The Saint Paul globe., 1899-12-10


was comparatively small, cargo, ship and
travellers effects were total loss. Preced-
ing the -Scotsman's wreck was the -Per-
tia $ among the reefs and shoals off Nova
Scotia, another instance of miraculous
escape for the passengers. The Canadian
line has been, perhaps, the most un-
fortunate; for, while the Labrador was
lost on the east side of the Atlantic, ons
of the fine new steamships Of the same
line came to grief on a ledge a few
hours run from Halifax, The destruction
of four large passenger steamers of first
class rating in less than a year is a re-
markable record; and that does not in
cIude accidents, the loss of coasters,
freighters, and schooners, and such ex-
periences as that of the Gaspesia, the
trial steamer of the new Canadian fast
W inter line, which stuck in the ice-foes
last spring and drifted helplessly about
for two or three months before she was
freed and tOWed ashore.
EXCUSES SECUTED.
Usually. responsibility for these NORTH
ern wrecks is divided between the cap
tain, who has received instructiens;zto
make speed independent of fogs AMI
weather, and the compass whose needle
somehow or other, has been detected by
some mysterious magnetic current. These
excuses may be accepted by the public
but are secuted by pavigators who know
the North Atlantic
The danger, in the first place lies in the
nature. of the course, and in, the second
in attempting speed while on this course:
The perfls of Nova Seotian~ waters can
be and have been lessened. e Lighthouses
now mark the most dangerous points, and
long ago stop was put to the nefarious
work of the WreckerS who Piled success
ful depredations with Sable island as q
basis. Time was, within the memory of
navigators still living, when false lights
above the sands of Sable island. Iured
passing ships to their ruin; and when the
government cruisers would come to the
ships aid not a thing would be found
but the stripped hull. Though -passen-
gers might have waded ashore in some
places, the dead used to be found stripped
Of all clothing and jewels, with the ring
finger cut off, and frequently the cash Of
2 wrecker's S weapon across the forehead,
signs plainly telling of a conflict between
the passengers struggling. ashore through
the beating surf and the murderous men
who awaited them. But all this is a
thing of the past on Sable island. Not
only were wreckers driven off, but live
stock was placed on the long stretch of
could have some means of subsistence
until help came.
Belle Isle strait is by far the most
treaeherous part of the North Atlantic
route The coast of Labrador projects
into the ocean like a barrier against the
flinging tides; and when the baff1ed cur
rent finds resistance suddenly removed,
when the narrow straits open between
Newfoundland and Labrador, the waters
toss in with the siding motion that ere
ates the beam sea so hateful to all lands
men. The strength of this inbursting cur
rent simply cannot be calculated or coun-
teracted by any mariner. In width, the
straits vary from nine to forty miles;
and when the brOwnish fog, never absent
from the northern horizon, spreads south
ward, obscuring every landmark, it is i'm
possible for any captain to keep up speed
and retain his bearings. He may refer
to his chart as often as he pleases, and
tell himself, THUS and thus have we
come, and here is the place we are" Tide
and fog may have betrayed him in spite
of his calculations. and he may be at
least a hundred miles out of his course.
PERIL IN FOG.
There was very striking example
about a year ago. One of the fastest OF
the liners going by the strait route was
caught in a heavy fog before she reached
the entrance So thick was the mist that
the unusual precaution Of lying-to was
actually taken. The fog horns kept con.
tinually footing, and the steauer lay, a!
the captain thought, Prov forward, JUS
at the opening Of the straits, waiting fol
a dash through when the fog should lift
This is all Of the story that the passen
gers and public know; but there is an
other and widely different version curren-
in the bleak port of Battle harbor ferty
miles up the rugged, rocky coast of Lab
rador. Battle harbor is land-locked like
all the hidden coves, or, in sailors par
lance, "holes in the WALL of that NORTH
coast, and the dome-shaped rocks sur
rounding the port slope down at the har
Dor entrance into two long, sharp lodges
locally known as "the ribs" which barely
leave the breadth of a steamer open TO.
wards the sea. The fishing schooners dc
not attempt the entrance during fai,
weather, and the government mail steam
er frequently sends in only a foIr-oare6
boat, rather than run through the treach.
erous narrows. On the morning when fhe
ocean liner thought she was lying et ca 81
in the straits. a fisherman came sculIine
out of Battle harbor to examine his nets
Approaching cautiously through the
thick fog, he was amazed to see a huge
black shape loom up between the ribs
Nearer view revealed the nature of thi.
strange visitant. Haiiing the officers, ht
asked If they knew where they were. and
INC aSoCoI1lSHiliehl VI lie captain may Dt
imagined when he learned his actua
whereabouts and narrow escape. Tn,
fisherman was taken aboard, paid to keer
quiet and pilot the ship back to hel
course. Meanwhile over two hundred
passengers ate a hearty breakfast-fol
was not the sea calm?-in the happy be-
lief that they were poking through the
Straits of Belle Isle
1T Is perfectly absurd, as well as dan
gerous. to attempt a fast line through
the straits, said-a navigator, who 1:
captain of government steamer, an6
who, therefore, does not hold a brief tf
defend any special route 1.-THE only
safety during fog or rough weather is tc