New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-27

ern conditions but the strongest ship ever con-
structed by man could not withstand the effects Of
steamers. the best in the world for such work,
It's pressure leaving their crews to find way over
the foes 10 land or make a lodgment on them until
The most extraordinary story OF an ice foe jour
ney is that Of The survivors Of the Polaris exped
waters in septe e and took to the noes ex-
and were NOT rescued until the next April lsS days
later during which time they had drifted eighteen
hundred mltes' ana were PICKED up og New New
original total Of eighteen being increased by baby
,wni ie Of his remarkabIe yoyage Tewfound
land sealmen are often carried away on bergs and
o4he T seas an in March iss7 two hundred OF
t fSTS were smitten by bi1za?d While far from
their ship and being exposed to its fury for three
tent forty"efght persisted miserabiy. the Green
land. the ship they belonged to- bringing the bodies
home in a great Enclosure on deck, where they were
In December. 1901, the steamer Hedwig put into
obtained through conflict with monster berg well
and last November the mail steamer Virginia,
plying between St Johns and labrador. raInIn9d
ousy damaging herself. as she was going dead
slow through fog on her last trip SO Tar this
ing southwark, and in the Summer they are 10 be
counted by hundreds along NeTfoundland and
Labrador. massive and powerful white squad
rons, maiestcally riding the ocean and putting 70
shame the nghtiest marine fabrics ever created
by human hands or sent a-swmming over the seas.
ESPECIAL PERIL TO SAILING VESSELS
Perilous as is the iceberg the steamship. which
can stop 60 astern or sheer away, II is doubly so
the sailing vessel which is more or less helpless
when In close proximity 10 the menacing monster.
Countless are the mishaps TO sailors in the North
ern waters and thrilling the experiences of their
crews The Newfoundland snacks that fish along
Labrador TO Hudson Strait have frequent and dead
" battles with foes and bergs, and hundreds OF
fishermen lose their lives thereby. On the Grand
av,A
Canadian fishing fleets congregate with them. not
q few Of the narrowing disasters which have to be
chroniced every year are occastoned by the trawl-
ers cropping blindly through the fogs which always
envelop that region and stumbling against berss.
the impact destroying the vessel and the crew fire.
quently failing 10 escape with their lives. Occa-
sionally the men make temporary lodgment on
the very bergs that have ruined their floating home
from cold and hunger, and ii is cardinal principle
with the trawlers carefully 20 observe with their
nor few 1e1 Who 7To,S sTHntrob otberV;ise are
rescued before the vita! spark expires though usu-
ally the unfortunates are beyond human aid. In
twenty-nine in all were rescued by a fishing vessel
from lonely eyrie on fat topped berg which had
TO Gambler over her bows The icy terrace, which
safety though tWenty-foa2 hours exposure there
chilled and hungry, made them welcome even the
n Newfoundland familiarity has bred contempt
Tor The iceberg peril. despite TIE freqge9t proofs
annual seal hunt every spring. the seal ships use
bergs anchor against 10 cut up and melt for
fresh water The fiat foe ice cannot be employed
for drinking purposes because it is damaged by the
salt spray, so convenient berg is sought and the
men Chamber upon il with axes, chOQping off rag
nents 10 I'll Ine vessels boilers and condensers,
Berg ice. too. IS often used for cold storage pur-
poses. and every summer schoOners are sent out
and filed with ice from hergs stranded in the shall
lows along the this novel commercial product
being readily sold in the different fishing hamlets
for preserving cod chilling oil. feeding refrigera-
tors and supplying the many needs of an indus
Try wherein ice is essential adjunct
But the obtaining Of ice in these ways Is at
tended with much risk, and occasionally with tai
/ ities Four times this year boats crews, number
: ing eleven men altogether, were drowned by the
/ bergs overturnnE while the men were working al
them. and in many instances single drownings have
resulted from the same cause On the Banks. too.
the fishing vessels 10 them and hack off pieces
10 preserve their bait or hsn. piling the blocks on
their decks and covering them with canvas so that
/ thev may melt less speedily. This occasions It's
! quota Of losses among the tra~lers, crews TOO
but tire Bank fishing industry is so STEPPED in DAN
ger If every form that this is really Of the lesser
/ phases OF H.. The berg or foe is most dangerous
! e the bankmen when they are adrift in their
dores and the former threatens to sink them or
the latter 70 crush them. and human help is far
away. Then. indeed. does the ice represent peril
which is be lightly disregaTded, fEaught as II
/ IS with the arb.tranlent Of their tate