The Portland daily press., 1882-05-25
THE DANGERS OF THE SEA.
The Steamer Peruvian's Eventful
Voyage.
AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE IN
THE ICE.

QUEBEC, May A.-Steamship Peruvian re-
ports that on May 7, the tenth day after sail
ing, nothing could be seen ahead but an I'M
mense field of ice About dozen ships were
passed during the day, which had come in to
anchor, waiting for the ice to break. At IL
O'Clock that night the Peruvian was unable 10
proceed any further. Next morning she put
on full speed and made desperate attempt to
break her way through the ice barrier, but had
not gone far when she broke her screw and
lay helnlessly fast bound. The steamship Lake
Huron lay in sight behind, and also two other
steamers, one of which is supposed to be the
Polynesian. May a snow storm set in. On
the 10th the outlook was still far from cheering.
The steerage passengers were reduced to short
rations; biscuits were ordered to be served out
only every other morning and oatmeal Cruel
altogether dispensed with, hardship which
was keenly felt by the women and children.
On the 18th the ice began to move, but the
vessel made very little progress. Nothing
eventful occurred to disturb the monotony on
board until the 14th, when commotion arose
over the apprehension of man while rifiing
some trunks. The Irish passengers would
have lynched him had it not been for the in
tervention of the steward, and during the re-
mainder of the trip he had to be escorted to
his meals and to go on deck Immediately after
ward. The Lake Huron had by this time got
up steam and cleared her way through the
floating ice. On May 16 not vessel was in
sight. The ice had become thicker than ever,
that it was feared she would go ashore, but
the wind veering she was enabled to get out
into the open sea again. On the 18th schoon-
er hove in sight and was signaled. A boat
was lowered and the purser got aboard, with
instructions to 60 to the nearest telegraph sta
tion and to send the news to Quebec. At p.
m. he had not returned, though anxiously ex-
pected, and rockets were Tired every few min
utes On the 18th the schooner came in sight,
but could not get alongside on account OF the
t. J. A.sx nx11 <l.n tITotY Ynd
over the ice, which was in Jumps of about
forty feet thick and fifty wide, to the steamer,
from which boat was lowered and they were
taken on board. The purser brought the good
tidingS that three steamships had been on the
lookout for the distressed vessel since May H.
After hailing two steamers which proved to be
strangers, the crew and passengers had the
delight of being hailed by the Griffon and soon
afterward by the Acadian, with provisions on
board. The Peruvian " as taken in low by the
Acadiap, the Griffon keeping alongside. On
the 21st the Rocket also came to the rescue.
In tow of the Acadan and Rocket the Peru
vian came into port Tuesday evening. thus
ending the prolonged voyage. with fortunate
ly no loss of life, but an addition to her living
freight, for two infants first saw the light amid
those untoward circumstances. One of them
was named Allan, after the steamship COM
pany. About 800 passengers were on board,
most of whom were bound for Ontario and the
Northwest.
Other Vessels Caught in the Ice Fields.
Six sailing vessels arrived yesterday. The
George Gilroy of Greenock was twenty days in
the ice The captain reports that the icebergs
were the largest he ever saw, from 800 to 500
feet in hight, and the ice fields from one to
two miles long. When off Cape Aguilla
he noticed ship Of several thousands tons
burden ashore with masts gone. The crew
could be seen ashore walking up and down
with their hats and coats spread on the ground
as if to dry, but owing to the large quantities
of ice in the neighborhood it was found inn
possible to approach the shore. He passed
about fifty sailing vessels and three steamers.