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6

was almost on her beam ends.

When in this position the ice struck her with such force as to raise her to an upright position and let her fall leaning to the opposite side, She sounded when she was struck as though every timber was broken in her, But it seemed to have not injured her much.

Shortly after this I was called to the deck by Captain Ashcomb of the Wade, saying she was sinking, and found that as the tide turned, the ice crowded up on the Wade, and was rapidly weighing her down. With difficulty we swung her to the lee of the Gate, where she was safe for the time being.

In the morning the whole bay was frozen over, but we knew that unless we could get the steamer back to the point before the ice was broken up by the next high tide, it would be lost, So as soon as it was light enough we got under way and attempted to cut or force our way through the ice. After several  unsuccessful attempts we saw that the ice was cutting into the hulk(sic). Finally by backing her, breaking a channel through the ice with her wheel, we managed