3-047-019 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

"Sealers Crushed by Icebergs", from the picture by W. Bradford, 1872. Engraving of a painting depicting a '...disastrous experiences of a fatal season for the fleet of sealfishing vessels that yearly sails from Newfoundland. One of those unfortunate vessels is shown among the icebergs, hopelessly crushed by the heavy hummock ice and hastily abandoned by her crew. Some of these are scrambling over the ice to the nearest vessels, while some are preparing, with what they can pack up and carry away, to get off in a boat...Upon the occasion referred to there were thirty vessels crushed and wrecked within three days; more than 1000 men were thrown out upon the ice...600 of them, who went over the ice and were able to reach the land, came very near starving to death before provisions could be sent to relieve them. But, happily, no lives were lost; and although this service is attended with such danger, there is never any lack of men to embark in it. They seem rather to like the danger, for there are no seamen in the world more brave and venturesome than the Newfoundlanders. The iceberg seen behind the brig is about 250 ft. high...The burning vessel seen in the distance has been set on fire after being stripped by her crew'. From "Illustrated London News", 1872.