Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-15

allaycd by sucking fragments chippAd
off the bcrgs. That night seven men
died. On tho seventh day the schoon.
CT Victor sighted the lifcboat. contain.
ing only four frostbitten wretchcs:
and n couple of days later the schoon.
CT Eugene brought in three survivors
from the Vaillapts dory. All seven
had to he operated upon. and only
two survived this terrible tragedy OF
the sea.
No Chance for the Sailer.
In truth the sailcr has no chance
Mt all. The shock of impact starts
every plank in her hull. she leaks like
a sieve ana goes down before the ter
hficd men can launch their boats.
Fishermen on the Grand Banks tell
amazing stories of adventure.
should remark that the towering pin
naclcs above water are pure f.esh ice.
while the vast bulk beneath becomes
salt sodden. The fresh ice is used
l" the codfishers TO preserve bait and
fish; or else they melt 1t to refill wa
ter casks.
Ono day in 1899 the crew of the
schooner Mervyn of st. Johns were
taking ice from Il small berg. when
1t turned clear over. One man was
upon it hewing blocks. He sudden
ly found himself twenty-five feet in
the air. with the boat below cnpsized
and his comrades Struggling in the
water. He strovc to slide down into
the sea; for he could not spring ont,
owing 10 the berg's peculiar forma.
tion. AS the man slid. an ice block
followed him, tearing his scalp toni.
bly,. He was taken to land and nut
in hospital. while the little Meryyn
returned to the banks-and was never
heard of aftcrward.
Some seasons back a Newfoundland
coaster, passed Il lonely luck. and her
master was amazed 10 see IL shirt flap.
ping from an up ended oar. evidently
signal of distress. He found an al
most dying man who had remained
on this bleak rock for four days and
nights in the bitter cold. with no food
or drink. He was one of the crew
of the fishing boat Emmelnc. which
had struck n berg and leen over
whelmcd by its falling masses. She
was destroyed almost instantly i'm a
raging maelstrom, caused by the furi.
Gus hail of ice blocks fibm the shin.
ing splintering SUBMITS. The sole
survivor graspcd an oar and contrivcd
TO swim to this rock.
But it is when we consider the
stately steamship that the full recoru
OF iceberg adventure unfolds. Beyond
doubt berSs account for many appaIl.
ing mysteries of the sea. Take tho
City of Boston. for example Some
years ago she sailed for Liycrpool
WIN hundreds of passengers, and van
ishcd from the face of the sea. Her
owners were satisfied that the fangs
of an iceberg We're buried in her bot.
ON and she went down to instant de.
struction.
Astounding Story of the Portia.
But think the most astounding sto.
~ is that of the Portia. which sailed
from New York for Newfoundland
with distinguished party OF Ameri.
can tourists eighteen I'm all. Her
master. Captain Ash, is n seaman of
courage, GOODNESS, and skill. AS n
sealer he boic the highest reputation
ana when the government sent out
the Greedy relief expedition. Captain
Ash was selected as ice pilot of til,
lhetis, and it was he who
first found Greeley on the
shores of Smith Sound. near Cane
Sabine, at the last extremity with
coid ana hunger. | mention these
things to show that the mans nara
i've may be relied upon absolutely.
he touched at st. Johns 10 land car.
go, and then took the Portia north
10 Pilley Island for iron pyrites. The
whole party of Americans took the
round trip.
IL was a lovely day as the steamer
crossed Notre Dame Bay, and all were
on deck enjoying the grand scenery,
suddenly superb iceberg doomed
ahead. and the Portia rapidly an
preached the steely blue giant. Can
tain Ash's p.acticed eye estimated its
length at eight hundred feet and its
height at over two hundred. It's sheer
sides glistened with strange color:
and its domes and towers ana nina.
cies. as 1t floated in solitary majesty
made spectacle never TO be forgot.
Ten; tstI5MHf4l
mighty TANKS: all seemed solid and
stable as when its parent glacier
carved II, as men say in these
northern seas. Cameras and sketch
ing paper were hastily procured. and
soon the tourists weae entranced M
the lovely emerald caves now seen in
the giant berg, which was almost
upon them
rhe amazing sequel did not take
ninety seconds in all A dull roar
IKE an earthquakes rumble drowned
the ships chatter The mighty mass
plirst asunder as if by a submarine
lnihe. IL separated into three colos
sal blocks. That nearest the portia
staggered, became ton heavy anI
veered over. a few moments i,reatb
less pause. and then its far st-ctcn
ins nase swept out of the swell
caught the watch on deck. Suddenl,
o"t OF the fog rose the dreaded ghast
y Hanks, ana the air seemed to chill
1T the sight. A quick turn or tI,,