The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-12-26
From the London News, september sta.
Deep Ocean Sounding.

From the London News, september 9Th.
Deep Ocean Sounding.
As this subject now engrosses the attention
Of many of the scientific men Of the present
age, it may not be embarrassing to know the
results ola discovery which has been intro
duced by our neighbors On'the other side OF
the Atlantic, for the purpose Of testing the
existence of foundation to the ocean, and
also to know OF what it is composed. There
has for several days past been lying in the
Southampton waters an American brig,
which is empowered under an act of Congress
in connection with the scientific researches
of Lieutenant Maury, of the National o.
servatory at Washington, for the purpose OF
entering into series of meteorological OBJ
servations and discoveries, left Chesapeake
Bay on the 3lst of May, and has completed a
project line of soundings across the Atlantic
to Rockule, off the west coast Of Scotland.
The distance between each place of sounding
averaged about one hundred miles. A line
was then run to the Azores, to the north of
which, about parallel of forty in south.
west direction, an elevation was discovered
on the bottom of the ocean Of about six thou
sand feet the soil indicating line Of yellow
chalky substance, mixed with small portion
of the finest sand. After leaving the Azores
the Dolphin took westerly direction, still
succeeding in discovering bottom. Steering
north, she made direct line to the "three
chimnies," where at depth of 300 fathoms
bottom was also discovered.
At this point 1t. Bergman, in charge of
the ship, finding the position OF the weather
unfavorable to continuation oftheir research
fhaun mfr
The greatest depth at which bottom was
reached was $3.50 fathoms, in lat. from Al
to AZ, ion. 81 to Sc. The explorers have
brought home specimens Of the soil which
has been discovered at their various places OF
sounding, and which will he laid before q
committe Of scientific men at Washington.
for the purpose ofanalyzation. The temper
AZURE of the water was also tested at various
depths, specimens of which have also been
preserved. During the whole OF the obser-
vations particular attention was paid to the
width, depth and force of the current in differ
ent parts Of the ocean, all OF which has been
carefully noted, for the purpose Of being full
ly discussed and explained. The Dolphin
intends returning at the latter end of the
week, and should The weather permit will take
line of sounding to the eastern edge of the
Az res, that being portion of the Atlantic
which has at present remained unexamined.
OF course further explanation Of the results
of this expedition will not at present be given,
as the whole oil the matter collected is being
carefully preserved for the uses and explana-
ton of the gentlemen at Washington.
There is one interesting matter in connec-
ton with this subject, and the non-existance
O which has been the crate drawback to all
previous results being satisfactory, and which
is the very simple method by which The SCUM.
ding apparatus is rendered entirely perfect
and useful. In all previous attempts tie great
puzzle has been how to get back the weight
when it has once reached the bottom, and II
is a we'll known TACT, especially amongst sea.
men, that in beep sea sounding, however
carefully or strongly line may be made, j,
never has, af.er being once sunk, been re-
covered. In this respect, however, Brother
Jonathan deserves much praize, for he has in
vented plan by which the weight upon it,
reaching the bottom, becomes Immediately
detached, and the line, therefore drawn il
with perfect ease. The plan is this: A hole
is drilled through "a lbs or heavier shot
sufficiently large to admit n rod of abou
three-cuarters Of an inch in diameter. Thi,
| rod is about twelve or fourteen inches il
length, and, with the exception of about al
inch and half at the bottom, perfectly solid
At the top OF the rod are two arms, extending
one from each side. These arms being upor
} easily acting hinges, are capable of being rails
ed or lowered with very little power. A smul
branch extends from the outside of each o
them, which is for the purpose Of holding, BY
> means of rings, place of wire, by which th'
, ball is swung to the rod. A piece Of rope il
/, then attached by each end to the arms, t
which again is joined TO the sounding line
The ball is then lowered into the water, ant
upon reaching the bottom the strain upon thu
little line ceases, and the arms fall down, al
lowing the ball 10 detach itself entirely from
the rod, which is then easily drawn, in tn
drilled portion of which is discovered to b
filled with a specimen of that which it ha
come in contract with at the bottom. Their
are other advantages, also, in connection viii
s the invention, which are Of great utility il
4 carrying on ofthe discoveries, and which, n
doubt, will so materially assist the scientifi
researches of the world, that the subject @
s whether there is or is not a bottom to the Sc
e will no longer remain difficulty to answer