Morning journal and courier., 1888-07-03
ECEBERGs.

difference Between Arctic and An.
tarctIc Bergs-Ships and Crews Seen
on Their Summ1ts-AcreS of Land
Carried on.
Bergs have been seen in the north Atlantic
laden with Jumps of rock, sand and soil.
The banks of Newfoundland would appear
to have been formed in this way. Arctic
lands suffer denudation by the inland ice es
it ereeps along toward the sea, and the bergs,
separated from their parent glaciers, deposit
the fragments at the bottom of the old
ocean, there to harden into rocks and help
in molding the surface of the gold. Nothing
is lost, nothing is new. In August, 1897, a
berg was observed stranded in eighty-five
fathoms in forty-six and one-half degrees
north and forty-five degrees west. Much
earth and rock were imbedded in its fssured
sides. Polar bears and other arctic animals
were seen on the bergs of 1888. An adams
huge ice island in 1874, and ship with her
crew YVES seen similarly situated in 1s45, but
no help could be afforded.
On the 21st of April, 1851, the brig Reno
vation passed an immense ice island about
ninety miles to the eastward of st. Johns,
Newfoundland. Two dismantled ships lay
snugly upon it, but there was no sign Of life.
Captain Ommanney, R. N, was deputed to
investigate this report and took great pains
to arrive at its truth, as it was inferred that
these ships were the Ersbus and Terror, of
John Franklin's Inflated expedition. Some
people are still of the same way Of thinking.
The crew of the German discovery ship Han
ga were compelled to abandon their vessel,
crushed by ice, and took refuge on an i'm
mense floating mass of ice, where they re-
manned for eight months. Their floating ice
was about two miles in circumference and
5r;f al kha fo11
able to make their escape. During this time
| they had lived in hut constructed from the
| coal saved from their ship. H. III. s. Reso-
/ lutte was abandoned inbedded in the ice, but
| was picked up after long drift to the south
ward. This icesbearing current tends to
make the American coast very cold. The
warmer water of the gulf stream on the
| other hand, enables the whalers to get far to
| the northward on this side of the Atlantic,
| and makes the mean temperature of Ireland
in ffty-two degrees north as high as that of
| American coast ports in thirty eight degrees
north, fourteen degrees nearer to the equator
Many losses and casualties were caused by
the ice in the north Atlantic last season
| Masters should take frequent observations of
the temperature of the sea, although it must
not be relied upon as specific Indication
Warning may often be obtained by means of
the echo given off from berg when steam
whistle sounded. No precaution must be
neglected by those who navigate our floating
palaces and ocean tramps; but the safest
plan is to adopt southerly route clear oi
bergs. The Etruria has followed this course
in her fastest passages. Our admiralty
charts show the seasonal limits of bergs, and
the United States hydrographicsl Office issue
charts every month giving the exact position
of each berg up to the moment of going tc
press. Notices of bergs passed at sea should
be forwarded Immediately on arrival tc
Washington, and every berg reported will re-
ceiye due publicity.
There exists marked difference in form
between the bergs Of the two hemispheres
Arctic bergs are of irregular shape, will
lofty pinnacles, handicapped towers and
glittering domes; whereas the southern berg
are fat-topped and solid looking. The for
mer reach the sea by narrow fords, but th.
formation of the latter is more regular. I
is well to give these splendid specimens o
natures handiwork wide berth, for the,
} frequently turn somersaults owing to tn
. | wasting away of their immersed portions
Immense pieces of ice fell from berg on +
the deck of ship that had approached to
close to- it while in this transitory state, car
| wing away her masta and manning some O