The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-12-13
Our @lio.
From tho N. Y. Observer
AMONG THE ICEBERGS.
BY DIR, IRENKUs PRIME.

iceberg, anu the awful peril oi heT passen-
gers, bring to mind an old experience.
In the month Of March, 1854, left Liv-
erpool for New work in the steamer Bal
tic, Capt. Briggs, Of the Collins line. 1t
was my first voyage on a steamship, and
naturally was more sensitive TO the sey
eral forms of danger than those are who
have long been 10 the habit of "going
down to the sea in ships"
We had been out few days only,
might say hours, before was well salts
fed that the captain would take the ship
safely into port, if it required year.
The ship was new, stanch and steady, and
a well built ship is as safe on the sea as
house is on the land. If this appears to
be an extravagant remark, let me add that
the best built dwellings arc exposed to ere,
lightning, hurricanes and mobs, aud that
a good ship is exposed to no more aud no
greater pcrils than these. The greatest
danger to ship arises from the incapa-
city or negligence Of those who navigate
her, and against these dangers no human
foresight is adequate to provide. You
pay your money aud take your choice Of
steamers according to the best information
you can get of the judgment Of the men
who manage the line. They may be de-
ceived. And you may be lost at sea.
But the risks are not much greater than
in crossing Broadway a thousand times, or
travelling by rail from Boston to San
Francisco.
Some years ago a stranger came into
my Office, and without introduction, went
on to say-"Long before the time when
steamboats, were on the river, was going
from Ncw York to Albany on sloop, with
several passengers. When we reached
Tappan Zee, great storm arose, and many
were afraid the vessel would be over
whelmed. la the midst Of the alarm q
young and beautiful woman stepped from
the cabin, and in sweet voice, but with.
out trembling, she said, "In Gods hands,
we are as safe on the water as the land"
That lady became your mother. have
made her words my motto through life;
have watched you so far in yours, and
thought you would be interested in this
incident" Having said this, the stranger
took his departure. And will return to
the Baltic and Captain Briggs.
The weather proved bad. The voyage
was disagreeable. There we're only forty
or fifty cabin passengers on board, giving
US more room than company. But the ST.
lent, incessant vigilance of the commander
inspired rs all with sense Of serene Sc
curity, so that we seemed to one another
prisoners indeed, but sure to be well cared
for, and in due time set at liberty. A
week out, we came into the region where
icebergs might be expected, whether the
almanac said so or not. In the morning
was on deck with tho Captain, and he
called my attention to a blazing, white
light, in the distance, like the reflection of
a mighty mirror set In the horizon, or a
palace of ice or glass coming down out of
| heaven.
That's an iceberg" he said calmly. L
had never seen one, and rejoiced greatly
that We were to make the acquaintance of
one so soon. The captain did not share
my enjoyment.
Drop bit Of leo into tumbler of wa
ter 1t floats, but almost the whole Of it
is below the surface. A small fraction Of
the mass is out. As the gravity of ice is
to water, so is the part above the surface
to the part below. Itmakss no difference
how large or how small the lump. Itmay
be as big as a mountain, or as small as an
apple, niue times as much Of its weight
will be under the water as above 1t. If,
then, the huge mass stands like the Pyra-
mid Of Cheops out of the sea, it reaches
nearly nine times as far below. Such was
the immense cathedral-like, turreted, tow
ering, stupendous pile as We gave it wide
margin, and passed it, glowing aud bril-
liant in the clear, cold morning sun. With
the knowledge of its proportions, and the
necessary fate of ship that should run
upon it, we looked with awe while its
beauty was fascinating. There was aa
weight of glory in IL,
The iceberg which the Arizona sought
to 60 through was seen from the Ancho-
ria, aud its dimensions were estimated at
one hundred feet in height and FIVE hun
dred feet in breadth; solid block one
thousand feet by five hundred, millions Of
solid feet of ice.
The steamer President had gone from
New York with a precious company on
board, to cross the sea, and had gone down
without sign. Not spar or plank, not
a cry, not rumor, had ever come to any
shore to intimate the fact of one of that
great company, Whether the eloquent
Chaplain Goodman had time to speak to
to them of the sailors Friend, We never
knew, but the general impression was, and
still is, that, being very heavily laden and
running against an iceberg, she went down
in the twinkling of an eye. We shall
know no more about it until the sea gives
up It's dead.
We talked Of this and other disasters
all that day, and as another night set in,
and we were still in the region which ice
bergs traverse, it seemed to me quite i'm.
portant that | should take care of the ship.
whats to be done, Captain ?" said.
Nothing but what was done last night"
He then kindly explained to me the
special watches that were set, the extra
spies, the positions they occupied, the
mode Of changes, aud the watchmen to
watch the watchmen, and then he added
II am here as was through the night
before, and shall be until we are out Of
danger"
At ten o'clock went below and turued
In, to mediate on the horrors of night
encounter with an iceberg; aud to roll with
the ship till the morning. l thought Of
that 'iyonng aud beautiful woman whose
words had eomfbrted stranger in many
storms. ! thought Of Him who holds the
waves and his children Ia his hands.
And Of the faithful captain who is the
agent Of Divine Providence for my care,
and-and--and--just then tho morning
sun was shining into my port-window and
| had been sleeping soundly eight good
hours.
But the vigilance Of the captain was not
relaxed untll biz ahip was safely iu port,
was on the platform when Everett
made his splendid Grafton at the inaugu-
ration Of the Albany Observatory in 1856
aud heard him relate this incident -
"Coming across the Atlantic on a staarrer
! asked ths captain how near he could de-
fnrmfua th. s..soots. l.....t... :. q l. 4. II - :