Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-07-30
4 SHIFTING I;Gi IGN
II IS THOUGHT THE GULr Or
MEXICO HAS ONE.
1t Is Suggested That the Cuff Bed Was
Affected by the Martinique
E.@acte.

New Orleans, La. July 3G.--F5as the
Gulf Of Mexico ; shifting bottom. o..
has some scat force OF nature cau3eI
the crust Of earth underlying the gHlf
70 bHcE'e and brought II nearer the
surface?
The matter is now being ia{ests-
gated, anG it is possible that re re
suits will bring 10 light some interest
ing information. 1t is also prohahi,e
that the scientists will haze something
to say about the matter, if the sound
ings taken by Capt. George Pei rs ol
the British steamship Istrar are found
to be correct. The Istrar alrivei d.
this port July 13, and Cap5. Perks
called at the office Of Lieuten&n- Chas.
A. Foster who has charge of the lCai
photographic office, and made report
OF the occurrence as follows:
July II at noon, owing to abnormal
rcfraction, the sights put the ship
nortn of her position. Being or s"Gid-
ings | took a cast With the Thompson
sounding machine. At 90 minutes o..
II. We got - fathonls of water, WITH
Saad and gravel for bottom. At 3o
PCS; noon took a second cast, which
2&Ve % 312 fatEums. At a. n the
ooG;h Pass lightship came in sight.
hearing north degrees west. BY
which bearing,ac cording to admiralty
chart, 63S, there should have been at
least So OF SO fathoms. .
no other ship captain has made an.
report OF the matter TO the HYDRO
graphic office, but Capt. Perks says he
has heard other captains discuss the
matter. Lieut. Foster explained that
in taking soundings glass tube is
used, upon which the pressure Of the
sea water makes chemical! change
up, and Will make more casts to deter
lnlng the depth OF the water.
NOW 1t is possible that Capt. Perks
happened to use two defective tubes"
sad Nleut. Foster, but it is unusual
to take two bad tubes up in such close
succession. 1T is also possible that
capt. Perks made mistake of some
KIND, but again that is improbable. as
t"e second sounding would have shown
the error of the first. have reported
the matter to the photographic office
at Washington. Capt. Perks has
promised that upon the departure from
TINS port OF his vessel he will take
the same bearings he had in coming
up, and will make more cast SO deter,
mine the depth OF water at that point.
Upon his arrival on tie ether side he
Will forward to me the result of his,
Investigations.
Investigation Will Be Made.
these additional soundings are [
be token with the line for better g
cullty. and il the first soundings al
confirmed an explanation CT the phe
aemenon Will be in order. Lieut.. Eos
tet says tFGt thepoint where the sound
inSs We're taken is too far out for tt.
sllt OF the Mississippi to have been de-
posted in such quantity, ana -.se fac,
mat the souEaings showed gravel /
proof that the mud of the river has had
no effect on the bed of the gulf at tlh.s.3
point. 1t iG suggested that the be
on the gulf has been affected lv III
Martinique disaster in the same man.
lei as Was suggested al the time -
" Charleston earthquakes At ti9at
time K was said there was weak
stratum OF eartE in the gulf. extend
Ing through tie volcanic belt, and thai
TINS stratum had fallen in because Ct
tae weight OF the silt and other me-
ie..a! piled uDoa It for ages
Failing in al one point, ;ae crust
@Nckied at another. and his probali,
broQSh; tie surface Of the gulf bottom
closer TO the surface OF the water
Il IS likely that the government steam
e1 Pansy Gn her return TO this pOft
Vii! take soundings at the point ndi
cat@f. Capt. Merrill commandars OF
the gOVefnEle.tt station here. said that
n lis opi3.ioa e.Iors We're made il
the souHdines. He said & Ssrsy lint
should Lave been used when me first
casting showed q small depth of W..
ter. l!e h"d cf.en found in his eN-
perie!lee on the seas chat sounding ma
chin. we've - error, anG that Iii"
NJ sing Of mistakes was common.
a HtIzz e T .at Fuzzies.
Eele : 8 ii's,.zz!e 1,,2at ilN,:.z e.,= eve-3-
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