Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-05-11
WATER SPOITTS

One OF the rarest and most astounding
phenomena OF the sea is wafer spout
| have known good many old sailors who
bad never seen one; and those who have
seen them, vary very materially in their
accounts Of them, 1t was my good for
tune, while on passage to New Orleans
10 witness more remarkable display Of
these ocean wonders than ever read or
heard of We wsre lying becol.rod be
tween the Islands Of Cuba and the grand
Cumman, when heard the Captain call
all hands; and ran up on deck to ascer-
tam the cause. - Look yonderp said the
captain; and turning my head in the direc-
ton OF his arm, saw monstous column
o. water, kissing, whring and foaming,
and ascending perpendicularly from the
sea until its head was lost in the clouds.
| was struck agnast at the sight; but soon
recovered my presence Of mind, and to en-
joy more complete and better view,
climbed up TO the masthead. But scarce
~ reached the topmast cross-trccs, when
the Captain called out TO me 10 look ahead
and turning my eyes in that direction,
saw another enormous pillar Of water, but
nearer to our ship than the one a-stern;
and immodiatcl y three more were formed,
two on the larboard and one on the star
board side. They were formed amos, 81
muItaneously, and the sight was terrible
beyond conception. The clouds looked
like the root of some monstrous cavern
supported by enormous pillars OF crystal.
The rushing of the water as il assembled
into the clouds bore strong resemblance
to the narrowest part Of Niagara Falls
Their duration did not exceed six or seven
minutes; and before had time 10 note
any Of their pecuiarities, they gradually
melted away like cloud of mist, and |
rubbed my eyes, almost doubling whether
had not been cheated by spectral iIlu-
sion. 1t was terrific sight, and our dan
ger was extreme; for had one Of these COL
umns come in contact with our ship, she
would have been rent in pieces like a scroll
Of paper. 1t was a grand marine hall in
which we were enclosed, and if the sun
could have shone upon it, the effect would
have been terribly beautiful. But | wss
entirely satisfied; and when the clouds
were swept away, and a light breeze once
more bore as along over the bright blue
waves, returned thanks more devouty
for the grand display that | had witnessed
than for the periIs had escaped.
Sailors have the credit Of being super
stitious; and the cause, by the un,hinking. |
is attributed TO their ignorance; but, think |
with great injustice. Nature presents her
self to them IN such STANCE aud awe-in-
spring aspects that il should not be mat
ter Of especial wonder if they regard her
with soberer feelings than do tbo-e who
mlngle but little with her. remember a
very remarkable instance OF the ava
kening of deep and serious thoughts in
the mind Of a sailor, by the sight of an OF
ject at sea, which on land might have
produced no effect. | was making a
passage on one Of the Havrc packets, and
one Sunday afternoon sat upon deck,
reading by the gradually falling light OF
the setting sun. A sailor passed near me
stopped, and asked me to read to him. 1t
was the Bible that held in my hand; and
opened i; and read 10 him the ninth chap