Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-07-19
BURIED IN THE ICE

] was second mate of the Golden
Vanity on her first voyage to the Aus
iralian colonies. We were lying at the
railway pier at Williamstown. Port
Phillip, when widow came on board
to select cabin, us she intended TAX
ing passage In our vessel. The stew
ard was ashore. so the chief officer
delegated me to do the honors fer our
visitor. Mrs. Beaumont. by whom |
was fascinated and with whom fell
In love in short time after we sailed
When we had been out Il few weeks
the vessel took fire at night. and we
had to take to the boats. Mrs. Beau
mont going with the captains party.
AS she was going caught her in my
arms and printed one burning kiss
upon her lips. "God bless and preserve
you. darlng"' WAS all | uttered as
Captain LOmaX drew her aft.
The boats We're all lowered in safe-
ty, and soon atterwnrd the Golden
Vanity threw up one heaven wendin.
jet Of flame. more brilliant than be-
fore. and sank beneath the troubled
ocean. Fortunately the weather was
fine. though it was bitterly cold \
compass. chronomcter and sexiant
were in the longboat. and the skipper
ordered us to keep close together and
follow in his wake. This order | en-
deavOred to obey to the best Of my
ability. but during the following night
fresh gale sprang up. and when
morning dawned the other boats were
nowhere to be seen.
On the morning Of the sixth day we
found ourselves standing right into
bay which was formed by a crescent
shaped iceberg.
Numbed by the biting wind and worn
by privation. now all hope seemed
gone. and many of our number wished
to end their misery at once.
''Stave in the boat and let US die like
men," hoarsely growled a rough beard
ed man. rising with boathook
grasped him by the throat and pin
toned him to the thwart.
"Be man. you hound. and live for
others. If not for yourself" cried.
The ferocious CLEAN In his eyes
changed. and he wept.
God help us! Yes! forgot myself.
IT'S past now" he answered gently.
We turned point Of the iceberg and
entered a small cove to leeward. hop
ing to find a dead seal. The water
here was still as mill pond. and on
the plateau we saw large white bear.
"IIurrah. my lads. chance for us
yet! We must have that fellow 1T any
cost" I shouted encouragingly as d-
rected the boats head toward a large
foe that juttcd from the least precipi-
tous part of the berg.
We armed ourselves with stanchiOns.
boa thooks ard oars. landed and start
ed in pursuit. The noble animal made
a stand ut first. his fierce pink eyes
gea ming like opals as we charged him.
a shower Of blows raining upon his
devoted head soon changed his pur-
pose. and he fed precipitately. Along
the plateau. up ice crags and glaciers
across crevasses and chasms. he
bounded. but we followed. thirsting
for his blood. He came again to bay.
and after Il short. hard fight he lay Il
weltering corpse at our feet. Twenty
knives were instantly plunged into it.
and we greedily ate the raw flesh. still
warm as it was.
When our hunger was somewhat as
suaGed we proceeded to cut up the
boat. In his inside we discovered Il
quantity of partially digested fish, ii
piece of tarred rope. some buttons and
a sealskin tobacco pouch. | was
struck with amazement when the last !
article came to sight. for recognized
it instantly as one that had belonged |
to Captain LomaX.
"If tits our shippers it's got metal
button ont. with some foreign gibber- |
ish. He gave me chaw from t t'othcr |
day. and l seed that" said the sail |
maker.
l looked There was the button. |
with the motto. Sub Spe." We pom
last came to the conclusion that the |
captains party had been or was still |
upon the berg. so we agreed to sep |
lrate for awhile and institute a search |
as far as lay in our power.
I was making my way around II
projecting glacier when l heard a hail |
from below and saw three of our mum
Der grouped together near a crcvaSSr
and reckoning to me. |
hurried to the spot as quickly rs the
rugged surface would permit me.
Look here. sir This tells tale"
said the old sailor Sorrowfuly.
STOPPING. | peered into the chaSm.
At the bottom. Il depth of about three
feet. covered by thin sheet of pellu
I'D ice lay human form, coftined in
4 frozen grave In a second recog
nized the features Of my darling. Emf
|y Beaumont. With wild. bitter cry
Of anguish | threw myself into her
chilly sepulcher and glued my lips to
the ice over her sweet face.
Like glass framed picture of
sleeping angel she lay. her hands fold
I'd across her breast, her calm. holy
smile still beaming up to me from the
icy shroud which envirOned her.
have but n dim recollection of what oc