NOTES ON SABLE ISLAND—-MACDONALD. I9 
calm. A few short gusts at first break this period of tranquility, 
and in a few minutes the hurricane bursts again from the oppo- 
site quarter. The darkness is still intense, relieved only by the 
red glare of the lightning, which is quickly followed by the 
crashing of the thunder, as it strives to be heard above the 
howling of the blast. Gradually the storm ceases, the clouds 
break and pack away in dense black masses to leeward, and the 
sea alone retains its wild tumult. 
During such a tempest in 1811, thousands of tons of sand 
were carried from the beach—some from one side and some from 
the other, as the gale shifted—and strewn over the island, so 
that vegetation was nearly smothered, hundreds of horses 
died for want of food, and the outlines of the Island completely 
changed. Sand-hills that had formed land-marks were tumbled 
into the sea, and mountains piled where once were valleys ; 
recent wrecks disappeared, and others brought to view of which 
there is no history. 
It is interesting to note that while in several places in 
Great Britain they are at present making many and successful 
experiments in the way of lessening the dangers of harbour 
approach by pouring oil on the troubled waters, the utility of 
this has been demonstrated at this Island nearly 40 years ago, 
and although the superintendent, Capt. DarBy, gave every pub- 
licity to the circumstances, and pointed out its advantages, we 
have little evidence of it being adopted until the last few years. 
As this oil theory is attracting so much attention of late, 
in Liverpool and other places, I will give you, in a condensed 
form, Capt. DarBy’s report of the saving of Capt. Hicerns and 
his crew, as follows : 
“On the 19th of September, 1846, the Government schr. 
“Daring,” commanded by my eldest son, came to the Island for 
the purpose of conveying to Halifax the crew and materials of 
the wreck of the ship “ Detroit,” lately stranded there with her 
crew and passengers; also the crew of the schooner “Lady Elcho,” 
lately stranded there. We got the schooner down the north side 
to the wreck of “ Detroit,’ about ten miles to the eastward of 
head-quarters, and commenced shipping her materials, and the 
work went on with vigour andalacrity. The day was moderate, 
