Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819-20-21-22, Volume 1 | Page 9

through the haze, but was soon afterwards entirely hidden by a very
dense fog. The favourable breeze subsided into a perfect calm, and left
the ship surrounded by loose ice. At this time the Eddystone was
perceived to be driving with rapidity towards some of the larger masses;
the stern-boats of this ship and of the Wear were despatched to assist in
towing her clear of them. At ten, a momentary clearness presented the
land distinctly at the distance of two miles; the ship was quite
unmanageable, and under the sole governance of the currents, which
ran in strong eddies between the masses of ice. Our consorts were also
seen, the Wear being within hail, and the Eddystone at a short distance
from us. Two attempts were ineffectually made to gain soundings, and
the extreme density of the fog precluded us from any other means of
ascertaining the direction in which we were driving until half past
twelve, when we had the alarming view of a barren rugged shore within
a few yards, towering over the mast heads. Almost instantly afterwards
the ship struck violently on a point of rocks, projecting from the island;
and the ship's side was brought so near to the shore, that poles were
prepared to push her off. This blow displaced the rudder, and raised it
several inches, but it fortunately had been previously confined by
tackles. A gentle swell freed the ship from this perilous situation, but
the current hurried us along in contact with the rocky shore, and the
prospect was most alarming. On the outward bow was perceived a
rugged and precipitous cliff, whose summit was hid in the fog, and the
Vessel's head was pointed towards the bottom of a small bay, into
which we were rapidly driving. There now seemed to be no probability
of escaping shipwreck, being without wind, and having the rudder in its
present useless state; the only assistance was that of a boat employed in
towing, which had been placed in the water between the ship and the
shore, at the imminent risk of its being crushed. The ship again struck
in passing over a ledge of rocks, and happily the blow replaced the
rudder, which enabled us to take advantage of a light breeze, and to
direct the ship's head without the projecting cliff. But the breeze was
only momentary, and the ship was a third time driven on shore on the
rocky termination of the cliff. Here we remained stationary for some
seconds, and with little prospect of being removed from this perilous
situation; but we were once more extricated by the swell from this

ledge also, and carried still farther along the shore. The coast became
now more rugged, and our view of it was terminated by another high
projecting point on the starboard bow. Happily, before we had reached
it, a light breeze enabled us to turn the ship's head to seaward, and we
had the gratification to find, when the sails were trimmed, that she drew
off the shore. We had made but little progress, however, when she was
violently forced by the current against a large iceberg lying aground.
Our prospect was now more alarming than at any preceding period; and
it would be difficult for me to portray the anxiety and dismay depicted
on the countenances of the female passengers and children, who were
rushing on deck in spite of the endeavours of the officers to keep them
below, out of the danger which was apprehended if the masts should be
carried away. After the first concussion, the ship was driven along the
steep and rugged side of this iceberg with such amazing rapidity, that
the destruction of the masts seemed inevitable, and every one expected
we should again be forced on the rocks in the most disabled state; but
we providentially escaped this perilous result, which must have been
decisive.
The dense fog now cleared away for a short time, and we discovered
the Eddystone close to some rocks, having three boats employed in
towing; but the Wear was not visible.
Our ship received water very fast; the pumps were instantly manned
and kept in continual use, and signals of distress were made to the
Eddystone, whose commander promptly came on board, and then
ordered to our assistance his carpenter and all the men he could spare,
together with the carpenter and boat's crew of the Wear, who had gone
on board the Eddystone in the morning, and were prevented from
returning to their own vessel by the fog. As the wind was increasing,
and the sky appeared very unsettled, it was determined the Eddystone
should take the ship in tow, that the undivided attention of the
passengers and crew might be directed to pumping, and clearing the
holds