The New York herald., 1872-10-27
Mr.. Brasscy's Notes-From St. Johns to
st. Pierre-The Eothen I'm q Terrible
Storm-Her seageing Qualities.
EOTHEN, X. I. s.,
AT SEA, GULF OF ST. LAwRENCE,}
Sent a 1870

l. /
AT SEA, GULF OF ST. LAwRENCE,}
Sept Q. 1872. }
We remained at st. Johns two days; short, but
pleasant and refreshing respite from our tur-
bulent existence at sea.
At three O'Clock In the afternoon Of Saturday,
31st August, we unmoored from the wharf, at
which We had taken In f0rty-fve tons Of coal, and
proceeded to sea under steam. on Cape Spear,
three miles outside the harbor OF st. Johns, we
stopped the engine, and in the midst Of a notilla
Of fishing boats let down our deep lines, in the
hope Of catching few cod. Our neighbOrs were
hauling IN magnificent fish without intermisson,
but did not share In their good fortune. Doubt
less inexperience and consequent want of skill
were the causes Of our failure. At five O'Clock we
resumed our voyage, steering 8. W. for Cape Race.
The wind was from the eastward, and gradually
increased to strong breeze. All fore and aft sail
were set. The sea was moderately smooth, and
while under these favorable conditions we main
tanned q speed OF nine knots an hour. The coast
OF Newfoundland between st. Johns and Cape
Race-a distance Of sixty miles-is Dold sterile and
mountainous. Its dark coloring adds to the
savage grandeur OF the scenery. The coast Is in
dented by several deep bays. The sheltered an
chorages which they afrord have led to the forma-
ton Of numerous fishing establishments some Of
which have become small towns, and possess
church.
At II P. M. we altered our course to the S.S.W.
for Cape Race, and as the wind drew more on the
quarter we slowed our fore and aft main sail and
mizzen and set the foretopsail. At midnight we
rounded the Cape and altered our course to the
NV, steering for Cape Pine, the next headland on
the south coast of Newfoundland and distant about
twenty-three miles from Cape Race.
light is exhibited on each Of these promon-
tories, and these are most important beacons In
North Atlantic navigation. Cape Race lies in the
track, not only Of vessels bound to and from
the estuary of the st. Lawrence, but also on the
great circle course from the principal ports OF
1t Is, therefore, the usual landfall OF steamers
bound for New York, and hence they take their
departure for the voyage homeward bound d. pn.
the wind rapidly increased, and at A. NJ, when we
were off the latter Cape, we were running at the
rate Of II knots an hour before heavy gale from
the Sc: The barometer had fallen from 80 90, at
which 1t stood at +. M. yesterday afternoon, to
% at tns morning ing So rapid a. change vas
serious storm. Boats were slowed on deck and
well secured, and as the violent force OF the wind
there was momentary risk of its being carried
away, we slowed the foret0psail and set the
ana main onsnn9s X the aesS
battened down. Between A. M. and A. M.
the wind veered to the NE, from which quarter
OF our crew had never seen heavier gale--indeed,
only one OF our hands pretended to have been at
sea in such storm, and he had to refer to
formidable typn0on on the coast OF China for
precedent. Al Q. to our great relief. the baromc-
ter ceased to fall, but the wind veered still fur
ther round to the N.N.E. and we had to contend
against heavy beam sea, 1t became necessary to
heave to. At the gale began to moderate, and
at IL we were able to steam slowly ahead at the
rate OF six knots steering NV. b. W. for the Island
or st. Pierre, distant 40 miles to the westward.
The storm experienced this morning exceeded
In violence even that already described In the story
OF VOYAGE across the Atlantic.
As we subsequently learned at st. Pierre no storm
OF equal fury had been experienced In the Island
for thirty years, and It was pronounced
st. Pierre, who paid great attention to
the phenomena OF the gale, to have ex-