Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-11-18
STRUCK BY AN ICEBERG.
Cast Adrift in an Open Boat in
the South Seas.

Cast Adrift in an Open Boat in
the South Seas.
"By dead reckoning" said Capt, Bur-
ton, Of the Golden Eagle, rising from
che study of the chart, which had lain
open on the ca bin table between us for
some time-''by dead reckoning that is
about our position" and he indicated a
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 go on deck"
Under close-reefed canvas, the Golden
Eagle was running before fierce west
erly gale. The lnurl1y 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 the
hollows, throwing of her foes, and
rising on the forward wave flew on un-
harmed.
All hands were on deck and a sharp
lookout was kept, for moments in
attention, under circumstances such as
these, might mean instant destruction
About midnight tremendous squall
struck the ship and l thought for a
moment that she was on her beam
ends; but she recovered herself, and
rose to less perilous inclination.
"All hands shorten sail" cried the
captain.
The scamen struggled aloft through
the windswept shrouds, but the squall
swept to leeward, and a cry of alarm
rose from the lookout at the bow:
''Starboard! hard a-starboard!"
! ran forward, and there, like an
awful specter, lowered above us huge
iceberg.
''Ice right ahead!" shouted, as fled
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
it and realizing in some degree all that
our terrible position involved, every
nan was ready to meet death resolute'
ly and perfect discipline was main
tanned.
Stand by the braces!" the captain
shouted.
Before the men could obey the order
another cry arose:
Look out! she's into it!''
And the Golden Eagle, rising on the
crest of wave, dashed headlong into
the iceberg. The impact was terrific
The three topmasts snapped short off
An immense block of ice fell on The
bow, crushing the fo'c'stle-head intt
splintcrs.
Amid the roar of the wind and sea
the rending of spars and the cries o
injured seamen, Capt. Durton's voice
rang out:
Clear away the boatsl"
There was gallant effort made t.
obey the order. The port lifcboat wa
cut adrift and turned upon her keel
but the ship gave u violent roll, ant
men and boat fell to leeward in con
fused heap.
The next moment the Golden Eagl
trembled beneath our feet, and, withou
further warning, sank beneath th
dark waters off bleak Cape Horn.
went down with the ship, con
scious only of the cries of the seamen
which rang fearfully in my ears. NJ
next sensation was one of deadly chill
as rose to the surface, amid tn
tumult of the wind and sea.
The ice berg was invisible, owing t
the flying spray and snow, and tn
night was so dark that nothing coul
be distinguished few feet away.
My boots and heavy clothes wer
saturated, and the numbness Of m
hands told me that could not renal
afloat much longer.
Something large and black loome
alongside out of the snow-squall, an
instinctively | grasped at it, 1t wa
the gunwalc of the released lifeboa
Several men were clinging to it, an
succeeded in removing their sea-boot'
and were bailing the water out.
As she rose, we scrambled aboard
and, finding ourselves nearing I'll
berg, we tore mp the bottom boards
which we used as oars, and managed I
clear it.
We were evidently now under I'll
lee of the berg, and, therefore, in con
paratively smooth water.
We managed to keep the boat froi
drifting out to sea again, and, havin
done all that was possible under IL
circumstances, we awaited the dawn.
1t came at length-a sickly glea
across tho wild waste of waters. Ther
was no Joy in it-no warmth, no con
fort; yet we were thankful for it
was daylight
Then we looked at one another-tl
captain, myself, the second mate al
three seamen; in all, six dazed al
half-frozen wretches, barely delivert
from the jaws of death, whose fac,
had grown prematurely old during TIL
terrible night
OF the Golden Eagle and the rest
her crew, not n vestige remained. o
of a ships company of twenty-six, a
told. twenty had perished when OF
gallant ship met her doom.
Our present position was seriou
Before US TIE vast iceberg, piercing q