Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-11-24
THAT MID.OCEAN ROCK.
A Startling story, COn6rmatOry of
Captain PicAssO's statement.

The New York Mercury, which pub
lished the FIRST detailed account Of the
discovery by Captain Picassco OF dan-
gerous reef in the middle of the Atlantic,
gives also the following story. which
seems to confirm the Italians:
The valuable article in last week s
paper seems to furnish an explanation
of a remarkable incident of personal ex-
perience which those that shared it are
not likely to forget as long as they live.
The writer and his wife we're saloon pas
sengers on board the Britannia steam
ship from Glasgow on November 8, 1871.
There were seventeen saloon passengers
in all, and among those whose names
are remembered were Mr.. Wilson and
wife, St. Louis, Mo-; Mrs. Moffat, New
York; Mrs. Henshelwood, California,
and a Mr.. and Mrs. Luton, from Lis
burn, Belfast.
The weather was stormy and bolster
Gus, with head winds and cross seas At
noon on Sunday, November %, we we're
between $50 and 600 miles off Sandy
Hook. SO the captain estimated, partly
from the dead reckoning and partly from
very unsatisfactory observation, owing
to fog. 1t was usual to sit somewhat
longer at the table on Sundays, for fine
dessert was served The ship was pitch
ing, certainly, and every now and again
little screams aud peals of laughter were
evoked at some dessert disaster, where
nuts were scattered like hailstones and
apples projected like rockets. The
captain zat at the head of the table
cracking jokes, but slipping no wine.
Suddenly, when all was fun and jollity,
the ship ceased her pitching, and settled
upon something with grinding, ,creaking
screwing, tremulous noise and sensation
that was horribly suggestive of disaster.
The captain turned pale as death and
rushed on deck, and was quickly fol-
lowed by the first mate, who sat at the
other end of the table. Mrs. Luton
threw herself across the table to her
husband, with a piercing shrek. Mrs.
Moffatt dropped on her knees and COM
menced to pray, and the writer's wife
clutched him by the collar and spasmod
ically tore his coat. Terrific shrleks
arose from the intermediate and
"steerage departments and sailors
and passengers felt that their hour had
come. The ship, meantime, seemed to
have settled in the sea certain number
of feet, and grated on the solid tounda-
ton on which she stood. Once or twice
she lifted and settled with grating
harshness that was as awful as it was in
describable, while the hanges OF the
screw toiled and tapped. The whole
ship was agitated, as if her frame was
wrung by some marine monster Thus
the terrible experience lasted for full
minute and half. In such circum-
stances thirty seconds are lifetime.
Before the swoop OF inevitable destruc-
ton the past life becomes MICROSCOPE.
cally reproduced, and amid the weird
walls OF the human beings on board that
shin at that supreme moment the writer
felt that he was reading his doom. But
it was not to be. The good ship glided
of the stony underwater mystery, her
screw once more asserted its sway, the
seamen and passengers regained some
of their former nerve and joyousness,
and ultimately, in spite OF storm and
tempest. we reached our haven in safety.
The captain was frequently inter-
viewed, after safety was assured, re-
specting extraordinary mishap or
escaped calamity.
do you think it was an icebergY
asked the writer of the captain. No
sir, it was no iceberg" said he. |
should have said it was a rock if | had
not been sailing in an open ocean and
in track so we'll chartered as this.
When we were inside Sandy Hook, the
writer requested the captain TO inform
him what he estimated the exact latitude
and longitude Of the surprise that at one
time seemed near disater. He subse-
auently handed him slip of paper on
which was written, forty degrees north,
Longitude sixty-two degrees"
THAT" said he, " is as near as /
can approximate to it on account of the
| foe