The morning call., 1890-08-19
RIDING AN ICEBERG.
Thrilling Experience of the Pas
sengers of the POrtia.

Recently the steamer Portia, while on her
way TO New York, when off the coast oil
Newfoundland, ran upon an iceberg. When
the vessel reached the port of destination
the master was seen by representative of
the Herald, who presented the following
report:
The second engineer, Mr.. Mccoy, the
Rev. John +. Potter, an Episcopal clergy
man, rector of Christ Church, in Harri-
son, near Newark. n. j., thought was the
real hero of the hour. He remained at his
engine through all the terrifying moments,
and was therefore able. in obedience TO the
captains orders, TO put on full steam the
moment the wave swept the vessel oil the
ice spur, and got her out OF danger.
found Captain Francis Ash. Newfound-
lander whose keen, strong features made
him look like son of New England. among
his business papers in his snug cabin on
board the P0rtla. This man, who was ice
master in the Bear expedition, who person.
ally bore Greedy back to friends and safety,
has had perhaps more experience with Ice
bergs under every aspect than any other
steamship captain living. For the most OF
his life he has been in the sealing trade.
lie m0deStly asked ME to narrate his latest
experience without reference to his Arctic
exploits.
Captain Ash smiled at the suggestion that
he might have been too intimate with TINS
Newfoundland iceberg.
WHAT CAPTAIN ASH SAID.
81 was sailing at full speed, it is true"
said the captain in the course of his story.
1--WE were about two hundred yards from
the berg. | did not consider that danger
ously close. In those clear waters you can
see any sunken spur at depth OF many
fathoms. The berg had none 1t had no
towers TO topple over. 1t was to all appear
ances large, solid block from 800 to 600
feet long and from so to 100 feet high. l
have at times passed near enough TO an ice
berg to touch it with my hat. l have often
when sealing tied up to an iceberg for
week at time. Certainly | never knew
one to behave as this one did.
The iceberg was directly in our course.
l proposed to pass at what l had every
reason to believe was a perfectly safe dis
lance. just as we got abreast OF the first
square face. Then | told the man at the
wheel to steer TO starboard. In ten seconds
there were three bergs instead of one. The
break was accompanied by terrible noises.
HIGH AND ALMOST DRY.
THE furtheSt portion ahead of us tipped
so that its submerged part arose directly in
our course, lifting US almost out OF the sea,
there being not more than three or four
feet of water under us. The propeller be-
gan TO go around rapidly. l stopped the
engines. We had run sQuarely upon a shelf
about one hundred and twenty yards from
the main body OF the berg. Then the COM
motion of the waters caused BY the plunge
of the berg raised wave that swept on
ward while We were trying to go ahead. l
signaled the engineer to proceed at full
speed. That was the critical moment. Had
the berg continued to roll 1t would have
carried US over and under. Had not that
wave helped US cur ship would have been
high and dry on that mountain of ice.
I'VE left a broad streak Of red paint on
that ice dock, and the wave that saved us
swept quantities of ice aboard. This the
passengers gathered and put in tumblers of
water" said the captain III conclusion.