The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-12-04

mucn warmer
Morning dawned at last, and what q
chan9e from the previous dayi Then we
had good staunch vessel under our feet.
now we were adrift on an iceberg. orr
poor little schooner half in, half out. of
water, with hole in her bows big enough
70 orlve wagon through; but the storm
1ad ceased and the sea was rapidly going
down. thick fog came on, but that
We cared little about.
Our first act was to again offer our
thanks to that Benedcent Power which
mad so merclfully spared us. This done
We descended to the wreck. and then saw
mat she was SO firmly fixed that. unless
heaVy weather again came on, We might
yet make her our home for some time TO
come, although 1t would be quite out OF
power to make her seaworthy again, even
1t had been possible for us to launch
her, which 1t most decidedly was not
Climbing on board, the cook at once
set to light the galley fire and prepared
breakfast, and then | cast about for
means Of securing her in her position,
and this determined 10 do 10y laying the
bower anchors out on the ice and henv-
ing III taut on the cables.
Breakfast over we rugged . pair Of
sheers, and dlsmounting one of our two
guns, got its carriage over the bows. and
lowering the starboard anchor into It,
contrived by the aid of deck tackle to
drag 1t up to the level space We had
spent the night on.
This done, We served the port anchor
the same, and then dragged the ends OF
the cables to them and reshackled them.
We then, by the aid of pickaxes, buried
the anchors securely in the ice, and
bringing the cables to the windlass hove
them taut. Doing this occupied US
nearl Y the whole day.
Again night approached, ana again we
assembled-but this time on board the
schooner-tO offer up our prayers for de
hyerance; and then, having set watch,
turned in and slept the sleep OF the
tired.
Another dawn brought no change in
the weather, the fog hanging like pail
around us, and the sea continuing smooth
and calm; but toward night the wind
sprang up again from the north, and
clearing the fog of gave us hopes Of be-
ing able on the morrow TO determine
our position, which ] had every reason
to believe was not very far from fire.
quented fishing grounds; but we were
again disappointed, for before daybreall
the fog came down again, and another
day was passed II uncertainty and doubt.
During the afternoon | endeavored 10
form some idea of the size of the berg.
but was unable to do so. The highest
point we could see appeared TO be about
one hundred and fifty feet in altitude;
but II rose up SO precipitiously from the
little plain on which we spent our first
night that we could not ascend it, so we
were unable to form any conjecture as to
its shape or size. Onefear alone haunted
me. and that was that it might capsize,
and | could not help remembering that |
had on previous occasions seen icebcrgs
do SO without giving any warning, save
premonit0ry rocking; but this was not
destined to be our fate, and our third
night passed unmarked by any accident.
About noon Of the fourth day the
glorious sun sbone out and quickly dis
PEELED the fog, and our eyes were glad
eDcd by the sight of the distant shores of
Newfoundland
AnMously was the horizon scanned for
fishing vessels, but none were seen: and
i y.
that most of the boats would have made
their ports the night before Our own
boats We're stove and useless, 50 all we
could do was TO hold the usual Sunday
service. aud patiently await the event of
another day.
Next morning We were up tetlmes:
but hour after hour passed, and etill no
welcome sail hove III sight, and we felt
the full truth OF " hope deferred maketh
the heart SICK" but just before sunset,
the welcome cry Of Sail, OH" sent a
food of Joy to our bosoms. and couple
of fishing boats were seen heading well
up for us.
To charge our remaining mounted gun
and fire it was but tho work of moment,
and before the smoke had cleared away,
we had the Joy of seeing them steer direct
for us
All was now happiness and joy, and 1
thought no better time could be chosen
for sending up our thanks for our almost
miraculous preservation.
Soon after Was done the boats hove to
close under the schOOners stern, and
heaying lines to us were brought along
side
Unbounded was the astonishment of
the fishermen, and hearty and warm
their congratulations on our escape.
/ at once chartered them to convey
ourselves and as many of our stores as
could be saved to st. Johns; and, next
day, having removed into them as much
AZ they could carry, We set fire to the
wreck and made sail for that port, where
We arrived safely, and from whence |
returned to Halifax by packet. Arrived
there, We were tired by court Of in
quiry for the loss of the schooner, fully
acquitted of all blame, and congratulated
on Onr fortunate escape.