The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-07-15


by Nantucket Island it sweeps around
In a curve, skirting the southern
coast of newfoundland, on parallel
about ~ 30\, north latitude; thence
proceeding IN an easterly direction,
rapidly Increasing ia width, until It
reaches che western coast OF Ireland,
England, Wales, France and Por,u-
gal. The rapidity Of this Gulf stream
is the greatest near the Gulf of Mex |
leo, and its velocity diminishes as IL !
flows on in its coarse. As 1t /
passes off the coast OF Florida, its |
current flows at the rate of about |
ftty-five miles per day While at a |
point off the coast Of Newfoundland,
IT'S velocity has diminished TO twenty
four mics per day. Immediately after
pa sing Newfoundland, the Gulf
stream is encountered by the Arctic
current of cold water, which comes
from the icebergs Of the North, ana
sweeping down by the eastern coast
Labrador, it flows perpendicularly
into the Gulf stream, greatly lessen
ing its Temperature and diminishing
its velocsty. At certain.seasOns OF the
wear icebergs of enormous size are
drifted South by this Arctic cur
rent. and become formidable aud
dangerous distractions to ocean
navigation. The width of the Gulf
stream at its narroWest place
off the coast Of Florida Is about forty
| five miles 1t increases. in width as
| it flows along, until 1t shoots out uu-
controlled into the Atlantic Ocean.
The mean depth Of this Gulf stream
| between the TOrtugas aud Havana, Is
abeut 400 iathoms, the deepest point
being $40 fathOms. Pour hundred
iathoms may also be regarded as the
mean depth up to the region OF Cape
Hatteras. Beyond that point the
depth IS supposed to increase very
rapidly At 100 miles northeast OF
Cape Hatteras, Lieutenant Lee, U. b
Navy, found the depth of the stream
to be 1850 fathoms. At 220 miles
south Of Nantucket, Lieutenant Der
rvman found il to be 1920 fathoms.
South Of Sable Island, 404' north latl-
tude, the bottom was sounded at lou
fathoms, and south of the Grand
Bank, off Newfoundland, at three diff
ferent souhdings, the depth was J. 0O-
2710 and 3,130 fathoms. In 1887,
Com Dayman found the bottom IN
J 81 As north latitude and 33' BY west
, longitude, at 1000 fathoms.
COAST CURRENT.
There is a counter current of cold
| water flowing back on the north and
[ vest of the Gulf stream, and binding
closely upon the coast of Nova Scotli
' and the eastern and southern coast o.
I the United States. One remarkable
D feature about these currents is tina
Il although they have been flowing con
: tiguously to each other, and In Oppo
= site directions for unrecorded ages
g vet their waters have never becom
i mingled with each other; but eacl
e maintains an almost unbroken Uerticd
It wall against the aggressiOns of tn
i other.
y GRAND BANK.
c Directly south of Newfoundland j
a high bottom of the ocean, eXtendIn
e about three hundred and fifty mile
I north and south, and about two hun
dred aud fifty miles east and west
irregular In contour. This high bot
tom is called the Grand Bank" Of
e the coast Of Newfoundland. 1t
= nearly all submerged by the ocean
l. from twenty 10 four hundred feet
y mean depth about one hundred an
\ eighty feet. The waters over thi
bank arc very dark This Gran
y Bank is visited by large numbers Q
= fishing boats, which are anchore
!. upon the bank, for the purpose o
y catching the Goldfish, which for man
y Yeas have frequented the Gran
n Bank in inexhaustible supplies.
e THE FOG.
% Long before we reached the Gran
& Bank, we were enveloped in a dens
d fog. which settled so closely an
d thlckly around the vessel that tn
k officers could see but a few rod
# ahead. This lasted four days AM
l. nights necessarily, during all o
d which time our ship sounded he
e steam whistle at intervals, every fey
minutes, as warning TO other vessels
D, of our approach. Notwithstanding
N this precautiOn, we came very nea
d running over a good sized tishin
t. schooner from Portland, Maine
J. which was suddenly discovered only
r. few rods ahead, and almost directly Ii
b front of us. The schooner was an
), chored on the Grand Bank. aud coull
ir not get away. Our engines were i'm
e. mediately stopped, and it was only b
q, the utmost effort of our officers tina
E. the schooner could be saved. Sh
r reeled and tossed upon the wave
lie produced by our vessel. Our passen
q gers were alarmed lest the bowspri
3, of the schooner should pierce a hol
= through the side of our ship.
i, came very near crushing one of GU
n. life boats, and did carry away one q
Of our life buOys, which was fastened {
ID the guard above the deck, and rubbe
Up against the side of our ship.
Mt The schooner had fine lot of ifs
he Oh board, and ought to have supplies
u us with that commodity for the re
ell mainder Of our trip, as a reward 10
to our successful efforts In saving tn
ne men and their boat. But as the
BY passed by their parting adieus cor
n, sisted of a copious profusion of we
es pointed imprecatiOns, savOring stronG
p ly Of a sulphurous base.
Is On Wednesday night, June 15tl
y about one-third of the cabin passeI
r gers on board held very interestin
ne prayer meeting in one side of tn
ID saloon or dining room of the shil
a. while the other thirds were busil
" engaged in playing cards and othC
ell games of a similar character, in II
10 | other side. In this connection it
c. but Just to say that although l woul
OF have been rejoiced to see all atten
ut the prayer meeting, yet | have nc
~ heard a single oath on board, nc
% seen the least bad temper manifesto
ld since we left New York.
II OFFICERS.
IS Our Captain, Mr.. Campbell
an excellent man. He belong