The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-04-03
left AL0FI ON IN ICEBERG
Remarkable Adventure of the
Schooner Elwood.
A Trying Experience While Near Ju-
reau, Alaska. The Tide Went
Down While She Was Fastened
TO a Berg, Leaving Her
High and Dry.

with icebergs have been brought back
from tho Arctic by shippers from time
to time, but they must all take back
seat now and bow low to Captain Chez
ter Of tho schooner Elwood.
The Elwood has just returned from
her first halibut fishing cruise in the
northern waters. She left San Francisco
on Jan. "a in ballast, but put into De-
parturo bay and took on cargo of coal
for Juneau, Alaska. After tlischarging
at the latter place sho headed for tho
Muir glacier, the purpose being to load
the hold with ice. The vessel was pass
ing through the icy straits and was just
off Hoonia, says Captain Chester, when
he espied an immense iceberg about II
mile away. 1t was fully ten times tho
size of the schooner and appeared to
have become fast upon n reef.
The captain considered this . lucky
find, for lie could get all the ice he
wanted The Elwood was headed for
the berg, and when the vessel was with
in few yards of it tho anchor was
dropped. The schooner was then per
United to swing around until she camo
alongside the iceberg, to which she was
made fast with lines.
The tide was mt the full mt the time,
and to all appearance the vessel was
perfectly safe. All went we'll until
along toward evening About 80 tons
Hof Toe had been deposited i'll tho hold,
and Captain Chester encouraged his
men to work little faster, as he de-
sired to get the entire load and leave as
soon as possible. Meanwhile tho lido
had been falling, which caused the ico-
berg to settle heavily upon the reef be.
meath and then to gradually tip over to-
ward the side opposite tho vessel
The iceberg continued to careon, and
Captain Chester began to suspect that
all was not going to be we'll for him.
He ordered his men to get aboard and
was about to set sail when, with q
grinding ronr, tho iceberg rolled oil tho
reef and started to rovolvc. Immediate
ly there arose OH the starboard side of
the vessel and beneath it u jagged spur
OF ice, which until then had formed
the bottom of the iceberg. With crash
tho ice struck the keel The next in
Giant the aStouishei crew found them
selves and their vessel lifted out of tho
water and resting in a'sort Of groove or
cradle at the south end of tho ice moan
tain. 1t was panic inspiring predca-
ment, to say the least, and all hands be-
gan to pray for their lives.
The weight of tho vessel arrested the
revolution of the berg, but did not have
the effect Of turning it bacl, again to
its original position. Tho reef prevent
sd this.
Chester ordered his mon into the
boats with instructions to get out of
harms way rs fast rs they could. Be-
tore abandoning the vessel the nIate cut
the lines which held her TO tho iceberg.
The men then pulled away TO u safe
distance and anXiouslv awaited the fato
of the Elwood. The anchor held fast,
and the schooner, rs if realizing its
plight and desiring to escape, tugged ut
the chain despairingly.
The tide dropped few moro inches.
the iceberg careened still further, and
the Elwood rose still higher into tho
air Although at first thought this
seemed to render her condition even
more desperate, it really proved tho
schooner's salvation. Tho tendency of
fthe iceberg to roll over and raise the
vessel brought such an enormous strain
to bear upon the anchor chain that some
thing had to give way. Something did,
and to the joy of the fishermen it was
not the anchor or the chain. The ice
berg lurched, ond the schooner was OBJ
served to slide several feet along the
4creyice it rested i'll. There was another
iurch and another slide. Then tho yes
gel reached downward grade and the
next instant shot off the iceberg and in
TO the sea, bows on, like a rocket She
ohipped heavy sea, as tho result of
piunging her nose beneath tho surface
;out quickly righted and,aftor stumbling
over her anchor chain and Juggling vi
clously 10 get away settled down to her
original state Of tranquility, to all ap-
pearanco unhurt
II have been at sen q great many
years and have had queer experiences,
put this ono beats thom all hollow"
declared Captain Chester. ~ thought
The vessel was doomed and never look
cd Tor such Happy termination Of
our troubles. When the schooner start
cd to slide, theio was no stopping her.
and she bounded OFF like thing of life
che looked jast as if she were gliding
down tho ways of ghipyard OH her
Launching Cray. l never saw anything
prettier- You can rest assured that no
happier mortals ever climbed aboard :.