Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-10-11

pieces set adrift thus may be a thous-
and feet out of the water and a mile
square. but as they drift about they
| IbecOme broken and continue to di-
minish I'm size until they finally dis
appear completely. The process some
times takes several years.
Once set adrift icebergs find their
way into the Labrador current and
begin their journey. But of all bergs
so set adrift only a very small proper
tion ever find their way into the path
of the transatlantic steamships.
Nor do all bergs take the same
course. Some go south; others lodge
against the shore or against islands.
Two years may separate the time
that two bcrGs reach low latitude.
though they were 'calved" at the
same moment.
! Field ice also offers an obstruction
to the icebergs. though by their great
size and bulk they often act as plows
and aid materially i'm breaking up the
| ice fields which obstruct the arctic ba-
sim
Ice fields are more affected by the
wind than icebergs. Bergs generally
drift with the current, so that one
sometimes Is seen moving into the
winG.
Advantage is taken Of this by the
sealing and fishing boats when caught
| in an ice field. They often moor to
an iceberg and are towed miles
through the ice. through which other
| wise they could make no headway.
This is accomplished by sinking an
lanchor into the berg and using a
strong towline. AS the berg advances
open water. with small floating ice, Is
left aste:n.
Put this is indeed a dangerous thing
to do. All ice is brittle. but esnecially
icebergs. blow of on AK has been
known to split Cne. while the report
Of gun at times will accomplish the
same end. In July and August when
the bergs are breaking up along the
coast of Labrador. the noise a times
is deafening. and the noise of Of
ten causes another to break t..
From their very nature icebergs
assume an endless variety Of shapes.
Some resemble geOmetrical figures
while others carry fantastic dOmes,
spires and minarets. Sometimes they
appear to be veritable ice bridges,
with two separate supports. In many
there are great caves and indenta-
tions. AS they drift south and begin
melting cascades Of water pour down
their sides or run from the tips Of the
from every ledge.
Frequently there are outlying spurs
in the water. as dangerous to ships as
submerged reefs. For this reason ves-
sells should always give them a wide
berth. half a mile being considered the
nearest that one may be approached
with safety.
Several years ago the British steam
ship Nessmore ran into an iceberg and
stove in her bows. When she was
docked a scratch was found next the
keel the full length of the ship. the
plates being almost cut through. The
ship evidently struck a submerged
spur. The government report says:
1T is generally best for ships to go
to windward of them. because disin-
to drift to leeward. while open water
will be found to windward."
So nicely are icebergs balanced In
the water that the slightest melting
sometimes will cause the center Of
gravity to shift, and the entire berg
will capsize or founder. Thus many
ships have been wrecked
Field ice is formed throughout the
waters within the arctic circle south
as far as Newfoundland. and each
year vast foes leave the shores and
drift south into the paths of COM
me-ce. The arctic ice often has lived
through several seasons in the far
north and occasionally Is ten to fifteen
and sometimes twenty feet thick. Be-
cause of it's continual motion. due to
currents. wind, etc. gradually it be-
comes broken up. Swells from storms
I'm the open seas cause it to raft or
pile one pan on anOther-in the arc
10 ,lin Of 10
until it is covered with hummocks.
Ice also becomes RATED by the
grinding of free field against anoth
er frozen to the shore or by the grind
ing Of two fields against each other
when one is given a turning motion by
contrary wind and tide. This rotary
motion. it Is said is particularly dan
gerOus to ships that get caught be-
tween fields.-Chicago Inter Ocean.