CHAP. IV. ] ST. THOMAS TO BERMUDAS. 261 
young polyps, apparently of Palythoa fatua, were commencing 
the formation of their investing crust at the top of the coil of 
the young specimen, just below the sponge- 
body. 
A sad accident occurred during this dredg- 
ing, which threw a temporary gloom over our 
party, and brought home to us very forcibly 
the critical nature of our work. The large 
iron dredge which we were using in prefer- 
ence to the trawl, the ground being rather 
rough, caught upon a rock or a mass of coral, 
and brought a sudden strain upon the dredge- 
rope; and before the rope could be veered, or 
any other steps taken to relieve the strain, the 
hook of the foremost span was carried away, 
and the leading block which was hooked to 
it flew back and struck William Stokes, one 
of the sailor lads, with such violence that he 
was driven against the ship’s side. His thigh 
was broken in two places, and he was so se- 
riously injured otherwise that he never recov- 
ered consciousness, and died a few hours after- 
ward. He was buried the following day, and, 
singularly enough, just before joining in the py, 69, — Hyalone- 
solemn service which “committed his body — ™@ teres, Wyvintr 
. i ‘ Tuomson. A young 
to the deep,’ we had ascertained that his — specimen, x 2 (No. 
y , 24.) 
grave was in the very deepest spot which had 
ever been fathomed in the ocean. His death is recorded on a 
cross in the crowded little burial-ground in Ireland Island, Ber- 
mudas, with the fitting legend, “In the midst of life we are in 
death.” 
On Wednesday, the 26th of March, we sounded (Station 
XXV.) in lat. 19° 41’ N., long. 65° 7’ W., nearly 90 miles north 
of St. Thomas, in 8875 fathoms. The bottom brought up in 
