New-York tribune., 1841-04-13


WATER Sporrs.-0nc of the and most astounding
phenomena of the Il watcr-spout | have known Il
good many old sailors who had one and those
who hare seen them very materially their accounts
of them Il good fortune. while on passage To
Newt Orleans. remarkable diSpay ot t"-'
ocean wonders than have head or read OF were
living bccalcd between the island of Cuba and the u2nG
Cuinman when heard the captain call oil hands ana
ran lron deck To ascertain the Look !ondrr saio
rho cptain and turning ny head IN the direction o his arIn
saw monsrous column of water, his'ing "hirlns ana
annq and ascending pcrpcndculary from the sea until It's
head lost in the clouds was struck aSha'' u 'ae
ight but recovered my presence oi mind and to en-
iov more con,rcta and better view climbed up 10 the
masthead But had scarcely reached the io-mo' cross
trees when the captain called me TO look ahead ana
turning Ella, direction sa" another enormous
or of water but nearer ship than the a-stern
and Immediately three were fornet TWO on ne ia
board and the sarboar,t side lhey were formed
almost simultaneously and the sight terrible beyond con-
ccpon The clouds looked like the rooto monrouS cavern
Supported by enormous pillars of crystal The rushing OK
the water rs ascendcd into the clouds bore strong rcseu
blanca 10 the narr0wcs part OF the ais oil Niagara he
duration did much exceed seven minutes ana Do
fore had time any Of their Pecullar'ic they griu-
ny lc,c! away Ike cloud of mist and rubbed my eyes,
almost doubling whether had been cheated by spectral
Illusion terrific sight and our danger was eXtremc'
for ha these columns OF water come IN contact WIN
MIR h;n s, would hnvc been pieces like scroll OF
puper II wa, grand marine hal III which We we're en-
closed and the could have shonc upon it, the effect
world have been terribly beautiful But was entirely sat
isGcd and when the clouds swept away ana hshI
breeze once more bore along the bright blue waves
returned thanks more dcvouily for the grand display that
had wi.ncssc1 than for the rcrils had escaped.
Sailors haze the credit being supcrstitous; and the
caus bv tl unhinking attributed to tnct ignorance
but think with great injustice Nature presents herself
to them such and nwc-insprins aspects th'i
should be of especial wonder II they regard hrr
with soberer feelings than do those who mnge but niue
,yith her remember u very remarkable instance OF the
awakening deep and thoughts in the mSd OF sal
or by the sight OF object which land might
haze produced no effect ! making passage IN one
of our IIavre pa .kcts and Sunday afternoon upon
d, X reading lv the gradually failing light Of the setting
sailor passed stopped, and asked me 20
read to him 1t vas the Bible that held in my hand and
| opened it, and rad him the ninth chapter OF Genesis-
And now Jack - said closed the Holy Book, when
YOU see rainbow gan bear mind that God remembers
YOU them though hi may forget at all other times he
hath his bow in the cloud to remind you OF Ills "atch
tulness.'
Thank YOU sir, said Jack " will bear in mind"
The next morning happened upon deck just alter
the had risen. IT ca m and cloudy ana presently
glorious rainbow spanncd the whole heavens and was ds
t!ncv reflected in the bosom ot the ocean, As soou Sal
inc upon the bright yison, heard same body exciaim
see it see it and turning round, perceived the sailor
whom had read the chapter from the boe standing oy
my side absolutely pale, ard ,romoIng From e most 9
fame man the ship he became the most quiet ana uu'
From degraded po.on society he soon rose to stato
of honor and usefulness. Afer our arrival at port JOSE
iehr Of him for wear and probably should have or
him altogether, nai ne iot suIPiIs'' nv
by call He was now Mr. H; and in his new charac
ter could hardly recognize the reckless and a1aha"i
Jack Tan had known the ocean he ','rIouru ue ~
tr, change that had place in his feelings 10 t &c
ou bow of promise which first awoke in MS mind feei'ng
OF for his Maker hn'eAeto'eNe' '"' 'p'l-
rrxcru OF Miles IL DIFFERENT CoCSrnlEs.-There 10
.ar.a Greater yarictv in any thing, than in this kind Of
measure Not only those Of separate COZ countries ier az the
French from the English bur those OF the same country vary
- b different provinces and all commonly from the stand
ard Thus the common English mile differs from the statute
nile and the French have three sorts Of leagues here ol-
low t miles of several countries compared with the Englsh
by I5e l Eagih statute mile consists Of $3.50 feet 1860 yards,
Or iurongs. .
The Turkish. Italian and old Roman lesser mile nearly
The Arabian ancient and modern is about and one
esc6tch and Irish miles i, about and onchnlf English
The Indian i almost English
The Dutch Spanish and Polish Is about 3 English
The German Is than English
5ha Ijsf6 and about TO +
iish r.rr.b
The Epgis -rine league English nles