The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-12-10
BEGINNING OF AN ICEBURG.
Description of the Formation OF
Great Frozen Mountains.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE birth of
an iceburg is strinkingly described
in a report made to the National
Geographic society by R. S. Tarr and
Lawrence Martin, who headed the
expeditions of the society to Alaska
for the study and the behavior OF
glaciers there.
The front of Hubbard glacier,
measured in a straight line, , IL to
miles wide; but since the ice c,lfi
has a sinuous form with projections
in the centre. it is in reality much
longer than this, the total length be-
ing between 1-2 and miles. This
cliff rises between $50 and 300 feet
above the water and extends an un-
known distance below it. One usual
ly needs to wait but a few moments
to hear from some part OF the cllH
the thunderlike rumble or roar which
is the first announcement of an ice
berg fall, followed few moments
later by the appearance of a great
swell which, on reaching the shore,
forms a line of white breakers even
at a distance of several miles from
the ice cliff. BY watching the ice
cliff, one may see the huge masses
fall from the ice front and a foun-
| tain of water dash perhaps even to
the top of the glacier, and then, in
a few seconds, hear the report which
the rending of the glacier sends out.
One is fascinated by the performance;
sometimes it is only small piece
that falls and then sharp single
report like the crack of pistol, goes
through the air: again part of the
front crumbles and the down-sliding
ice, broken into small pieces, seems
from a distance like fountain OF
water while the report is only low
rumble; at other times huge masses
break away, forming large icebergs.
and the noise then produced is like
the heavy rumble of distant thunder;
and at rare intervals one may see
huge mass of blue or black ice
thrust itself up from below the ford,
some distance from the glacier front,
as a part Of the submerged ice foot
is broken off, and then no report is
heard. hut the wave that follows is
far greater than usual.
THE water waves which follow
the discharge Of icebergs from the
front of Hubbard glacier are of great
magnitude. In September, 1913, for
example, the steamship Princess Ma
quinna was aground on a reef just
west of Osier Island with the mem
bers of the International Geological
congress who visited Yakutat Bay
under the guidance of the junior au-
thor. The ship lay over mile from
the glacier. and yet the water wave
following the discharge of icebergs
from Hubbard Glacier caused the
steamer to roll until she took in Wa
ter on the main deck, as first one
side and then the other. was tipped
far down by the iceberg waves.
There are periods when for an
hour or two there is very little dis
charge, and then periods fully as
long, when scarcely moment elapses
without the sound Of ice-fal.s from
some part of the glacier front. 1t
is possible that these differences are
in some way related to the state OF
tide, but We have not determined
whether the periods of quiet and ac-
tivity form part of regular cycle or
are merely irregular intervals due to
accumulation of strain and relief
from strain or to expansion and con-
traction under sunlight. While there
are periods of relative quiet, they
are not periods of absolute repose,
and they occupy far less time than
the periods of activity. Day and
night the ice falls and the reports
that pass out through the air are
so frequent that it is fair to speak
of the glacier as almost ceaselessly
active. The noise disturbs ones
sleep at first and sometimes, when
an unusually heavy fall occurs, wax
ems one even after he has grown ac-
customed to the ordinary rumble. A
sense of nervous relief is felt when
camp is removed to part OF the
ford to which the iceberg roar ana
the breakers on the coast do not
reach
Cauthen-NettleS Fight.