The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-02
STRUCK BY AN ICEBERG.
Cast Adrift in an Open Boat In
the South Seas.

by dead reckoning, said capt. Bur
ton, Of the Golden Eagle, rising from
the study Of the chart. which had lain
open on the q bin table between IN for
some time by dead reckoning that Ii
about our position" and he indicated q
spot representing something like fifty
miles south Of Cape Horn. "How Is the
barometer2f
..Steady since noon" ! replied.
.sThen we have seen the worst Of the
gale" he added. .Let us 90 ON deck
Under close-rcefed canvas, the Golden
Eagle was running before fierce west
erly gale. The innrkY light was dark.
ened by frequent snow squalls.
The waves, like famished wolves,
leaped on our ships quarters AZ though
they would claim their prey; but she.
like d living thing, plunged into the
hollows, throwing of her foes, and
rising on the forward wave few on UNI
harmed.
All hands were on deck. and a sharp
lookout was kept, for a moments In
attention, under circumstances such as
these. might mean instant destruction.
About midnight a tremendous squat
struck the ship. and / thought for q
moment that she was on her beam
ends; but she recovered herself, and
rose to a less perilous inclination.
"All hands shorten saillp cried the
captain.
The seamen struggled aloft through
the wind-swept shrouds, but the squall
swept to leeward, and q cry Of alarm
rose from the lookout at the bow.
''Starbonrdt hard a-starboard.n
RAM forward, and there. like an
awfalspccter, lowered above as q huge
iceberg.
.'Ice right aheadf' ! 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
1t and realizing in some degree all that
u terrible position involved, every
man was ready 10 meet death resolute-
" and perfect discipline was main
tanned.
stand by the bracesin the captain
shouted.
Before the men could obey the order
another cry arose:
Look out she's into itI'
And the Golden Eagle, rising on the
crest OF a 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'c'stle-head into
splinters.
Amid the roar Of the wind and sea,
the rending Of spars and the cries Of
injured seamen, Capt. Burton's voice
rang out:
Clear away the boatsln
There was a gallant effort made t.
obey thetorder. The port lifeboat was
cut adrift and turned upon her keel,
but the ship gave a violent roll. and
men and boat fell to leeward in a con.
fused heap
The ext 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, My
ext sensation was one Of deadly chill
as rose to the surface, amid the
tumult OF the wind and sea.
The iceberg was invisible, owing x
the flying spray and snow, and the
night wasEs . dark that nothing coulc
be distinguished a few feet away.
Ny boots and heavy clothes were
saturated, and the numbness Of MJ
hands told me that ! could not remain
aloat much longer.
Something large and black loomet
alongside ont Of the snow-sqnall, ant
instinetively ! grasped at it. 1t wa,
b gunwale Of the released lifeboat
Several men were clinging to II, anc
succeeded in removing their sea-boots
and we're bailing the water out.
As she rose, we scrambled aboard
and. finding ourselves nearing thu
berg, we tore up the bottom boards
which we used as oars, and managed Ii
clear it. IL
We were evidently now under til,
lee Of the berg, and, therefore, in com
paratively smooth water.
We managed TO keep the boat from
drifting out TO sea again, and, havin,
done all that was possible under tn,
circumstances, we awaited the dawn.
It came at Lengths sickly CLEAN
across the wild waste of waters, Their,
was no Joy IN tho warmth. no com
fort. yet we were thankful for It i
was daylight
Then we looked at one another-th,
captain, myself. the second mate ans
three seamen; in all, six dazed ant
halt-frozen wretehes, barely deliveret
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 a vcstige remained GU
Of q ships company Of twenty-six, al
told, twenty had persisted when on
gallant ship met her doom.
Our present position was seriou.
Before usthe vast Iceberg. piercing th
FLEEL