The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-05
DANGERS OF THE DEEP.
A HITHERTO UNKNOWN REEF IN THE DIRECT
TRACK OF COMMERCE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

TRACK OF COMMERCE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.
From the Chicago Times.
New YORK, Oct. 25.-There is considerable
attention attracted in marine interests anC
among ship owners here by the recent remark
able discovery by Captain Picasso, OF the BARI
Teresa of a dangerous rock in the Atlantic
Ocean. Farther particulars in regard to hid
den danger lying in the track OF our com.
merce, will be given in one Of the New York
papers tomorrow. The mystery of the Presl-
dent, City of Boston, Pacific, United King
dom, and many other noble vessels which have
been lost without leaving behind them the
slightest trace of their fate, mas at length
received solution in the report Of Captain
Picasso. The rock is located in latitude 40
north. and longitude 62 west. Though
Captain Picasso disclaimed being the
| first discoverer Of the rock, as he men
tons its being marked on an old
chart. long ignorance Of its ex stence among
nautical men and the constant danger to which
they have unwittingly been subject will cause
him to receive all the credit of discovery.
The knowledge Of such dangerous reef, stu
ated in such position is of the greatest i'm
portance to the commerce of the whole world.
1t might be argued that the seeming rock was
an overturned vessel; but the length Of the OBJ
struction-some 300 teet-precludes the posi-
billy of its being the wreck of ship. None
but iron vessels are this length and one of
these would certainly not float. Sea-weed
proves the rock, as this excresence would not
attach itself rapidly to anything else, and is of
very slow growth. The evident truthfuness
of the captain is apparent, through his naming
the chart which ma ks the rock upon it, there
by taking any credit of discovery away from
himself His reliability is further illustrated
by the fact that the rock can be
found on none of the more recent charts.
The serious difference of two degrees of
longitude between the location of the spot
Oh Nonry's chart and the actual location by
Capt. Picasso, is one which every sea captain
should become acquainted with. The rock
lies, according to Capt. Picasso, within a few
eeconds OF the same degree as New York is
situated in, and on a straight line from west
to east. The rock mus! be about $50 miles
from New York harbor, and is directly in the
course OF ocean steamers, IN what is known |
as the Southern passage. 1t is fully 500 miles !
north Of the Bermuda Islands, and is, there |
fore, in the course from here to Europe (but |
more particularly from Europe here Of lines
OF steamers, excepting one OF two, which still
adhere to the dangerous Northern passage,
for the sake OF gaining time. In the vicinity |
of the rock soundngs have not been made to
any great extent, rs the various su5-Atlantic
the nearest being some four hundred
miles away = the St. Pierre cable.
The spot where the reef is placed
has been believed to be, ever since extensive
OF the Atlantic, which have been
prosecuted since 1865 a continuation Of the
great submarine valley which is said to extend
some 200 miles off the coast of Newfoundland
to the Gulf of Mexico, with some deviations
off Bermuda The depth Of this portion of
;he ocean is given, by the best authorities, as
!, 200 tathoms, or nearly three miles, 1t is
evident, then, that some serious error has been
made by marine photographers they have
otally miscalculated the direction of the SUBJ
marine valley they believe to exist at this
pot, or chat the existence OF the rock proves
o be some sudden and extraordinary peak,
Using from the bottom Of the ocean. Capt. Pr
asso states in his report that b , made sound
ngsaround the place, and could find no bottom;
'ut this would not prove anything as the
'aptain was probably unproylded with any ]
eep-sea sounding leads Or apparatus. Still.
would go far to prove the theory that the
Use is very sudden, and. therefore, all the
gore alarm. The theory that it might be
oral insects are unknown in these attitudes,
nd do not work in mid-ocean. The theory
a sudden upheaval from the oceans bottom
plausible, but unnecessary, from the fact
nat Norney's chart shows the rock to be no -,
ew existence. The rock, according to Capt !
icasso's calculation, at distance of four miles,
as six metres, or eighteen feet out of water at |
le time of mean low water. At high water t
le rock would be covered completely, and il
lerefore out Of sight; and even VIXEN at its
III height out Of water the motion of the sea :
ould, under general circumstances, cover it,
) the waves rise from dead level eighteen feet
Ugh, without any special result of tempest
storm. 1t was calm when the master Of the
eresa sighted it. or else he would have been
Die to beat up to it, which he states in his
count he was unable to do. And then, on
,e other hand, the rock would not be visible,
course, at night. BY many it may have :
zen taken to be a wreck.
AS q final argument, to account for its not
ing discovered before, thousands of vessels
light steer the course in which the rock is
tUated without actually coming within six or
ght miles of it.