260 THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA. 



Its two forces, pulling in opposite directions, assist now and then 

 to disturb the atmospheric equilibrium to such an extent that the 

 most powerful revulsions in the air are required to restore it. 



563. Extra-tropical Gales. — In the extra-tropical regions of 

 each hemisphere furious gales of wind also occur. One of these, 

 remarkable for its violent effects, was encountered on the 24th of 

 December, 1853, about three hundred miles from Sandy Hook, 

 latitude 39° north, longitude 70° west, by the San Francisco, 

 steam-ship (^ 72). That ship was made a complete wreck in a 

 few moments, and she was abandoned by the survivors, after in- 

 credible hardships, exertions, and sufferings. Some months after 

 this disaster, I received by the California mail the abstract log of 

 the fine clipper ship " Eagle Wing" (Ebenezer H. Linnell), from 

 Boston to San Francisco. She encountered the ill-fated steam- 

 er's gale, and thus describes it : 



564. ''December 2Uh, 1853. Latitude 39° 15" north, longitude 

 62° 32' west. First part threatening weather ; shortened sail : at 4 

 P.M. close reefed the top-sails and furled the courses. At 8 P. M. 

 took in fore and mizen top-sails ; hove to under close-reefed main 

 top-sail and spencer, the ship lying with her lee rail under water, 

 nearly on her beam-ends. At 1 30 A. M. the fore and main top- 

 gallant-masts went over the side, it blowing a perfect hurricane. 

 At 8 A. M., moderated ; a sea took away jib-boom and bowsprit- 

 cap. In my thirty-one years' experience at sea, I have never seen 

 a typhoon or hurricane so severe. Lost two men overboard — 

 saved one. Stove sky-light, broke my barometer, &c., &c." 



565. Severe gales in this part of the Atlantic — i. e., on the polar 

 side of the calm belt of Cancer — ^rarely occur during the months 

 of June, July, August, and September. This appears to be the 

 tnne when the fiends of the storm are most busily at work in the 

 West Indies. During the remainder of the year, these extra-trop- 

 ical gales, for the most part, come from the northwest. But the 

 winter is the most famous season for these gales. That is the 

 time when the Gulf Stream has brought the heat of summer and 

 placed it (§ 71) in closest proximity to the extremest cold of the 

 north. And there would, therefore, it would seem, be a conflict 

 between these extremes ; consequently, great disturbances in the 

 air, and a violent rush from the cold to the warm. 



566. In like manner, the gales that most prevail in the extra- 



