, 1882-03-17
Caught In the Ice

shocking disaster to human life
among the bleak ice fields that now and
aaain iutrude upon the waters of the
a7stern coast of Newfoundland has very
.Scentlv occurred. 1t had nearly out
strinped in magnitude the dismal ice-hoe
traGedv of April, two years ago, an ac
connt of which was published in the
Herald at the time. The sad story of the
present is briefly told:
On the first day of the last week in
Januarv, nine skiffs. with their crews,
left Porte de Grave, town on the north
west side of Conception bay, to proceed
N Topsail, on the south side. The num-
her of men manning these skitfs has not
vet been ascertained with any accuracy,
hut the aggregate number would proba-
bly be fifty. Their destination wa the
neighborhood of Topsail Big Pond,
where, from the surrounding forests,
they we're accustomed to cut frames Of
houses, flake pieces, stage timber and
winter tirewood. They crossed the bay
without accident, and having completed
their work left for home on the morning
Of the lst instant. The wind was blow
ing moderate breeze from the eastward,
and there was strong westerly set OF the
Arctic current.
Before they had reached the central
line OF the bay they found that the north
ern drift-ice was running in with great
rapidity, both along the northern and
southern shore OF Conception Bay.
Borne along both by wind and currents 1T
appeared to them as we'll and as hopeful
to proceed as to retreat They accord
ngly determined to keep on their home
bound course, hut this was fatal decis-
ion In q few hours they were literally
imprisoned in sea Uf ice. Seven of the
skiffs which had not parted company en-
ercetically united their whole forces, and
after hours of terrible struggling, sue
ceeded in libearting themselves from
their icy bondage. This the Joint crew
effected by dragging the skiffs altern-
ately over the ice. pans and through the
watery sAtches till they eventually
reached the inner western edge of the ice
and succeeded in making the harbor of
Killegrew in safety.
The other two skiffs that were nearly
mile further advanced in the bay were as
hopelessly caught, with all retreat cut
of, as would be an unfortunate sailor
overheard, fallen into the corpse-like
embrace Of a devil-fsh. The two i'll
fated skiffs were commanded by men
named, respectively, Porter and Man
gan. The precise number Of the crew in
each skif, or their names, L bave not
been able to ascertain. There is no tele-
graphic communication with that portion
Of Conception Bay where the disaster oc-
Cured, and, although five days have
elapsed, it was only last night by an ex-
press courier that the news reached your
correspondent. The unparalleled snowfall
along the line of the road has inter
rupted all communication during the
past week. The wind blowing from the
eastward while the skifrs we're crossing
the bay, it was earnestly hoped by the
people looking on from the shore that
they would be able to effect landing on
Kelly's Island, but that hope has been
dispelled.
Wednesday night last was one Of ter.
rife storm and wind and frost, and those
skitfs were und0cked and unprovided
With fuel or means Of kindling u fire.
They had barely one days provisions on
board Under favorable circumstances
they could have reached their homes in
four or five hours, and hence their
absolute lack Of resources in food and
fire.
A traveller on foot who arrived last
Thursday evening from the gullies of
Fox Trap, reports having seen the two
sklifs locked in the embrace of the ice
Hoes about ten miles from the highlands
Of Brigus. When looked at through a
glass there was no vestge of human life
visible, aud the unfortunate crews must
nave persisted by the most cruel of
deaths-frost and starvation. No rescu-
\ ing party could reach them, as the ice
4 plain was OF that fatal mixed character
\ aeompound OF snow and ice--over which
\ a human foot could not travel, and
ihrough which no vessel save q power
iul Ice steamer could penetrate. Far
rom their friends and homes, imbedded
IN a sea OF ice, their bodies are doubtless
tigidly entombed in their frail skiff's, and
Me wintry winds may long moan re.
9aiem over their sutferings and sad fate.
n. Y. Herald.
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