The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-01-31
AN OCEAN CEMETERY.
THE MOST PERlLOUS PORTION OF
THE WHOLE ATLANTIC.

Cross Currents. ToEs, Jceberus,
Shoals. Rccfs and Every Kind OF
Marine Snare That Entrapa Luck
less Sailors Abounds In ThcHe Wa
tcrs.
II one prong Of pair OF compasses
be placed about the center of the gulf
OF st Lawrence and the other de-
scribe semicircle from Labrador to
the southernmOst point OF Nova Scotia,
the area circumscribed might we'll be
called the graveyard OF the Atlantic
Not only Is this part OF the ocean sub
Jcct to all the gales OF the roaring for
ties. but every kind of water snare
that entraps luckless sailors is found
In this section OF the north Atlantic.
Inc dirty brownish fogs that lie across
the horizon above Belle Isle are, OF
course, the most treacherOus enemy
for the ocean liner. They conceal the
other dangers, and the other dangers
are neither few nor far apart. What
with iccbergs ranging in size from II
few hundred feet in circumference to
monsters nine miles in length (the cx-
act dimension OF one measured by the
Newfoundland superintendent Of fish,
eries), with naked rock walls rising
vertically 70C feet out of the sea, with
crumbled ledges whose saw tooth edge
stands up in pinnacles or slopes down
to white capped reef and with the
submerged shoals of the Sable and
Magdalene island districts the pilot
has as difficult piece Of water to
navigate as could be found.
The perils of Nova Scotian waters
can be and have been lessened. Light
houses now mark the most dangerous
points, aud long ago n stop was put to
the nefarious work Of the wreckers
who piled successful depredations. with
Sable island ns q basis. Time was,
within the memory OF naviSators still
living. when false lights above the
sands OF Sable island iiired passing
ships to their ruin. and when the gov
ernment cruisers would come to the
ships aid not n thing would be found
but the stripped hull. Though pnssen-
gers might have waded ashore in some
places. the dead used to be found strip
ped Of all clothing and jewels. with the
ring finger cut off and frequently the
forehead, signs plainly telling Of con-
dict between the passengers struggling
ashore through beating surf and the
murderouS men who awaited them.
But all this is q thing of the past on
Sable Island. Not only were wreckers
driven Off, but live stock was placed on
the long stretch Of grass grown sand,
30 that castaways could have some
means Of subsistence until help came
Belle Isle strait is by far the most
treachcrous po-t of the north Atlantic
route The coast of Labrador projects
into the ocean like q barrier against
the f1inglng tides. and when the baffled
current fin Is resistance suddenly re-
moved when the narrow strait opens
between Newfoundland and Labrador.
the waters toss In with the Siding mo-
tfon that creates the beam sea 30 hate
full to all an1smen. The strength OF
this inburstiug current simply cannot
be calculated or counteracted by any
mariner. In width the strait varies
from 8 to 40 miles, and when the
brownish fog. never absent from the
northern horizon. spreads southwark,
obscuring every landmark, 1t Is impos-
sible for any captain to keep up speed
and retain his bearings. He may refer
to his chart rs often as he pleases and
tell himself. ''Thrs and thus nave 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 100 miles out Of his course.
Besides the danger from fog and tide
at the entrance to the gulf Of st. Law
renee there Is the peril of long. sharp
iedgcs that furrow all parts Of the
northern coast and arc only visible by
the fretted line of surface spray. No
lighthouses mark these hidden reefs.
and many a schooner col:cs to grief
upon them during the night or in q fog.
The old rooms" or fishing harbors, of
French and Jersey fishermen have lonu
been deserted in the neighborhood of
the strait. Occasionally q dismantlcd
hut or dilapidated chapel may be
seen cllnging to the base Of tie rocls
wall. but all Is lifcless desolation.
There are not a dozen settlements on
either side Of the narrow channel, and
these are hidden away 80 securely be-
hind rock guarded harbors no sign of
life Is visible to passing steamers. No
aid to navigation exists on these bleak
northern shores. False cape runs out
from Newfoundland in great, jagged
towering rocks. torn by the driving
tide. and White island lies Off the shore
bare and lonely as tombstone. Afar.
from other rocky islands. comes the
dull booming Of the surf. which Indian
legend Of Labrador describes as the
shrieklns Of demons over their prey.
Roohess huts used as windbrcaks by
the sealers in the spring add to the in
describnble loneliness Of the tenantless
coast. and if some fsherman's dory
comes bounding over the waves Its
sudden disappearance behind some
rocky eminence only acccntuates the
utter dreariness Of the whole REGION
New York Post.
Successful Negro Farmer.
"Ten miles north OF Yonelyon covu