The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-06-30
NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 80, 1853.


vislsaaty ~ sss Csan ugAts 1t Great Dis
tamceo.
TO THE KDrrOR OF THE HERALD.
N he early part II June had occasion 70 80 sov.h by
steamer 70 Havana and New Orleans. Being ascus
toned TO he and in the habit Of otting down the
currssoss Of voyage, Am enabled 10 pre~ mt you with
She following remarkable instance o. the effect Of reac
ton in Increasing the distance from WHICH see coas. lights
may 30 disceYDed.
AT noon the second day out were lat 81 81 lon
"a A. steering 10 make CApe Hatsras nght-the ometer
stationary n the temperature Of the air 60 deg
water g. Urti p N. light westerly breeze prevailed
The weather was overcast and msty-tho phenomenon
Of an overcast sky with westerly breez, being due 70
upper current Of air seen flowing In brisk breeze from
E. charged with the Temperature and vapor o. the Gulf
stream waters, contracting and partially miuglng with the
cooler and dryer westerly currents thereby losing - the
temperature varied portion OF il, moisture, which be-
came evident TO in the form Of cloud and mist
gentle swcll rolled from N. Z.
After four p n. Il fell calm, the wea-
ther changed, the clouds arranged themselves IN
bands athwart the sky. The atmosphere near
the surface became singuary clear, remote objects
were seen with unusual distinctne@ At $50 the rerac
ton observed to be very great several distant yes
sells in the western board inverted aud suspend
ed above, or with their masheads just touching the
real limits and elevated that steamer appeared to
be the centre OF vast circular conc,vty and she
moved rapidly along her course the scene with slight
variations, advanced with her. Approaching darkness
dspeIed the pleasing illusion.
When Me night set IN the horizon longer dstin
guishabe owing to the CLASSY smocthness of the water
and sky seemed blended together. At 1920 light
wss made from deck bearing W. s. rns ms.s SUP
always experienced in estimating distances when the
horizon be used point Of reference 70 assist the
eye. As rapid variation 10 the bearing OF the light
took place, it being ectpsed al regular intervals,
was soon known to be revolving ses coast light Look
ing at with night glass red flash was seen, which
convinced the captain that he the light on Bodys
Island.
Az 1925 another lgh. was made also from the deck
bearing s. S. W., which appeared to the mate who had
the WATCH 10 be from vessel close aboard and he was
about 10 alter his 10 avoid collision, when
ment's reflection suggested there imminent dan
ger, for the hull sails Of the vessel sight
This light flashing brilliantly after short periods Of eclipse
thought that j, must be Cape as.terss light The csO
TAIN who was deck, and 70 whom an indebted for
most OF my information the subject ordered the steam
20 be stopped and sounding obtaned which was done
Immediately, in Is fathoms +. WIS
All doubt the lights being removed after hours
observation, projected the steamers position upon
large chart afterwards worked trigonometricalv
and having check the soundngs obtained found the
distance from the lights 70 be as folio wsFrom than on
Body q Island eighteen and half miles from that on Ca
Hatteras, forty two mee These distances verified
by the steamers run to the Cape. Upon reference TO
fad that Botys Island light OF the fourth order and
Cape Hseras light OF the first order lens apparatus
that the first may be- under ordinary states OF the
atmosphere from elevation OF fifteen feet fourteen
miles; that the second may be seen under like conii
tons twenty miles. But 70 these lights at the
distances described would require for the first eleva
Of hundred AMI thirty feet ami for the second
elevation OF eight hundred and fifty feet.
The only instance similar to the foregoing that
qusinted with take from the journal OF frien1:-
On the 2Sth April lat 81 06 deg, lon "a 80 deg the
wind light from W. W., weather clear the barometer
Of air wata der
N. by & u E., for Absecum light, at $50 P. NJ made
Light from deck, bearing w. by N. Examining IL wiu n
glass, two lights at nearly the elevation
and little separated which together with the run since
noon, made II the lights Five Fatnom bank, OF the
Delaware. They shone brilliantly for eighteen minutes,
deck, bearing ~ by W. u ". shcne twenty minutes,
disappeared for three minutes, shone out again for Elk
minutes, and again disappeared At eleven O'Clock the
lookout st the masthead reported light three points ON
the port bow. Examining found q be Absecum light
bearing N n W. BY the evidence sidu Jed in the Journal
other than that Absecu and the distances from vhcb
the lights seen followr-from Five Fst,om
bank seventeen and half miles from Absecum, thirty
mes forty five per cent farther than they be
under ordinary stsies Of the atmosphere.
Az this Is a fttng opportunity II viii make remark
upon report recently read In newspaper to the effect
that learned Freedman has announced, under sanction
Of the Academy, hst red lights be from srsar
distances than ughta OF other color. Now, TINS s
rule the coast and the report i'm
and the FreDchman red Light not greatly superior
the red lights general Iconfratct the conclusion
viii bold that the best ght-tha, Ia .
say the that be the arthest under ordilaty
rtStes Of the atmosphere for coasts and veeess
clear white light In this think will be sustained by
the experience OF intelligent seamen. PHAR0S