EARTHQUAKES AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18567, 27 November 1923, Page 5

EARTHQUAKES AT SEA.

STEAMERS' EXPERIENCE.

OCEAN BED VOLCANOES.

A remarkable story of earthquake shocks felt in Mid-Atlantic, and the impression of them being immediately confirmed by an exchange of wireless messages between vessels 70 miles apart, was reported by Captain C. H. Stott, master of one of the principal vessels of Man Chester Liners. Ltd., the steamship Manchester Brigade. His story was told to the Godlee Observatory, Manchester. Captain Stott's inference when his vessel felt the first of four shocks was that he hjad struck submerged wreckage. This theory, however, had to bo altered, in view of the fact that other shocks followed at intervals, and he began to receive massages from another, steamship on the North Atlantic service, Lady Brenda, whoso skipper, Captain Young, reported a similar experience. Captain Stott said:—During the voyage from Halifax, N.S., to Manchester, 1 felt four earthquake vibrations or shocks. On September 30, at 1.20 (Greenwich mean time), the vessel began to vibrate from stem to stern. This lasted 20 seconds. | Thinking we had struck submerged wrecujige, I was just on the point of stopping the vessel when 'she began to vibrate again, more heavily. This shock lasted about 30 seconds. A little to the north of our position there aro three peaks rising up out of the bed of the ocean. While working out position to send out by wir«lets. 1 received this message iroin s.s. Lady Brenda (1.20 Greenwich mean time), latitude 52.10 north longitude 33.30 west: "Fear struck submerged derelict.—Signed, Young, master, Lady brenda." I sent out a message—" 1.20 Greenwich, latitude 52.42 north, longitude 35.C5 vest. Felt two se-ere shocKr, ca.irtg ship to vibrate heavily. I think must be earthquake shocks." I received another message from Lady Brenda, almost immediately, saving : —" Felt two distinct • .oka; Vessel vibrating heavily for periods of 30 and 10 seconds respectively. Shocks resembled contact submerged wreckage. Must have been earthquakes, as ships in vicmitv report similar experience.—Signed, Young." At 2.07 Greenwich time, a further; shock was felt by Manchester Brigade, but not by Ladv Brrnda. TVn. Nt 11.18 Greenwich, latitude 53.28 north, longitude 31.53 west, a final shock, lasting 10 seconds, was experienced by Manchester Brigade. The depth of the soundings round t';p three peaks at sea bed is from 2200 fathoms to 1300 fathoms. The theory of Mr. W. C. Jenkins, of Godleo Observatory, was that the peaks referred to wire in volcanic activity at the time jf the shocks.