The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-02-10
By NJ QUAD

igin. is a mere tumble Of rocks. 1t is
eleven miles long by tive in breadth
aud at the time of our visit had no
trees higher than ten feet. These grew
between powders and on the slopls.
with patches of coarse grass all about,
but there was not level spot half an
acre In extent on the whole island.
We had been on the island about thir-
ty days and had pretty thoroughly ex-
pl0red 1t when Professor Saunders and
my humble self met with an accident
ono day which led to most strange
discovery. We bad set of together on
hunt after birds eggs. and In walk
ing along slope we struck spot
Overgr0wn with short green weed.
AS we walked over this bed we sud-
denly found ourselves slipping. There
was water under it, and the whole
mass gave way and sent us sliding
into a ravine. We went slipping. slid
Ing. clutching and humping full fifty
feet before We brought up. but nei.
Their of US was hurt beyond few
bruises. Owing TO the wet grass we
could not Chamber out at that spot and
20 continued on down the ravine.
1t was a toilsome journey We made.
but it ended at last at wall of ice
within half mile Of the surf. At that
point the depth of the ravine was
about a hundred feet. and. though the
sun was shining above, it was like
evening down there. A few yards be-
fore we were brought to standstill we
found the body Of man lying against
the wall of rock on the right hand
side and ten feet above our heads. 1t
was caught and held fast on point of
rock. We were both good deal star.
tied by the grewsome sight
AT some time or other" said the
professor as he looked about, this "a.
vine had been creek of c0nsidcra BILE
size flowing down to the sea. This
mum came up the creek from the
beach, but We now and q wall Of ice
blocking It up. There should be
boat frozen up in the wall between Us
and the sea-"
We had nothing to make torch Of.
and. retracing our steps to a point
where we could climb out Of the ra-
vine. we left the mystery to be solved
another day. There was much discus
sion around the camp1res that even
ing. and early next morning we set out
to see IL the ravine had once upon
time opened to the sea. We soon found
that 1t had. Its mouth had been on a
small bay, but storm had filed 1t
with powders and damned back the
waters flowing down. Between the
sea and the spot where we found the
body the ice was from fifty to seventy
feet thick. II the sun melted It for
few feet in the summer the rains and
SHOWS of winter speedily replaced
what had been lost We found this
ice rs clear as glass and as hard as
iron. but powder was brought from
the brig and holes were drilled. and in
a couple of days We had blasted out
great rift to half its depth.
Everybody had a suspicion of what
was frozen in down there. but yet the
discovery gave US shock. When but
thirty feet of ice lay between US and
the bottom of the ravine we could see
through 1t well enough to make out the
hull Of q ship standing on an even keel.
1t was the hull of brig. with masts
gone. but otherwise intact We could
even make out the ropes. which had
been frozen stir as iron while they
streamed along her decks, but there
were no bodies Of dead men in sight.
To blast out the remaining depths Of
ice and clear the ravine was task
requiring more aid than we could spare
aud more powder than we had aboard.
Years before. perhaps half century.
= merchant vessel had made that little
bay in distress. Wave and tide had
carried her up the creek. and wave and
tide had blocked her exit.
II one of the crew got away up to
the ravine. why not all Of them? And
yet no other body or remains were to |
be found on the island. This man,
who may have been the captain. prob |
ably started out BY himself to see II
there. was Il chance Of escape. but in
making, bis wey up the ravine he per
ished Of cold and hunger. There was
scarce hope for the others. II they
left the hulk they were forced to re.
turn to 1T for shelter and food. There |
came day when food and fuel were
exhausted. when avalanches of snow |
covered the decks and the cold Of win.
ter froze the marrow Of their bones.
md they hid away in forecastle and
cabin and died with open eyes staring |
into the darkness Upon our return
TO London the case was reported and
made much Of in the papers. but no
government or individual has ever
gone farther than we did. A hulk lies
there full Of dead men-a hulk which
sailed the waters of the frozen seas
half a century ago-and there 1t will
lie until time II no more and chaos
reigns again. It might be blasted out.
but OF what use1 The solving OF one
Of the ga more or less would
count for but httle.