INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. ea be 
make our usual speed. At 3:05 p.m. we emerged from Goleta’s Chan- 
nel, steamed out into the Pacific, encountering light westerly winds and 
smooth sea. The weather was clear overhead, but misty about the 
horizon, obscuring the land. . 
Everything worked smoothly during the night and following day, 
and a gentle breeze from SW. enabled us to carry fore and aft sail. 
At 4:20 p. m., August 7, the port high-pressure piston broke, disabling 
that engine. The starboard one was uninjured and would drive the 
vessel between 4 and 5 knots per hour, dragging the port propeller; 
but it would be difficult to maneuver under. favorable conditions, and 
in heavy weather the vessel would be nearly helpless. In view of the 
fact that there were no machine shops at Unalaska or any facilities for 
making repairs, the ship was immediately headed for Port Townsend, 
the nearest place affording the necessary appliances. The cylinder 
head was taken off as soon as practicable, and the broken piston was 
found lying in fragments at the bottom of the cylinder. The piston rod 
was bent, and there was a small scratch on the internal surface of the 
cylinder, but not of sufficient depth to do any damage. The low-pres- 
sure cylinder was uninjured, so the high-pressure engine was discon- 
nected, and about three hours after the accident both propellers were 
working and, with the assistance of sail, the vessel was making nearly 
her usual speed. The accident happened in latitude 52° 45’ N. and 
longitude 136° 56’ W., 649 miles from Port Townsend. We encoun- 
tered fog as soon as we approached the coast, but the sea remained 
comparatively smooth and we carried our fair wind into the Straits of 
Fuea, arriving at Port Townsend at 11:17 a. m., August 11. 
Pog signal at Cape Flattery.—An incident in connection with the Cape 
Flattery fog signal is worthy of mention. A dense fog prevailed as 
we approached the Cape, and an anxious watch was kept for the 
sound of the whistle, which was finally heard distinctly at a distance 
of 5.0or G6miles. Our course led us in the direction of the sound, but 
it continued to grow fainter, until at Duncan Rock, 1 mile away, it 
ceased to be heard, except at long and irregular intervals, and-then so 
faintly that it would hardly have been noticed. There can be no pos- 
sible question as to our distance from the whistle, as we made Duncan 
Rock ahead not more than a quarter of a mile away. Going on up the 
straits, the sound increased in volume and regularity, and ata distance 
of 6 miles was still distinctly audible. We have observed this phe- 
nomenon on two previous occasions, but failing to sight Dunean Rock 
were not absolutely certain of our distance from it. Other vessels have 
met with the same experience, usually attributing it to a temporary 
lack of steam. There are two or three small rocky islets lying between 
the whistle and Duncan Rock, allless than a quarter of a mile from the 
former, and, although low and insignificant in appearance they may 
have something to do with the deflection of the sound of the whistle 
from the direction of the latter. 
