'Ice on the Starboard Bow!'

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 432, 28 December 1889, Page 3

'Ice on the Starboard Bow!'

Sir Edwin Atcnold, in the account of his voyage to Canada which he is contributing to the ' Daily Telegraph,' saya : — ' Ico on the starboard bow !' The watch on the forecastle sang this out early in the day before our steamer marie the Belleisle Lights, and many on board had then their first, opportunity of beholding that lovely but, terrible peril of the sea — a floating iceberg. This particular specimen glimmered on the distant surface .like a huge sea-beryl, with a pale-greenish glow, and was perhaps as large as Salisbury Cathedral, with five or six times as much bulk' bslow water as what was visible. Near to it floated some smaller hamraosks and pieces of floe — the aviinte garde of the frosty • flotilla ' which might now be expected upon our path. Save, for this danger of icebergs, and of the fogs which too frequently b6set the entrance, to the. Gulf of St. Lawrence, it is perfectly evident to any competent, observer that" this route" 'would become 1 not only a favourite highway to the New Wprld, bub -would formidably and (permanently threaten the popularity ,of, the direct roads pursued by other "lines. The ic'eborgs are a great drawback, arid they are unfortunately most to be expected in" those summer months when alone, the; navigation c, open.