Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-08-27

After steaming two days to the east
ward the line Of deep-sea soundiugs was
taken up again In the South Atlantic
ocean, where the enterprise had left OF
on her outward passage around the
Cape of Good Hope over three years be-
fore. The soundings were taken with
iron balls similar 10 nine-inch shot
slug with wire. A hole .hree.inches in
diameter through the middle OF the ball
reduces its weight from ninety-six
pounds TO sixty-four pounds. Through
this hole brass plunger Is filled with
worm, a cup, and a hook, by which the
shot is fastened To reel containing
5000 fathoms Of steel wire fastened 10
swivel forming the head Of the plunger,
an led over n wheel In an iron frame
several feet clear Of the ships side, aud
over another wheel little below the
frame. This leads the wire still further
clear Of the ship. Tho frame on which
the upper wheel hangs has i've hollow
stanchions, in which are springs, TO
each OF which rope is fastened, roll
over roll, as in the top OF the frame, aud
70 which the wheel hangs so as 10 give
il chance to give way several feet to
ease the strain which naturally comes
on the wire aud would suraly break IL
on heavy roll Of the ship, as IL has
done once. causing loss OF 900 faith.
oms OF wire.
When everything Is ready the shot 10
dropped overheard and tie wire runs OIL
the reel at the rate of 900 fathoms In
ten minutes. As soon rs the plunger
reaches the bottom the hook TO which
the shot Is fastened turns over by the
slaokening of the strain, and 80 releases
1t. A tell.talo on the axle Of the reel
tells how many fathoms OF wire have
run off. A steam engine then winds
the wire with the plunger on the
reel, minus the shot, which forever
remains at the bottom OF the ocean.
The plunger consists Of n hollow brass
tube ten inches long, In which Is In.
serted a worm with a cup on tho lower
end. The worm serves for the purpose
OF twisting the cup into the bed or the
ocean and fetching up sample OF the
bottom. The contents OF the cup. after
the water is drained of, are put In small
bettle. aud labeled with latitude, long,
itude aud depths. These bottles are
hacked into boxes and sent 10 the hy-
geographic Office In Washington.
When under steam alone the engines
are stopped for sounding. but when un'
der sail alone steam has TO he gotten up
and all sail taker In, as the ship has to lic
perfectly quiet and to be uncer control,
which Is impossible under sail. sound
ings were taken about 100 miies. tho
depth usually being 1900 or 5000 faith
oms or about four and half miles. In
latitude 30 degrees south aud longitude
20 degrees west shoal water OF about 100
or 500 fsthoms was found, revealing tho
existence ola range OF mountains on
the bottom OF tho ocean.
These the Challenger, an English man
of war, on deep sea sounding expedis
ton around the world ten years ago,
had failed to discover. That day hftecn
soundings were taken, one every i've
miles, ill deep water was found again.
The cost Of u shot Is s.. Lieut.. Mark,
the navigator, had charge OF the work.
and 1t required a quartermaster, as as-
sistant and aremen 10 run the engine
to take a sounding, which altogether
lasts about AN hour. Should the shet
fail to discharge, as Il did once during
the cruise, the whole has to be wound
up again by hand, which takes three
hours for depth Of 5000 fatboms. s
the engine Ia not powerful enough ~
wind up wire, shot and all.