The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-07
TWO GIGANTIC IcEBERGS.
Mariners Astounded by the immsn of
Their Surface.
From the New York Journal.

From the New York Journal
There is one peril of the sea which
every mariner of the sea breads, be-
cause, especially in foggy weather, he
is almost poweriosS to escape from on
countering IL. and that ,s the icebergs
that break away from the vast glacial
masses in the Arctics and are nwept 10y
tho currents into the trace of vessels.
They are most common during the. six
months beginning IN March or Apil,
though the captain # 4 vessel which
came into this port las. week reported
n narrow escape from one on the way
between New To-x ami liverpool. The
number of vessels posted each year as
lost with all on bolr'i" IS probably
greater from Ills .aISe than any otp-
err for when a ship crashes into berg
the chances are that she will sink be-
fore there is a chance for any boats to
be lowered.
These icebergs. when they start on
their course fro mthe polas regions.
stand $50 to 200 feet above the water,
while the submerged part is often LOO
to 400 feet in thickness. Though these
masses of ice are often miles in extent
when they start for the warmer waters
toward the equator they. as a rule, are
soon broken up by collisions with each
other and by erosion.
Two great bergs have recently been
seen in the South Pacific. which are
probably among the largest on record.
One was reported by the British ship
Coldinghame, which passed about 200
bergs. one of them being ten miles in
length. The Guilty Sark, another En-
glish ship, sailed for 10 miles along the
berg BY the action of the waves II
was cut at the waters edge into coves
and caverns of beautiful blue color,
and portion of II, while Ii was being
-. 1sA hF.
tom upward. showing its submerged
part carved into the most fantastic de-
signs by the action of the water.
The same vessel, the Guilty Sark,
which trades between London and Aus
tralia, had an exciting experience last
September She was in 40 degrees south
latitude and degrees east when she
encountered a vast crowd of icebergs
in a thick fog and when the fog lifted
she found herself literally surrounded.
1t came on foggy again and at noon
the ship nearly ran into the berg dead
| ahead.
you could hear the sea breaking
| over and through them" wrote the
| captain, but could not see them until
you were close on them. Sometimes we
heard reports like big guns and then
rumblings like thunder" After CROP
! ing their way through the crowd the
Guilty Sark's men saw passage which,
when the fog lifted, was found to be
about 1000 feet wide and through IL
they succeeded in making their escape.
1t would be possible 10 multiply in
definitely such experiences, but here
! is one that will illustrate what terrors
these irresponsible monsters of the sea
really are: The John Cooke of London
derry was in the southern iceberg belt,
| homeward bound, when a fog arose
which lasted two days. 1t suddenly lift
| few miles away, a fulI-rigged ship,
with al lher canvas up, ran straight in
| to the middle of a crowd of large ice
| bergs and disappear. What her name
was or from what port she hailed was
not known, and never will be.