Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-11-17
STRUCK BY AN ICEBERG.
CAST Adrift In an Open Boat In
tho South Seas

tho SOuJn 6edB.
"By dead reckoning" said Capt. Bur-
ton, Of the Golden Eagle, rising from
the study Of the chart, which had lain
open on the ca bin table between us for
some time Thy dead reckoning that is
about our position" and he indicated
spot representing something like fifty
miles south Of Cape Horn. "How is the
barometer?"
"Steady since noon" replied.
"Then we have seen the worst Of the
gale" he added. LET us 60 on deck"
Under close-reefed canvas, the Golden
Eagle was running before fierce west
erly gale. The murky light was dark
ened by frequent snow squalls.
The waves, like famished wolves,
leaped on our ships quarters as though
they would claim their prey; but she,
like living thing, plunged into tho
hollows, throwing Off her foes, and
rising on the forward wave few on UNI
harmed.
All hands were on deck. and n sharp
lookout was kept, for a moments in
attention, under circumstances such as
these, might mean instant destruction.
About midnight tremendous squall
struck the ship, and thought for a
moment that she was on her beam
ends; but she recovered herself, and
rose to n less perilous inclination.
"All hands shorten sailp cried the
captain.
The seamen struggled aloft through
the wind-swopt shrouds, but the squall
swept to leeward, and cry of alarm
rose from the lookout at the bow:
"Starboardl hard a-starboardl"
l ran forward, and there. like an
awful specter, lowered above us huge
iceberg.
"Ice right aheadF'1 shouted, as fed
aft.
The wheel-chains groaned under our
united efforts. The sailors aloft aban-
doned their work and came hurrying
to the deck. knew, as they knew,
that our ship was doomed, yet knowing
II and realizing in some degree all that
our terrible position involved, every
man was ready to meet death resolute-
ly and perfect discipline was main
tanned.
stand by the bracesl' the captain
shouted.
Before the men could obey the order
another cry arose:
Look outl she's into II"
And the Golden Eagle, rising on the
crest of n wave, dashed headlong into
the iceberg. The impact was terrific.
The three topmasts snapped short of
An immense block OF ice fell on the
bow, crushing the fo'cstle-head int
splinters.
Amid the roar of the wind and sen
the rending of spars and the cries Of
injured seamen, Capt Burtons voice
rang out;
"Clear away the boats!'
There was n gallant effort made Il
obey the order. The port lifeboat was
cut adrift and turned upon her keel
but the ship gave violent roll, and
men and boat fell TO leeward in con
fused heap.
The next moment the Golden Eagle
trembled beneath our feet, and, without
further warning, sank beneath the
dark waters of bleak Cape Horn.
went down with the ship, con
scious only of the cries OF the seamen,
which rang fearfully in my ears. Ny
next sensation was one OF deadly chill
us | rose TO the surface, amid the
tumult of the wind and sea.
The iceberg was invisible, owing Il
the flying spray and snow, and The
night was so dark that nothing coulC
be distinguished few feet away.
My boots and heavy clothes wer,
saturated, and the numbness Of my
hands told me that could not remain
afloat much longer.
Something large and black loomeC
alongside out Of the snow-squall, anC
instinctively ! grasped at it. II wal
the gunwale OF the released lifeboat
Several men were clinginR TO 1t, ant
succeeded in removing their sea- boots
and were bailing the water out
As she rose, we scrambled aboard
and, finding ourselves nearing th'
berg, we tore up the bottom boards
which we used as oars, and managed Il
clear 1t.
We were evidently now under thu
lee Of the berg, and, therefore, in com
pAratively smooth water.
We managed TO keep the boat from
drifting out to sea again, and, having
done all that was possible under thu
circumstances, we awaited the dawn.
1t came Mt length-a sickly CLEAN
across the wild waste Of waters. There
was no Joy in it-no warmth, no com
fort; yet we were thankful for it. !
was daylight.
Then we looked at one another-th
captain, myself, the second mate AM
three seameni in all, six dazed an
half-frozen wretches, barely delivere'
from the jaws Of death, whose face
had grown prematurely old during tina
terrible night
OF the Golden Eagle and the rest o
her crew, not n vestige remained. Gu
Of n ships company Of twenty-six, al
told, twenty had persisted when GU
gallant ship met her doom.
Our present position was serious
Before us tho vast iceberg, piercing tn
clouds, its pinnacled submits touchet
with the cold light OF returning day