The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1915-01-09
FoundIn the Ice
By NJ QUAD
Copyright. 1874. by Associated LIT
srary Press.
b N. QUAD

O0 Iu6 6Ia oAy VI Octoe's
ship Princess left Australia with .
cargo Of wool and other articles valned
at $4,000. She had in her treasure
room gold in dust. bars and coin aggre-
eating 81. 800 600. She was never hear9
from.
In June, 1858, eighteen year, after
the loss Of the Princess, was one OF
the crew Of the Boston whAler Tahs-
man. which was trying the, cruising
ground on the south Of Capn Horn
We had had fair run Of luck when
we got a gale from the north which
lasted for four days and nights WITH
out a break. This drove US away south
among the ice. and on dozen different
occasions the ship was within hairs
breadth Of being cast away or over
whelmed. After the fourth day Of the
gale there was q calm lasting thirty
hours. During this interval the Tails
man lay between two monster icebergs.
with her boats down and ready to tow
her out of the way should they close
In on her. Then we got a strong
breeze from the east.
Sometimes we lay moored to a berg
for several hours; again We were
pounding among the great cakes Of
ice. which threatened every moment to
crush in her sides. We had been driv-
ing to the southeast for three days
when the breeze fell and left US on
heavipg sea. with a monster iceberg
about two miles away to the south.
The ship had thus far sustained little
damage. but the crew were exhausted
with the hard work and constant viSi-
lance The men were given an all
days rest. and no incident occurred
until late In the afternoon. The mass
Of Ice had front mile long on our
side. with an average height Of 800 feet.
We were astonished to see smoke ris-
ing from the far side Of It No one
doubted that 1t came from fire lighted
by shipwrecked sailors. who had
caught sight Of the Talisman and were
making her signal.
The third mate and three men were
ordered OF in one Of the whaieboats to
Investigate, and was one Of the three
selected. We took with us a breaker
Of fresh water. bottle Of rum. breald.
meat blankets. a boat compass and
lantern. and darkness fell as we pulled
away from the ship.
We pulled to pass the western face
Of the berg and found 1t to be about
half mile long. As we reached Its
southern limit and turned to the east
we caught sight Of small hre on q
ledge about 100 feet above the water.
Az soon. A. We got up to It the mate
hailed and was promptly answered
that there were two men on the ledge.
one Of whom had 4 broken leg. There.
upon was ordered to remain by tho
boat and hold on, while the mate and
the two men landed on the berg and
began making their way mp to the
ledge.
4 fog settled down. and with 1t came q
breeze. I did not know what to do.
and 30 I laid in my oar. wrapped my
self In blanket and sat down In the
bottom Of the boat. You will think 1t
queer that fell asleep under the cir
cumstances. but that is exactly what
happened. nor did ] wake until day
light came again. Then found my
self in an ice doe which was drifting
to the south at the rate Of about three
miles an hour.
am not at all sure how long drift
ed. but the general direction was south,
and the time was at least four days
and nights. On the morning of what
was probably the nfth day I awoke to
ind TINT the doe had ceased drifting,
and quarter Of a mfle to the east Of
the boat was mass OF Ice.
1t was mile or more In length and
not over thirty feet high and looked
more like wall resting on the water.
The Ice was yellow and dirty. with
rocks embedded in 1t here and there.
and have no doubt that good por-
ton of 1t was the lower part Of an
iceberg which had turned turtle. Be-
tween me and the wall was tumble
Of Ice. over which 1t seemed impossible
to make my way. but as soon as I had
broken my fast I set ont to try 1t. It
took me full hour to make that quar-
ter Of mile. but at length reached
the wall and found that I could easily
get up its rough side. When reached
the top 1t was to discover that the
mass Of ice was almost cube. with a
great hollow In its surface to remind
one Of the crater Of volcano.
In the center Of this hollow lay 4
mass Of .wreckage. and after long
stare. half believing my eyes deceived
me. slid down and began investiga-
ton. No one will ever see a more
curious sight A space several hun
dred feet square was covered with
broken masts. yards. beams. planks.
boards. ropes. blocks and sells. A large
ship had here suffered destruction.
Just how could not determine. but 1t
seemed to me as II great body Of Ice
had fallen on It Is she rested in the