Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-18

luG UGTSS NISCuiouu SA$ 49,
ried down toward the middle OF the
Atlantic by the Labrador current
They travel right down the coast OF
Labrador, passing Newfoundland, un'
til they reach the warm waters OF the
gulf stream, when they disappear
melting completely away. 1t Is only
the largest bergs that reach the mid
die Of the Atlantic before they dlsap'
pear. On one occasion berg lOo
feet in height and nearly 200 feet IN
breadth was found in latitude 80 de-
grees 40 minutes, or nearly In line
with southern Spain.
Generally speaking icebergs travel
at the rate Of three to five miles an
hour. They are carried forward en-
tirely by the strength of the currents
The distance they cover is enormous
Thousands do not get further Than
The coast of Labrador, where they be
come stranded. AS they have come
from the Greenland glaciers they have
covered at least 1880 miles. while
those that reach the warmer waters OF
the Atlantic make Journeys OF iron
$500 to 5000 miles. Steamers trav
cling northward from st. Johns arc
often in view of bergs all day. passing.
an endless procession OF fantastic anc
beautiful shapes. AS many as fifty or
sixty berss are sometimes In view at
ore time.
The captains Of these vessels otter
witness a wonderful sight. All along
he coasts Of Labrador there Is Wha'
IS termed sheet ice-that is, miles OF
stationary ice. caused by icefoes hav
ing frozen solid over open water. ane
varying from ten to fifteen feet II
thickness. DowI through the center
Of this frozen field will crash a mighty
iceberg, tearing along at speed o.
three miles an hour right through the
ice. so strong is the current that Is
carrying it forward
After it has passed steamers VII.
Il AXE their way inio tn clannet ano
sail alonT it. Instances have happen
ed, indeed. In which even sailing yes
sells have followed in on iceberg 5
wake, and ST. Nicholas printed years
ago an incident OF a Norwegian BARK
,liat was actually lowed for some dis
lance By a berg.
Near Death in Notre Damo Bay.
The CAPTAIN OF a steamship that ar
rived in Glasgow recently from ST
Thomas reported that some $50 miles
west of belle Isle his vessel steamed
right into a great ice foe field, which
he estimated at 81 miles long and
about as many broad. The steamship
was held fast in the ice for 30 hours.
Some of the icebergs that passed were
from 500 to 600 feet in height and
threatened at times to crush the steam
ship. As 1t was, blocks averaging
ton in weight frequently fell on the
deck.
One OF the most striking iceberg
adventures is that which befeli the
steamship Portia in Notre Dame bay
last season. In clear daylight an ice
berg was sighted, and passengers and
crew begged the captain to approach
nearer in order that they might inspect
and photograph it. The Portia there
fore was steered close to the towering
sides of the mighty berg, whose high.
est pinnacle glistened several hun
bred feet above the sea.
Then the unexpected happened
There was an explosion like the shock
Of volcanic eruption. and the mighty
berg was rivcn asunder. One Of the
nieces grew to- heavy and toppied
over. its base. far under water. catch
ing the Portia and lifting her high aud
dry soma ten OF twelve feet above the
sea
The mighty overturning OF the berg
created enormous swells. and these
huge waves were the only thing that
saved the ship from destruction. The
weight OF the ship caught on its shelf
OF ice, kept the berg from turning
compete somersault. and huge swell
aicked u, the vessel aud launched her
again, stern FIRST IN the sea.