The Perils of the Sea – A Gigantic Iceberg Encountered in Mid-Ocean by a Transatlantic Steamer On Her Passage to New York

The potential dangers of icebergs, well before the sinking of the Titanic.

This dramatic woodblock print highlights one of the major perils of transatlantic crossings in the late 19th century – floating icebergs. In spite of their iron hulls, the coal-powered steamers of the day would travel day and night, without electric lights, wireless radios, or navigational systems. Often, a lone lookout in a crow’s nest was the only defense against the frigid hazards, which were especially prevalent around the Grand Banks near Newfoundland.

This particular ship appears to have had an extremely close call! The four lifeboats would have offered little protection against the icy cold of the North Atlantic. The striking image was originally sketched by J.C. Culbertson, Jr. Engraved by Joseph Beale and published as a centerfold in the May 4, 1878 issue of Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper.