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Leader (1850-1860), 20th August 1853, Edition Town of 2, Page 800, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      to proceed to Cape St . Roque , and then to cross the ocean a third time before they could reach the Cape of Good Hope , making a zig-zag , and crowing the Atlantic three times . Now , by the investigation of the subject of the winds on the outward and homeward routes , he discovered the space which he had before mentioned ; and he concluded that in this space the winds were the same in going out and in coming home . - Accordingly , he recommended ' vessels to take the middle or new route . The W . S . C . W rigU , of Baltimore , Jackson , master , was the first vessel that had the courage to take the new route . The average passage to the Equator being then 41 days , Captain Jackson made it in 24 . He went to Hip and back in little more than the usual time occupied in going . This fact called the

      attention of American navigators to the subject , and enabled Lieutenant Maury to proceed with his investigations . It enabled him to enlist the voluntary cooperation of shipmasters , who furnished him with an abstract log of the daily position of the ship ; of the prevailing direction of the wind for each of the three parts of the twenty-four hours into which sailors were accustomed to divide the day ; the height of the barometer , the state of the thermometer , and any remarks which it might have occurred to them to make touching the winds and the waves , and the general course of navigation . By these means he soon had a volunteer corps of a thousand American ships co-operating with him in all parts of the ocean , and furnishing him with the most valuable statistics .

      The results of these investigations have been very striking . By their means the average passage from the United States to the Equator has been reduced from a mean of forty-one to a mean of . about twentyseven days . Since the investigations were first commenced , the passage has been done in as short a time as seventeen days and a few hours . It was soon found that the early charts did not give information enough .

      Accordingly , another system of investigation was commenced , in which the ocean was divided into spaces of five degrees square , five degrees of latitude , and five of longitude . Taking the log-books , Lieutenant Maury co-ordinated the results , showing what vessels had reported to be the prevailing direction of the wind for each eight hours of the twenty-four . In some cases he had a thousand observations for a whole year ; in others , he had two thousand in a single month . Of course he "

      then had the means of presenting a pretty fair average of the prevailing direction of the wind in that part of the ocean and in that month of the year to which the returns applied . Among other things that he learnt was the fact that in a particular part of the ocean during winter or spring the wind was never found to blow from the westward or the northward . The American Government , anxious to collect and publish , for the benefit of commerce , all the results of these observations , have supplied their own mercantile marine with charts on the new principle , on condition that they should return an abstract log , properly kept and at the proper time . By a recent regulation , the American Government p laces British shipmasters on the same footing with American captains .

      Illustrating the uses of this systematic observation , Lieutenant Maury told a ntory , showing how whales have guided the search for Sir John Franklin . Some time ago ho requested the American whaling masters to furnish him with their journals . With these journals ho divided the ocean into squares of five degrees each ; and ho had the map so arranged that he could tell how many days in each month of the year vessels spent' in any particular spot of tho ocean in looking for whales ; how many days they had aeen snenn whules , and how many days they had seen right whales ; by which means ho was enabl ed to sec very clearly what

      parts of tho ocean were most frequented by whales , mid what parts of it , at various periods of the year , aMbrdcd tho best hunting grounds . It turned out that there was ji belt of 2500 miles in breadth , going right round the world , in which tho right whale was never neon . The right whale could never cross the tropics ; and , in the opinion of n whaler who hud boon on both sides , the right whale of tho North Pacific , and tho right whale of Greenland wan one and the ouino animal , the inferences being that at Home period of tho year there must be n water communication from one to tho other

      through tho Arctic wcas . At that period the nympathieH of all the world were keenly alivo to tho fate of Sir John Franklin and bin companions . Tho fact of tho wlmlcH on cither side being considered identical , led to an important discovery . Taking up the -Blender duo which those dumb creufcurcH hud , us it were , placed in his hands , tho Secretary of tho American Navy directed Lieutenant Do Haven , tho commander of the American expedition in Heiuv . h of Sir John Franklin , to go up tho Wellington HtruitH , and when there to look to tho north-west for an open » oa passage . Lieutenant Do Haven mid Captain Penny , and other ** , wont there ,

      found the passage , and came home and reported it ; and the world was indebted in a great measure to the whales for that discovery . The statements embodying these facts were received by the British merchants with respect and lively attention . One gentleman having remarked that these were jealous times as between nations , and that jealousy would perhaps interfere with the attainment of the

      object , Lieutenant Maury said— " I admit that the times are jealous , but must remind the gentleman that England and the United States ' are now jealous for good works . ( Loud cheers . ) I believe the British Government will be disposed to share with that of the United States the honour of these investigations ; and I shall be most happy to see the two nations entering into a rivalry which is likely to be attended with such good results . " ( Cheers . )

      Untitled Article

      THE LOST ABAB SHIP . The outward English mails for Bombay were brought to Aden by the AJdaha , which reached that place in a shattered condition , her rudder being almost rotten . Under these circumstances , an Arab ship called the ' Fazl Kereem , which had , a few days before , arrived from Jiddah with a cargo of salt and pilgrims bound to Singapore , was engaged by the political agent to carry the mails to Bombay . It ? s not known whether she was properly surveyed before the engagement was entered into , but as no veto was placed upon the native commander against taking freight from Aden , he took an additional large cargo front that port , so that when she put to sea she was deep in tlie water , and carried in crew and pilgrim passengers 191 persons . The Jlindos tan , as above stated , arrived from Suez on the 12 th , coaled , and left on the 13 th ; but there heing no steamer to tow out the T ? azl Kereem , she remained in harbour till the evening of the 13 th , when , a favourable wind occurring from the north-east , she made Bail and got clear of Cape Aden . Mr . Hankins was sent in charge of the mails . He was an acting master in the Indian navy , the son of an English clergyman , and was supplied with a chronometer to aid the native commander in the navigation of the vessel . ,

      The Fazl Kereem left in one of those storms called by the Arabs a " Shamaul , " which , bring with them clouds of dust , completely filling the atmosphere , and making everything look gloomy and desolate . On sailing out of the harbour several of her sails were riven by the wind—a sad presage of the fate which awaited that unfortunate ship ! Many were the predictions in Aden that she would never reach her destination , for , even if she weathered the sea , it was firmly believed she would fail to make Bombay in her course * "" Some of the Aden residents so much anticipated an accident that they chose to send their letters to Bombay by the Ilindostan , via Galle , and others detained them for a future and more promising opportunity . Only eleven out of one hundred and ninety-one souls have lived to tell the fate of their doomed companions . Threo of these have reached Aden , two pilgrims and a

      Lascar , and they state that on the morning after the ship left Aden , when she was only about twenty miles distant from , that port , it was discovered that there were six feet of water in tho hold . This alone , with an under cargo of salt , was sufficient to call forth tho energy , and perhaps to baffle tlve stalwart strength , of British seamen ; but the crew wore poor miserable natives , and the passengers were chiefly Mussulmans , whose wretched doctrine of fatalism robbed thorn of their natural power , Tho witnesses speak most strongly of tho efforts of poor Mr . Hankins , who urged tho men to stand to tho pumps and to clear the longboat ; but it was all in vain . Tho spring butt ( which appears to have been tho cause of tho disaster ) gave admittance to tho water , little or no effort was made to stay the progress of tho drowning element , and jn a few hours the vessel filled and wont down bodily .

      Untitled Article

      A YACHT RACE . A SriRiT-STiiuiiNa contest took place at the Royal Yacht Squadron Regatta on Wednesday . This day was appropriated to the race for Her Majesty ' s Cup , value 100 / ., for schooners belonging to tho club under 200 tons , the course being tho same as that for his Royal Highness Princo Albert ' s Cup—viz ., from tho Club House to Yarmouth , from thonco to tho Nab-Light , and back to tho station-vessel moored off West Cowcs Castle . Tho following schooners contested : — Yachta . Tons . Owners . Gloriana 13 < t Mr . Joseph Goo ... Red and Whito . Shark ir >{) Mr . W . Curling ... Bluo Peter . Vikinjf 110 Major A . SLirling ... liluo . Only threo camo to tho post , in consequence of a deficiency in tho crew of tho Irene . Tho day wns delightfully fine , presenting a remarkable contrast to thut of yesterday , with n smart breeze blowing from tho north-went . When all was in readiness for the start , scarcely before the flag No . 2 , hoisted at th 6 head of the » ignal-post of the Club House , had time to get fairly unfurled , at hiilf-past ton , the gun was fired ,

      the < ll . ori . ana taking a good lead , the Viking following her at about a enble ' a-lonpjth distance , and tho Shark about the samo distance astern . Tho tide now running down , they were soon well away , and they made good their run down tho western Channel . At llh . llm ., on getting abreast of Gurnet Bay , the ( Mariana , who now hold an excellent wind , wns about n mile ahead of tho Viking , with about half thut distance between her and tho Shark . Tho mark-boat at Yarmouth wn » rounded in the following order : —«

      h » at .. ip . : Gloriana 11 31 0 Viking ; . ............ 11 42 30 Shark 11 43 15 The vessels now had to beat up against a flood tide with the wind , however , in their favour . Subsequently the wind very considerably dropped , and the Shark having gradually been creeping Upon her rivals , suq j deeded , on passing Cowes Castle , in taking the lead of the Gloriana , and came abreast of the mark-boat half a minute before her . The following was the time of their arrival : — -.

      H . M . . Shark 1 47 0 Gloriana .......... 1 47 30 Viking ............... ............. 1 50 0 The vyarmesfc acclamations greoted . the .-Shares on her arrival at this point , and ardent were the congratulations of her friends ; but she had not long passed from abreast of the Club-house when the Gloriana began gradually to draw upon her , and before she had reached Old Castle Point the Gloriana had left her afe a respectful distance in her wake . Passing the No

      Man Buoy , the Nab Light , and in returning to the No Man Buoy there was no change , the Gloriana still taking the lead . When off Old Castle Point the Shark made a long tack to the northward ( the Gloriana being then nearly half a mile to the windward ) , and caught a strong wind to the north-west , which brought her up nearly alongside the Gloriana before the latter vessel felt the breeze . An interesting and capital race took place from this point , which terminated in favour of the Gloriana by forty seconds only . The following was the time of arrival as given officially by the club : —

      H . M . 8 . Gloriana ......... 6 35 0 Shark ................. 6 35 40 .- ¦ "¦ Viking ..... 6 48 0 The Viking and the Shark are both new vessels , the latter having been built by Mr . Worrell , of Poole , and is considered to be a specimen of naval architecture . The present is her first match ; and , from her sailing to-day , gives promise that , as soon as her trim is pro ^ perly ascertained , she will rank as a clipper of no gmall or mean pretensions . The Gloriana , which at the time this was written was the leading vessel , had the good fortune to win her Majesty ' s Cup at this regatta last year .

      The American builders have sent a distinguished competitor to this year ' s regatta . It is the new American clipper Sylvie , whose fame has long since preceded her arrival on the English shores . As she now lies in the Solent , viewed from the beach , her hull does iu a great measure resemble her prototype , the noted America , but is unlike her in other respects , being cutterrigged , with an immense breadth of beam , and carries a false or dropping keel . This enables her in light weather to draw but very little water , but if occasion requires her to stand under a very heavy press of canvass , then she can drop her keel for tho time , and gain all the advantages which it will effect . This keel can be lowered about 15 feet . Her tonnage is 105 tons , hor

      mast 82 feet long , 72 feet boom ; from the end of tho bowsprit to the mast 50 feet , and tho jib-boom 18 feet out . The length of her deck is 80 feet ; beam , 21 feet six inches ; depth , 7 feet ; and draft of water , 6 \ feet aft , and 3 | feet at tho fore . According to the statements of tho American papors , hor owner , Mr . Louis Depau , a gentleman of family and fortune , is willing to tost her siiiling qualities with anything in Europe , not excepting the renowned America , for an amount of money , or for the honour o £ the American nag . The now Swedish wondor , the Aurora JHorealis , is now lying in tlieso roads , and it is tho opinion of some of p \ io beat judged in hucIi matters , that with a breeze there is nothing on tlieso waters thnt can " take tho wind out of her /'

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      HUSBAND AND WIFE . The Honourable Mm Norton , writer of many popular fictions , is separated from her husband , tho Mag istrate of Lambeth Police Court . Soino tradesmen , who oxocuted carriage repairs for tho lady ( in 1843 , and from thence to 1850 ) , instituted u nuit against tho husband to recover tho amount . They summoned tho wife to givo evidence as to tho debt , and to tho liability of the husband . Mrs . Norton was thus compelled to appro" in court ; and there ensued a partial expoauro of tho circumstances of her position . On tho " separation" in 1880 , her husband , it wlS arranged , nhould allow her < LOOZ . ii year . This annuity ww irregularly paid ; and another agreement for an allowum-fl of 500 / . n ' year was made in 1848 . Hut . that annuity W' 3 beou stopped , and Mrs . Norton , inconsequence , 1 ) HB " " como involved in debtn amounting' to over wix bun i " pounds , ono of which is tho debt for enrrintfo xepav " Tliono trndenmon , " said Mrs . Norton to tho M' 1 ^" ( into , " lmvo a right to their money ; and it I »» " * day that my husband ^ is onabjocl to escape in ft co

      Untitled Article

      800 THE LpADER . CSAawiUJA *; I >' -- ? B . ¦ ' ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ' . ¦ ¦ ' ' | j—^^^ N * I Hi » ' I— ¦ **^» '^ l' * * " ¦ —¦¦¦¦ . ^*^»* il ¦¦— ¦ HJMIIMI I — ¦ i ... ...

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 20, 1853, page 800, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2000/page/8/