The National tribune., 1890-04-24

| icebergs, until she was able to force her way
| through that western stream Of ice Into Cum
| bcrland Guf-that the gcographers insist still
! in calling Cumberland Straits"
That storm, If ] recollect rightly, without
| access 10 my data, lasted about four days, but
while IT, did, we were driven southwark through
| Davs's Straits into the broad gulf that sepa-
| rates tho south of Greenland from tho west
coast there. and when the ship had woathered
| that gale. we tackled the ice stream westward
and pushed through into Cumberland Gulf,
| where the ship remained nearly two weeks.
Early in September of that wear, Commander
| tnow COmmodore) Greer brought the ship out,
and before it had fairly fought its way out
| through the pack-ico of the stream, another
gale came on and made an awful sea. short
aud choppy. such as one sees in the shallow
end of Lake Erie and in the Gulf between
tho westward trending Alaskan coast and
tho long fringe of tho Aleutian Islands, that
Russia passed over to the United States in
| return for nominal consideration.
i have seen some heavy gales, with awful
seas, on Lake Eric. but the gale that met the
Iigress as she poked her bluff nose through
the eastern edge of the 30 foot pack-ice. beat
anything ] have ever experienced in eastern
or western blue waters, on the great lakes
along our northern border.
The gale came from the northeast, before tho
ship was out of the ice, aud the timbers cracked
aud screamed like human beings in distress
When she got outside in clear water, there
were the majestic bergs" to look after. and ii
Kept all hands, from Captain TO cook looking
sharp. ] do not think that anyone know
| cannot-tell faithfully Of the anxiety of the
next four days, until the wind shifted and the
ship was able to put into little ford, so that
Mr. Melville. now Commodore Melville Engi-
necr.in Chief OF the Navy. could get out his
forge and repair his boilers and machinery
This far is the itinerary Of tho storm. but the
climax was one Saturday, when tho gale was so
high that the spanker was halfway brailed
III. only half rcefed staysail forward and a
donbie-reefed fore top.galIantsail. The ship was
lying rs close mp 10 thewind as possible and
the engines were kept going TO hold her.
Bat the gale increased that day until all
hands on board became anxious aud. except
helyiIle'a force below ia the engine-room, every
one was on deck cliuging 10 the lifeline or the
weatherrail TO escape the heavy seas that came
on hoard and anxiously watching the close
feefed fore top.gallantsail. There was tho point
of danger. Seas hoard that toro an an-
vil-the usual size that baeksIniths use-away
from il lashing alongside the Gre room hatch
aud rolled IL along the deck If 10 was "a mar
bile. As the seas came onshoaTd all hands hung
tighter 10 the lifeline and ducked below tho
rail, so that the full force could not reach
them.
In tho agony Of watchful appreciation that
mast 80 by the bnard one Of tho crew. a petty
officer, hauled himself aft hand over hand,
along the lifeline to where Lieut. Comm auder
Henry G. White the executive officer was hold
ing fast abcam of the maiuIDast
Mr.. White" he said, (" that topgallant. sail
must be fured or tho mast will 20, and he held
fast while he touched the rim OF his round
cap as IL he had gone aft while tho ship was
anchored in port.
Yes. Willis" White replied "but / shall
never order man aloft in this gale TO do tho
work. We must wait and hope for good luck
IL may hold"
Willis touched his cap again as he held his
elbow Srinpod around the lifeline, and said:
Someone must do II send me-"
God bless you. Willis, for the offer; but
will never order human being aloit in this
gale"
Bat. good God Mr. White, IL means the
lives of 81 souls. Ii you won't order it, am
going anyhow"
lie did. lie hauled himself forward TO the
weather shrOuds and struggled up over the
rail- the wind blowing him back twice before
he could get on the rntlipcs.
Every man deck watched that hero, and
felt in his heart that no WAS going 10 certain
death for If no could pass the foretop. aud