Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-13
wHATMAKEs THE GULF sTREAM2
Theories Of an Observer Who Says the
Moon Controls tn Current.

true source Of the gulf stream, and what
learned Of the nature Of that mysterious ana
erratic current during that time knocks all the
accepted theories a. to its origin in the head
Thus spoke w. s. Howard, late of the United
States coast survey steamer Blake. yesterday,
as he reclined upon one of the chairs In the
Girsrd house lobby.
81 was attached to the Blake for three years, :"
continued Mr.. Howard. land during that time
we definitely fixed the source Of the gulf
stream. We spent two years in tracing up tho
gulf stream and studying its peculiarities, and
while we are still In the dark az to the primary
cause Of this great ocean river, we have defin-
itely fixed upon the spot where il originates
Formerly II was believed that the gulf stream
was simply the continuation of the Mississippi
river, the immense volume OF water flowing
out OF which cleaved its way through old ocean,
and, preserving its own distinctive characters
tics as to temperature and color finally was
lost and assimilated by the waters Of the frozen
northern seas. Others held to the opinion that
the gulf stream was formed and controlled by
the trade winds. Our observations and inves-
LEGATIONS furnish us with conclusive proof that
neither Of these elements has anything to do
with 1t. One curious fact was established, how.
ever. We found that
TIE MOON AFFECTED THE GULF STREAM
and that the current was controlled absolutely
by that body. The true source or beginning Of
the gulf stream, established by careful scientific
observation extending over q period Of two
years, Is at a point between Fowey rocks. Flor
ida, and the Gun cay on the coast of the Ba-
hamas. At this place, in 49s fathoms of water,
we anchored, and for months devoted ourselves
to careful study of the great ocean river. Let
me tell You something about the peculiarities
that we noticed. To begin with, the current Of
the gun stream at the point where we were
anchored, and which we unanimously agreed
upon as Its true source, varies daily in velocity
Inc dinerence In the flow was at times as much
as ~ knots per hour. The greatest velocity
noted was generally about nine hours before
the upper transit of the moon. The variations
were most excessive on the eastern side Of the
straits, and least on the western side The
average daily currents vary during the month,
the strongest current coming day or two after
the greatest declination of the moon. The
axis or
TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE GULF STREAM
determined by fixing the position Of the
strongest surface fow) is eleven and a half
miles east Of the Fowey Rocks light house. The
strongest surface current found here was FIVE
and quarter knots per hour, the least one
and three-quarter knots and the average three
and six-tenths knots. We used two meters in
our observations, one for the surface current
and one for the sub surface stream. The wind
has no effect upon the velocity of the stream
and does not change the axis of the current
The surface current it was noticed has a much
higher velocity than the subsurface. During
our observations we occupied twenty-six differ
emit stations, being anchored at each for several
days at time. We took 1857 current observa-
tlons with the meter and !, 807 current observe
tons with the pole during this time"
And what deductions did you make?''
''These only: That neither the Mississippi
river nor the trade winds were in any way re-
sponsible for the gulf stream; that it was
affected by the changes of the moon, and that
this particular point, III miles east Of Fowey
Rocks light house, was its true axis or source"
THEORIES.
"What theories have you in reference to the
probable first cause of the stream?''
Hundreds. 1t is q great field for specula-
ton. Just imagine, if you can. what would
have been the result il we could have donned
subm airline armor and Owed to the bottom in
49S fathoms of water. We made soundings
but they revealed to us nothing. The bottom
was q sandy coral foundation; fish and other
submarine creatures lived and disported them
selves in the depths, and all the time that surg.
ing, resistless current boiled about US, defying
inquiry as to its true origin.
1T might be, for aught any one could say to
the contrary, the mouth of a great river, with
its source deep down in the bowels of the
earth, among those everlasting fires that scien-
fists tell US are continually burning there. The
super uedte0 water gushing 10 the surface OF
the ocean at that depth with power that can
not be estimated would be apt to displace the
chilled and heavier water of the ocean, and
with an initial velocity of nearly six miles an
hour, would certainly clear for itself pathway
through the ocean until chilled and rendered
Inert by the frozen waters of the arctic seas
Again, 1t may be that we were anchored
over an immense and ever-active volcano,
which, in no way crippled by the constant in
nux OF the cold ocean water into its yawning
crater continually, with a power that human
thought cannot measure, hurls back the heated
waves, and this repulsion, going on day after
day and year after year for period of time
that has not yet been fixed by observation or
deduction, has increased the volume of the at
first puny geyser until now it has become a
fixed and well-founded current. differing in
color and temperature from the water that
surrounds it, and with a sweep and stretch that
extend over thousands of miles. You can
theorize all day over the matter and perhaps
be as far from the truth as ever. The obser-
yations made by the Blake settled several dis
puted points:
First. That the winds and the Mississippi
river have nothing to do with the formation of
the gulf stream.
Second. That point liz miles east of
Fowey Rocks light house. Florida, in the Carib-
bean sea, is its true axis or source.
'Third. That the velocity Of the current is
controlled by the declination of the moon"
->0>-
The Baron's Gambling Case.
Baron De Paronet appeared in Justice Van
Dorn's court at Long Branch yesterday and
swore to three affidayits charpipo the rronr;a