The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-12-10
Written for The RECORD.
"REMINISCENCES OF A VOYAGE TO
THE NORTHERN SEAS.
by oEo. c. WESTON, n. Y,
No. G.

nothing to be seen but pack ice but
toward the southwark there was thinner
layer of ice apparently and water to be
observed beyond. The Captain then or
dered that we should make direct for this
point, then having "tacked ship we
steered for that part of the ice field, keep
ing away from the shore as Car as posi-
BILE. The breeze being light, we did not
reach there until at late hour the next
day. The Captain not caring to sail
through the ice pack during the night,
we concluded to clay to" until morning.
The attempt to pass through packed ice,
is at all times hazardous proceeding, as
you mist follow the course of the drift
and so with it, instead of trying an indie
pendent course of sailing. When the day
had dawned, the lookout was again sent
to the mast head. He upon his return to
the deck, reported that everything was
solid TO the southwark, but to tho north
ward and eastward, he thought he could
detect faint outline of water, on the
other side of the pack. This news was
rather discouraging, as it was almost i'm
possible to sail through thirty miles of
pack ice; but as it was our only chance,
We were ordered to 'sabout ship" and
we once more headed our craft for the
thinnest part of the pack and plunged
boldly into it. Before proceeding far, we
abandoned the attempt as being useless,
and 'sent up lookout for some other
discovery.
The next three or four days was spent
in fruitless efforts to get clear of the ice.
AT the end of that time there being such
a large body of ice in close proximity,
the water began to get thoroughly chilled,
and the weather growing considerably
colder, the ice commenced to form around
us. We then gave up all hopes of reach
ing home that fall, and as we did not
care to winter Mt such a distance from
shore, we headed our vessel inland, in
tending to reach some sheltered harbor,
in which to remain during the winter be.
fore the ice should grow strong enough
to impede our progress entirely. We
were fortunate in finding good harbor,
but before we reached as far inland as we
wished, tue ice grew too strong for us,
and we were unable to proceed further by
aid of wind. We then dropped our an
Choir and waited until the ice was strong
enough to venture upon it, with safety to
life and limb. While we were waiting
patiently, we got out several saws and
sharpencd them, intending to saw pass.
age way through the ice for the vessel
BY the time We had finished our pre-
paratons, the ice had grown of sufficient
MISUNDERSTANDING about four inches in
depth-to bear our weight We then saw
ed out passage way in front of the YES
sci, about the length of the vessel and
some six or eight feet wider. The cakes of
ice as they were sawed out, being piled
up and put on the solid ice, to either
side of the canal. We then got out an
ice hook, cut small hole through the
ice, one hundred yards ahead of tho ves-
sci, in which VIC fastened our ice hook,
and leading a rope from the latter back
over the bow of the vessel and around the
windlass, We hoisteG our anchor and
hauled the vessel ahead and up to the ice
again. This left clear space astern of
us, and another to one side. Then saw
ing the ice to one side of us in long, mar
row strips, we showed it astern and gradu-
ally worked our way ahead, until we were
as far inland as we desired, when wo got
another ice hook, which we made fast by
rope to the stern OF the vessel. This
was for the purpose of preventing us from
drifting backward, until the ice had form
ed again.
The weather now growing still colder
and the ice forming rapidly, VIC were soon
securely frozen in for the winter. All
hands were very much disappointed at
not being able to reach their homes, and
having to pass the winter in such spot.
We then cut a hole in the ice, about fifty
'fre hole" this was for the purpose of
procuring water in case the vessel caught
fire. Three men were detailed for the
purpose of keeping this hole clear of ice
during the winter.
Every morning we had to keep a pass
age way clear around the hull of tho yes
sci, to keep the ice from closing up and
lifting the vessel out of the water. This
work was kept up until we had large
snow storm, when we began new mode
of operations. Instead of removing the
snow which fell on deck, we tramped it
solid all over it, which aided in keeping
the interior of the vessel warmer. We
then shoveled the snow against the out
side of the vessel and packed it in tightly
to "bank 1t inn and keep it comfortable.
We had on hand in the hold, several
casks of water, but being afraid of its
freezing and bursting the casks, we hoist.
ed them on deck, rolled them to the
gangway, knocked out the bungs and
emptied out the water. The snow 10 a
few days, became as solid on the ice as ice
itself. We then prepared to make a sled
from some planks, on which to haul our
ice, which we procured from an iceberg
that had grounded short distance from
the vessel.
The balance of our preparations for
winter quarters, together with n short ac
count of how these monsters of the north
ern seas (the icebergs) arc formed, we re-
serve for our next chapter.
(To DE coNTINUED.)