The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-04
STRUCK BY AN ICEBERG.
Cast Adrift In an Opcn Boat In
tho South 6oaa

"I}y dead reckoning" said Capt. BUR-
ton, Of the Golden Eagle, rising from
the study Of the chart, which had lain
open on tho On bin table between ms for
some time Thy dead reckoning that Il
about our position and he indicated .
spot representing something like Atty
miles south Of Cape Horn. "How Il the
bnrometcr?"
STEADY since noon." replied.
Then we have seen tho worst Of the
gale, he added. Let us 90 on deck. :.
! Under closc-rccfed canvas. the Golden
Eagle was running before fierce west
erly gale. The innrlsY light was dark
ened by frequent snow squalls.
The waves, like fanished wolvca,
lenpcd on our ships quarters as though
they would claim their prey; but she,
like q living thing, plunged into tho
hollows. throwing on her foes. and
rising on the forward wavc ficw on UNI.
harmed.
All hands were on deck. and sharp
lookout was kept, for moments in-
attention, under circumstances such as
these. might mean instant destruction.
/ About midnighta tremendous sqnall
struck the ship. and thought for q
moment that she was on her beam
ends; but she recovered herself, and
rose TO less perilous inclination.
..All hands shorten sailln cried tho
captain
The scamen struggled aloft through
the wind-swept shrouds. but the squat
swept TO lcewart, and cry Of alarm
4 q
.'Starboardl hard a-starboardw
| ran forward. and there. like an
awful spccter. lowered above Us huge
iceberg.
cleo right ahcadlr shouted. as tled
aft
The whcel-chains groaned under our
united efforts, Tho sailors aloft abnn-
doncd their work and came hurryinR
10 tho 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 resolnte-
" and perfect discipline was main
tanned.
stand BY the brncesl" tho captain
/ shouted.
| Before the men conld obey the order
another cry arose;
look outl she's into itl''
\ And tho Golden Eagle, rising on the
crest Of wave. dashed headlong into
the iceberg Tho impact was terrific.
The three topmasts snapped short OF.
4 An immense block Of leo fell on the
bow, crushing the fo'c'stlc-hcad into
4 splinters.
j Amid the roar Of tho wind and sen,
the rendlng OF spars and the cries Of
injured scamcn, Capt Burton's voice
rang ont:
Clear away tho boatsl"
There was gallant effort made to
obey the order. Tho port lifcboat was
cut adrift and turned upon her keel,
but the ship gave violent roll, and
men and boat fell TO leeward In q con-
fused heap.
II The next moment the Golden Eagle
trcmbled 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 tho cries Of tho seamen.
which rang fenrfully In my ears. Ny
next sensation was one Of deadly chill,
as roso to tho surface. amid the
tumult Of the wind and sea
\ The iceberg was invisible. owing TO
i the flying spray and snow, and the
night was so dark that nothing could
be distinguished few feet away.
i My boots and heavy clothes were
saturated, and tho numbness Of my
hands told me that could not remain
afloat much longer.
Il Something large and black doomed
alongside out Of the snow-squall. and
instinctively ! grasped at it II was
the gunwale Of the released lifeboat.
Several men were clihging TO It, and
succeeded In removing their sca-boots.
and were battling the water out
4 As she rose, we scrambled aboard.
and, finding ourselves nearing the
berg, we tore up the bottom boards.
which we used as oars, and managed Ia
clear II
| We were evidently now under the
lee Of the berg. and, therefore, in COM
paratively smooth water.
We managed to keep the boat from
drifting out TO sea again, md. having
done all that was possible under the
circumstances, we awaited the dawn.
4 II came at iength--a siclly CLEAN
across the wild waste Of waters There
was no Joy In it-no warmth, no COM
fort; yet we were thankful for Il It
4 was daylight
! Then we looked at one another--the
captain myself. the second mate and
three seamen; In all. six dazed and
half-frozen wretches, barely delivered
from the Jaws Of death, wbssea faces
had grown prematurely old during that
terrible night
OF the Golden Eagle and the rest Of
her crew, not vestigc remained Out
Il Of q ships companyo OF twenty-six, al
told. twenty had pcrished when our
gallant ship met her doom.
Our present position was serious.
Before us the vast iceberg. piercing the
y n, - f,..,,tinued