TWO MILES DEEP.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12752, 2 May 1912, Page 5

TWO MILES DEEP.

There is a notion that Avhen a vessel is wrecked AA'here the sea is very deep, she does not really sink, but l^Ssnspended betAveen the'Vurface and thcj bottom of the ocean. Among those who shared this belief was the famous ay inter Jules Verne, who, it- Aiill be remenibered, illustrated this idea m his^description of Captain Nemo's ship onusing about among Avrecked vessels that Avere drifting some distance below the sea level. Mr S..H. Barraclough, of the Russell School of "Engineering* at the University of Sydney,, approached on this and other matters connected with the Titanic disaster, scouted the idea. The Titanic would! sink to the bottom, arid if she had any compartments wholly or partly Atiatertig-ht, the tremendous pressure, as she sank deeper, AA'ould cause the complete crumpling of the vessel. The Jtdes Verne theory of a ship drifting some distance below . the surface finds favor Avith some seafaring mcii., but Mr Barraclough's repudiation of it was vp 7 held by Commander .Cockey, R.N., and Captain Hacking, of the Navigation,. Department,' ( Sydney: Speaking on the; subject, the latter said: "The pressure of the AA r ater at any depth would be equally applied on every part of the ship. That is, the pressure, upwards would be counteracted" by the pressure doAvn wards, . and, the attraction of gravity' Avould not be interfered with. The force that Avill sink a piece of iron an inch below the. surface will sink it' a fathom or a mile."