Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-10-14

Deep ocean Souuutuks
We do not remember 10 have seen
any account In American papers Of the
expedition alluded to below. Our neigh
bors across the water seem to have a
way Of getting knowledge Of our busI-
ness little ahead Of our own Journal
lists. An English paper gives the fol-
lowing account Of deep ocean soundings:
As this svbiect now engrosses the at.
tention Of many OF the scientific men OF
the present age, Il may not be uninter-
esting TO know the results OF discove-
ry which has been introduced by our
neighbors on the other side Of the At
lantic, for the purpose OF testing the ex-
istcnce OF a foundation to the ocean, and
also to know of what II Is composed.-
There has, for several days past, been
lying In the Southampton waters, an
American government surveying brig
named the Dolphin. This brig, which Is
empowered under the act OF Congress,
In connexion with the scientific re-
searches Of Lieut.. Maury, Of the Ma
tional Observatory, at Washington, for
the purpose OF entering into a series Of
meteorological observations aud dscov-
cries, left Chesapeake Bay on the 3ist o.
May, aud has completed perfect line
OF soundngs across the Atlantic 10
Rockule, of the west coast OF Scotland.
The distances between each place Of
sounding averaged about 100 miles.
In ~. g.. n
north Of which. abouta a parallel Of forty
five Ia southwest direction, an elova.
tion was discovered on the bottom Of
the ocean, Of about 5000 feet, the soil
indicating a fine yellow chalky substance.
mixed with a small portion OF the finest
sand. After leaving the Azores, tho
Dolphlp took westerly dlrostion, still
succeeding In discovering bottom
Steering north, she made direct line to
tho "fhree Chimneys," where, at n
depth Of 1000 fathoms, bottom was also
discovered. At this point Lieut.. Berry
man, In charge Of :he ship finding the
position Of the weather uniayorable 10 a
continuation Of tho research, made sail,
aud came Into Southampton. The
greatest depth at which bottom was
reached was 3,i3o fathoms, In lat. from
4 10 43, Ion. 81 to 90. The explorers
have brought homo with them speel.
mems OF the soil which has been diseov-
cred at their various places Of sounding,
and which will be laid before commit.
tee OF scientific men ut Washington,
for the purpose Of analyzatlon.
The temperature OF the water was al
so tested at various depths. specimens
OF which have also been preserved. Du-
ring the whole ol the observations, par.
tieular attention was paid to the width,
depth and force OF the current In differ
ent parts OF the ocean, all Of which
have been carefully neted, for the pur.
pose OF being fully discussed and OK
planned. The Dolphin intends returning
at the latter end ol the week, and should
the weather permit, will take a line of
sounding 10 the Eastern edge OF the
Azores, that being portion OF the At
lantic which has at present remained un-
examined. OF course no further ex-
PLANTATION OF tho results OF this expedi.
ton will at present be given, as the
whole of tho matter collected il being
carefully preserved Tor the uses aud ex.
planation OF the gentlemen at Washing
ton,
There IL one interesting matter In
connexion with this subject, and the non.
existence oil which has boen the great
drawback to oil previous results being
satisfactory, aud which is the very slim
pie method by which the sounding ap.
paratus Is rendered entirely perfect and
useful. In oil previous attempts the
great puzzle has been how 10 get back
The weight when II has once reached the
bottom, aud II Ia a well.known fact, es.
peeiully among seanen, that IN deep
sea sounding, however carefully or
strongly line may be made, II never has,
after being once sunk, beet recovered.
IN this respect, however, Brother iona.
than Deserves much praise, Tor he has
invented plan by which the weight up.
on lla reaching the bottom, becomes
immediately detached, and the line,
therefore, drawn N With perfect ease
The plan u thsl A hole Ia drilled
through "a lbs, or heavier shot, suni.
elsnlly large % admit rod VI about
three quarters OF an inch IN dlameteF.--
This rod ID about ~ or IA Inches In
length, and with tho exception OF about
inch al the bottom, perfectly solid
Az the top Of the rod are two arms,
extending one nom each side These
arms being upon easily acting hinges,
are capable Of being raised or lowered
with very little power, A stall branch
extends from the outside OF each oI
them, which IL for the purpose Of holding
by means OF rings piece Of wire by
which the ball IL swung 10 the rod, A
piece OF rope ID then attached by each
end 10 the arms, 10 which again Ia Joined
the sounding line, The ball ID then
lowered into the water, and upon reach
ing the bottom the strain upon the line
ceases, aud the arms fall down, allowing
the ball TO detach itself entirely from
the rod. which ID then easily drawn In
the drilled portion of which is discover
cd to be filled with a specimen of thaI
which II has come In contact with at th,
bottom. There are other advantage
also In connexion with the invention
which are OF great utility In the carrying
on OF the discoveries, and which no douh
will so materially assist the scientific
researches Of the world, that the subjse
OF whether there Is or is not bottom q
the sea will no longer remain difficult
TO answer.
singular Occurrence.
The 81. Louis News, relAtss the fol