Wichita eagle., 1890-02-08
ATLANTIC ICE RISKS.
6ome Of tho Dangers from Iceberxs in tn,
Early Months Of the Year.

Some Of tho Dangers from Iceberxs in the
Early Months of the Year.
Transatlantic steamship owners have
become quite exercised over the frequent
reports made of ice during the past ten
days. The Rotterdam, Scandia and P.
Caland are the most recent arrivals that
have sighted these dangers, which were
encountered during their last voyages
across the ocean between latitudes As
degs. and Al degs. and longitudes A
degs. and 49 degs. The most definite de-
scription of any of the icebergs encoun-
tered was that at distance of three
miles they appeared to be about 100 feet
high.
Next to fogs, or perhaps together with
fogs, there are no more disastrous expe-
riences related than those we hear of in
connection with ice encountered during
a passage across the ocean, and it can
not be wondered that in these months,
when fog is at minimum and COM
manders of vessels have time to devote
their whole attention to battling with
the elements and trying to reach port on
time in the face of the tremendous gales
that sweep over the ocean, the report of
ice should arouse their fears and re-
double their caution.
With the low temperature of the sea-
son, both of the air and the water, one
great means OF detecting the presence of
ice is to a considerable extent denied the
nc on1 thu l.,
ems sound from distance as it whistles
through the cordage and smokestack
guys, so that the roaring of the sea at
the base of an iceberg cannot be heard
until it is almost too late to avoid con-
tact with it. The ice blink, which fre-
quently renders ice foes visible, even in
the darkest night, can perhaps be relied
upon to indicate their presence, although
the blink that attacks the strongest ewes
of the brightest of lookouts when he is
trying to see something through driving
sleet and snow, effectually prevents his
seeing to any great distance. The ex-
perience OF the past few years has not
recorded ice at this season, but accounts
of former years show that it is OCCASION
ally to be met with and unhappily, as
rule, disaster is included in almost every
account, SO that it need scarcely be men
toned that great circumspection is nee
essary in passing near the regions where
these dangers may reasonably be expect
ed. Some few instances from the many
recorded are quoted as of interest, show
ing the peculiar and irregular tactics
these huge masses of ice follow, as they
charge about from place to place, some
times urged on by a fierce gale, and then
again floating placidly along in an en-
tirely opposite direction at the mercy of
some one of the currents or counter cur
rents to be found in the ocean, the di-
rection of which often becoming tran
sient and contradictory owing to gales
of wind that affect the surface of the
water very strongly as far as they ex-
tend.
In January, 1918, the brig Anne left
the harbor of Greenspond, Newfound-
land, in the morning and in the evening
of the same day got among ice; proceed
ed thus about forty miles and at day.
light next morning was completely beset,
with no opening to be seen in any direc-
ton from the masthead. In this state
she continued about fifteen days, drift
ing with the ice about sixty miles south
east by east, or about four miles in ev-
cry twenty-four hours. The ice had now
become very heavy, hig h above the sur
face, and about twenty y-nine large bergs
were in sight. She was altogether shut
in twenty-nine days, in the last fourteen
of which she drifted from latitude as
deg. 81 min. to latitude A deg. 81 min.
before tremendous gales of wind blow
ing the whole time from west to north
west. In the course of this two hundred
and eighty mile journey more than one
hundred large islands of the solid blue
/" Greenland ice" were sighted.
On the 18th of March, 1926, the brig
AJAX, when between latitude AZ deg.
and A deg, weather thick and cloudy,
with squalls of hail and snow, ran right
in between two reefs of ice, jammed to-
yether apparently in solid mass. and
when daylight dawned thirty icebergs
l50 feet high were found surrounding
the little craft. The crew got up wood
an Tenders and slung them over the side
10 prevent being ground into toothpicks