Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1879-12-16
THE SEA or ICE.
PeriIs OF the Arctic Ocean---TFsc
Whaier Mercury Abanaoned---
Two More yghalers Frozen In

| s. Il. Bulletin.
The whaling bark Helen Mar, from
the Arctic Ocean, reached this harbor
last evening, bringing the crew OF the
bark Mercury. The latter vessel aas
abandoned in the ice on the 9th Of
last October, in latitude IL deg. 10
min. north, longitude l72 deg wegt-
ljust north of Herald shoals. The two
ships were together. On the 10Th Of
October there was ice as far as they
could see to the westward
They then stood to the northeast.
On the Goth they worked to the south
war;. among young ice. There was
occasional pieces Of clear water AID
some heavy ice. At dark there was
considerable ice around, and they laid
under easy sail until daylight. At
daylight on the morning Of tho 2lst
they kept away and stood L. S E..
The weather was not very thick they
could see seven or eight miles Soon
after noon they came to young ice,
and the wind hauled al cad. Tie
ships were swung off. 50 as 70 work
through the ice. Capt Hickmott, of
the Mercury, says he worked until
midnight, and then the ice thickened
and the ice stopped the ship. At 10
O'Clock the next morning both ships
dropped anchor During the day of
the 22d no water was TO be seen
from the masthead At night it
breezed u; some, and they hove up
their aachors. The Mercury miled
about two ships lengths, and the Hell
en- Mar did not stir from her position
On the morning of tue 23i the ice
about the ships would bear q ton
weight Matters looked dissnal. and
they prepared for winter. The ships
were in haiIing distance of each other
the Helen Mar being to the south
ward. The latter being a newer and
stronger ship it was decided to put
all the provisions on board Of her and
abandoned the Mercury. Ali that day
aud the next both crews were engaged
i'll securing provisions, wood, sails and
blubber, amounting TO whale and a
half The ice was all the time grow
ing more solid, it was getting cold,
aud every hour their chances Of escap
ing from their icy prison grew less.
On the Gath Capt. Hickmott bid fare
well to the Mercury. That night it
came on to blow a gale from the
northward, and they never saw her
again. AS the gale Increased the ice
began to crack and broke up around
them. This gave them hope. They
made sail and worked all night, some
hours not making more than half .
mile, then again they would SO three
or four miles. The ice was surging
and grinding about them. and every
moment they expected the vessel 10
be cut through, in which case they
must have all perished. the ice was
from six inches To foot in thickness,
and was in small cakes and joined
together. From that time TO their
passing through the straits. six days.
they were constantly working H,sir
way through The ice, aui hourly an
ticipating that the wind might fail
them. II it had ever fallen calm, tif-
teen minutes would have sufaeed 70
have frozen them in SO solid that they
would have been unable to move,
The last night they were in the Arctic
! Captain Hickmott says was the most
fearful one he ever experienced IL
that sea Ii was Intensely cold. and
their rudder became frozen So thai it
was impossible to guide the slip, and