The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-16
WRECKED ON A ROCK?
Theory That It Was Not an Iceberg
 Which Sank the Titanic

The possibility of peak of rock ex- isting at this place in the ocean becomes apparent to anyone who studies the com tour of mountains on land. Peaks rise abruptly to vast heights and are sur rounded by contrastingly deep valleys. as is evidenced at no farther distance from New York than the Catskills and the Adirondacks. The towering height of storm King on the Hudson. the un- usual depth of the river at that point and the comparatively flat country to the north. to say nothing of co miles to the south, is handy illustration. But this Is nothing compared to the boldness of the water close alongshore in Greenland and in the hords of Norway. boldness which is to some extent duplicated at points on the coast of Nova Scotia Nor Is it unnatural when one views the geog- raphy of North America, to suppose the existence of a chain of occasional peaks rising from the ocean's bottom about as far offshore as the longitude of the Ti- tanic wreck and the Virgin Rocks, espe- cially when it Is remarked that the dis tance from Cape Cod to the Titanic post tion is about the same as from that posi- ton eastward to the Azores and also about the same as fom the Azores to tho coast of Europe.
 Another notable thing is incidentally l made evident in this connection on the United States Photographic office pilot chart for the month of May, This chart shows that while the Titanic position is but a hundred miles or so south of the southern edge of the banks of New foundland. sounding is recorded of only 100 fathoms at distance of some 6o0 miles stll farther east and known as Salnthill Bank, reported in 1S32. It is likewise fa nh teristic of the Virgin Rock, as given in the Photographic office sailing directions. The bank. on which these rocks are situated occupies space only eight miles long in north and south direction and three and a half miles greatest breadth. It Is worth noting that the trend Is north and south. The least depth found on the Virgin Rock is three fathoms. over a small pinnacle on which the sea breaks in heavy weather. From this pinnacle two rocks with four and five and Il half iathoms of water over them. lie respec- lively NNW distant nearly 200 yards and SW one quarter mile distant. These rocks, with surrounding shoal ground of less than 20 fathoms, are comprised with In diameter of about 100 yards, while within a few miles there is a depth of one hundred fathoms. and in the parallel of 43 degrees and meridian of 50 degrees w. the bank falls into deep water Even
 
 intersected by deep gulleys and it would be not at all surprising to discover that the famed depth of two and a half miles somewhere near the Titanic position was in another and incidentally deeper gulley, while a rock upon which she and other ships may have struck rises from the ooea, bed in a smaller area than the 1iO0 yards diameter ofthe Virgin Rock ledges the loss of the Naronc in about the same position, it should be borne in mind that at the time of year of her disaster there was no ice in that locality It was on February H. 1893. that the Naronic left Liverpool and on March {. in latitude 4s' N. longitude 46 w., that the steamer Coventry sighted two of her boats, one Of which was riding to an improyised sea anchor made of oars and spars As was previously remarked In the Nautical Gazette. the prevalence of westerly winds at that time of year might easily have drifted these boats from the Titanic posi- ton of latitude Il. 10, longitude 5sf4 The generally accepted theory of the loss of the Naronic. prior to the discovery of the boats, was owing to the weight of heavy locomotives carried on deck, she had capsized, but this theory was hardly tenabe in view of the fact of her hav- ing been able to launch at least two boats, the occupants of one of which undoubted- ly perished from cold or starvation while riding 10 sea anchor. If the Naronic had struck ledge of rock in the Titanic position, her fate would be most readily accounted for.