The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-09-08
THEY SIGHTED THE LOST ATLANTIS.
Land Discovered by Yankee Tars
Whore water should BE.
The Peculiar Experience of the
Cruiser Philadelphia.
Seamen and Officers Were Puzzled
Until the Fog Dissolved.

NEW LONDON, Conn, September IA
peculiar optical delusion occurred on the
PhIladelphia's recent trip from Bar Harbor
to New London. On the afternoon Of Aug
ust 27, the ship then being by reckonings.
sights and soundings. about thirty miles to
the eastward of Nantucket, and heading to
the Sound, through light fog, the lookout
In the foretop reported "land in sight two
points on the port bow.
1t was certain that no land could be seen
in that direction unless 1t was the lost At
lantis. The navigator said that the chances
were In favor by large majority OF its beg
ing the former The lookout was informed
that he must be mistaken. but he neverthe-
less persisted in his assertion that land was
clearly in sight over the fog. More to con-
vince him Of his error than anything else, a
quartermaster was sent aloft with a long
glass, but he hadhardly reached the top when
ne also reported that not only land was in
sight, but lighthouse and other buildings
bridge, and the junior officer of the watch
was sent aloft to crush the cabal In the top.
Unfortunately, he not only reported land
lighthouse, roads and farm houses, but he
went on to describe their color and general
appearance.
One mole attempt was made to refute the
gossip of the lookouts. The navigator sent
aloft his assistant, fully trusted and elder
ly ensign with family. Alas be- too, went
over to the enemy and dilated upon the aqri-
cultural features of the landscape.
1t was now high time for the navigator
himself to climb the rigging, but apparently
Mistress Fog was In tantalizing mood; for,
having allowed the lookouts and junior of
fcers TO gaze upon her secret island, she
now rose up and shielded it from the more
sceptical eyes of the disguised navigator.
Mindful of the Philadelphia's narrow es-
cape last May In attempting to enter New
Yarbor in thick weather from the Sandy
Hook lightship, which, 1t afterward ap-
peared, had been moved from the position
assigned 1t on the chart without timely noti-
fcation to the North Atlantic squadron, it
was decided not to go ahead until the matter
could be explained The sun being out. an
azimuth was taken and the course verified
by all the compasses. The ship was then
put on the course of the night before and
compasses verified. A sounding was taken
by the Thompson sounding machine and
checked by the deep sea lead line. Both
gave the depth which existed according to
the chart at the point where the reckoning
placed the ship. As If having caused all
the confusion 1t could the fog now disap-
peared, leaving the bare horizon in sight all
around.
Ordered to honoluIu.
WASHINGTON. September 7-Secretary
Tracy this afternoon issued orders for the
United States ship Pensacola, now at San
francisco, to proceed at once to Honolulu.
The state of affairs at the Hawaiian Islands
resulting from the death of the Prince con-
sort is such that the presence there of an
American man 0f-war is regarded necessary
to guard American interests.