146 APPALLING CONCUSSION. 



ter ice began to take place. The evening of the 

 7th of March was specially fraught with danger. 

 We quote the gallant commander's graphic ac- 

 count : 



" Ominous rushing sounds were heard far off to 

 the north-east and north-west. These gradually 

 drew nearer as the flood made its way, either under 

 the compact bodies that withstood the shock, or 

 along the cracks and openings gaining in these 

 latter a furious velocity, to which everything seemed 

 to yield. 



'"It happened that there were several of these 

 around the ship ; and when they opened on us like 

 so many conduits pouring their contents to a com- 

 mon centre, the concussion was absolutely appalling, 

 rending the lining and bulkheads in every part, 

 loosening some shores and stanchions, so that the 

 slightest effort would have thrown them down, and 

 compressing others with such force as to make the 

 turpentine ooze out of their extremities. One fir 

 plank, placed horizontally between the beams and 

 the shores actually glittered with globules. At the 

 same time the pressure was going on from the lar- 

 board side, where the three heaviest parts of the 

 ruin of the floe remained, cracked here and there, 

 but yet adhering in firm and solid bodies. These, 

 of course, were irresistible ; and after much groan- 

 ing, splitting, and cracking, accompanied by sounds 

 like the explosion of cannon, the ship rose fore and 

 aft, and heeled over about ten degrees to starboard." 



