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, arid 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 24:t7i, 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 
time 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- 
