The most distant of the two great sections toppled far backward, and with a great crash turned entirely over, its upper part being heavier than its base.

It struck an iceberg behind it, slid upon the level ice below, crashed through this, and sank out of sight.

Then it was seen to slowly rise again, but this time with its base uppermost.
The other and nearest section, much smaller, fell against an adjacent iceberg, where it remained leaning for some minutes, but soon assumed an erect position.

The line of cleavage had not been perpendicular, and the greater part of the base of the original iceberg remained upon the nearer section.
When the scene of destruction had been thoroughly surveyed from the deck of the Dipsey, volunteers were called for to go and investigate the condition of affairs near the broken iceberg.

Four men, including Mr.
Gibbs and Mr.Marcy, went out upon this errand, a dangerous one, for they did not know how far the ice in their direction might have been shattered or weakened by the wreck of the iceberg.