Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-02-07
LANCASTER DAILY lNTEIIlGENCER TUESDAY FEBRUARY 1892
MELANCHOLY DISASTER.
NINE BOATS BEsET BY DRIFT ICE.

Two of the Craft Lost With All on Board.
In January nine skiffs, with their crews,
left Porto dc Grave, town ON the north
west side of Conception Bay, to proceed
to Topsail, on the north side. The num-
Der of men manning these skiffs has not
yet been ascertained with any accuracy,
but the aggregate number would probably
be fifty. Their destination was the neigh
borhood of Topsail Big Pond, where from
the surrounding forests they were accus-
toned to cut frames of houses, flake
pieces, stage timber aud winter firewood.
They crossed the bay without accident, and
having completed their work left for home
on the morning of the 1st inst. The wind
was blowing 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 northern
drift ice was running in with great rapidity
both along the northern and southern
shores of Conception bay. Borne along
both by wind and current it then appeared
to them as we'll and as hopeful to proceed
as to retreat. They accordingly deter
mined to keep ON their homeward bound
course but this was fatal decision. In
u few hours they were literally imprisoned
Ill a. StIt VI lCC. CCVCu VI tIC ShAuS
had not parted company energetically
of terrible struggling, succeeded in lib
Grating themselves from their icy bond
age. This the joint crews effected by
dragging their skiffs alternately over the
ice pans and through the watery slatches
till they eventually reached tho inner
western edge of tho ice and succeeded in
making the harbor of Killegrewsi in safety.
Tho other two skiffs that were nearly a
mile further advanced in the bay were
hOpelessly caught, with all retreat cut off.
The unparalleled snowfall along the line
Of the road has interrupted all communi-
cation during the past week. The wind
blowing from the eastward while the skiffs
were 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 terrific
storm and wind and frost, and those
skiffs were unlocked and unprovided with
fuel or means of kindling fire. They had
barely one days provisions on board. Un-
der 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 on last Thursday evening
from tho gullies of Fox Trap, reports
having seen the two skitfs locked in the
embrace Of the ico 1loes, about ten
miles from the highlands of Brigus.
When looked at through glass
there was no vestige OF human life
visible, and the unfortunate crews
must have perished by the most cruel Of
deaths-frost and starvation. No res
cuing party could reach them, as the ice
plain was of that fatal mixed character
compound Of snow and ice-over which a
human foot could not travel, and through
which no vessel save an ice steamer
could penetrate. Far from their friends
and homes, embedded in sea of ice,
their bodies are doubtless rigidly entomb-
ep in their frail skiffs, and the wintry
winds may long moan 4 requiem over
their sufferings and sad fate.