tightly-drawn covering of with cred
skin which concealed the bone.
Both of the bodies found in the fore
castle were dug out Of their temporary
resting-place, TO which they had been
tightly frozen, and conveyed on deck
and laid beside the body found in the
galley. The entrance to the cabin was
next examined and found almost frozen
over, except a small aperture through
which nothing but darkness was visible.
The axes soon removed the icy obstruc-
ton, and an entrance into the cabin
was affected. An opening was cut
through two Of the cabin windows. and
the light which entered revealed an
other sickening spectacle, a sadder one
by far than the others, for the body of
woman was found lying PROSTATE in the
captains stateroom. A few feet away
protruding boots led to the discovery
of another body, the upper portion of
which was deeply imbedded in the
thick ice which covered the cabin floor
from the entrance to the opposite side.
All the bodies were arranged on deck
as neatly rs the circumstances allowed.
The interior of the captains stateroom
contained no ice, and the exploring
party found in locket on the dead
woman's neck the miniatures of
handsome man, about 50 years of age,
and pleasing looking woman of about
30--evidently the captain and his wife.
On the floor of the stateroom was an
ebony crucitiy, with the figure of the
Redeemer in ivory. The stateroom
contained two religious pictures, a writ
ing desk, medicine chest, two fine
trunks, valises, and satchels, which the
explorers would not touch until the au-
thorities had been consulted. The men
gloomily made their tatiguing journey
back to Placentia harbor. where they
laid ali the particulars of their sadden-
dening adventure before the magistrate,
who at once took steps to have the bo-
dies brought ashore, together with the
ships papers and other effects secured
until full identification had been made,
A telegram from st. Pierre announced
that the ddeiaids F1iqta, French brig,
had last been seen when she left that
port on Nov. l6, with load of Goldfish,
herring, and dried capln, bound for the
port of MarseiIles in France.