Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-05-09
AN OCEAN CEMETERY.
ThE MOST PERlLOUS PORTION OF
THE WHOLE ATLANTIC.

Cross Currents, Fogr. Icebergs,
Shoals. Reefs aud Every Kind of
Marine Snare That Entraps Luck
less Sailors Abounds In These Wa
tiers.
III one prong OF pair OF compasses
be placed about the center Of the gulf
OF St Lawrence ana the other de-
scribe a semiclrcle from Labrador to
the southernmost point OF Nova Scotia.
the area circumscribed might well be
called the graveyard OF the Atlantic.
Not only is this part OF the ocean sub
Ject 10 all the gales OF the roaring for
ties. but every kind or water snare
that eDtraps luckless sailors is found
In this section OF the north Atlantic.
The 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 icebergs ranging i'm size from a
few hundred feet in circumference to
monsters nine miles I'm length tthe ex-
act dimension OF one measured by the
Newfoundland superintendent of fish
eriesi. with naked rock walls rising
vertically 200 feet out OF the sea. with
crumbled ledgeS whose saw tooth edge
stands up in piunacles or slopes down
TO white capped reef AMI with the
submerged shoals Of the Sable and
Magdalene island districts the pilot
has as difficult piece of water to
navigate rs t-Ould b, found
The perils Of Nova Scotian waters
can be and have been lesseurd. Light
houses now mark the most dangerous
points. and long ago stop was put to
the ncfariouS work of the wreckprS
who piled successful dcprcdationS. with
Sable island as a basis. Time WAS.
within the memory of uavigatOrs Sfiil
living. when false lights above the
sands of Sable island lured passing
ships 10 their ruin. and when the gov
ernment cruisers would come TO the
ships aid not n thing would be found
but the stripped hail.! Though paSsen
gers might have waded ashore in some
places. the dead used 10 Ice found strip
ped OF all clothing and Jewels. with the
ring finger cut on and frequently the
cash Of wrecker'S weapon across the
forehead. signs plainly telling of con
hict between the passengers STRUGGLING
ashore through 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 of, but live stock was placed on
the long stretch Of grass grown sand.
SO that caStaways could have some
means OF subsistence until help came.
Belle Isle strait is 10y far the most
ueacherouS part OF the north Atlantic
route. The coast OF Labrador projects
into the ocean like a barrier ayaiu~i
the finging tides. and when the hafllei
current finds resistance suddenly re-
moved. when the narrow strait opens
between Newfoundland and Labrador
the waters toss in with the Siding mo
tion that creates the beam sea 50 hate
ful To all landsmcn. The strength OF
this inhursting current simply cannot
be calculated or counteractcd 10y any
mariner. In width the strait varies
from 9 TO 40 miles. and when the
browniSh fog. never absent from the
northern horizon. spreads southwark.
obScuring every landmarE. il is impoS-
sible for any captain TO keep up speed
and retain his bearings He may refer
10 his chart aS often rs he plpaScS 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 100 miles out OF his course.
Resides the danger from fog and tide
at the entrance TO the gulf of ST Law
renee there is the peril of long. sharp
lodges that furrow all parts OF the
northern coast and are only visible hy
the fretted line of surface spray. No
lighthouses mark these hidden reefs.
and many a schooner comes TO grief
upon them during the night or i'm n fog.
The old rooms" or fishing harborS. of
French and Jersey fishermen have long
been deserted in the ncighhorhood OF
the strait. Occa Sionally Il dlsmantlc,.
nut or dilapidatcd chapel may be
seen clinging To the base of the rock
wall. but all is IIfelesS desolation.
There are not dozen settlements on
either side Of the narrow channel. and
these are hidden away SO securely he
hlhu rOck guarded harbOrS no sign OF
life Is visible 10 passing steamers. No
aid 10 navigation exists on these bleak
northern shores. False cape runs ont
from Newfoundland IN great, Jagged.
towering rocks. torn by the driving
tide. and White island lies on the shore
bare and lonely as a tombstone. Afar.
from other rocky islands. comes the
dull booming OF the surf. which Indian
legend OF Labrador describes as the
shrieking of demons over their prey.
RoohesS huts used as windbreakS bv
the sealers in the spring add TO the in
describahle loneliness OF the tenantless
coast. and II some fSherman's dorv
comes bounding over the waves its
sudden disappearance behind some
rocky eminence only accentuateS the
utter dreariness OF the whole region. -
New York Post.