Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-02-02
The Watersnont.

10 Inc same class with the rotating and pro-
crossing pillar of sand, that singular pheno-
menon called the tcaterspout clearly belongs,
a whirlwind raising into columnar mass the
waters of the sea, and causing the aqueous va
pOrs in the atmosphere to assume the same
form, the two frequently uniting, the whole
presents magnificent spectacle.
The Greeks applied the term Prester to the
watersPont, which signifies fiery fluid, from
It's appearance being generally accompanied
with flashes of lightning, and sulphureous
smell, showing the activity of the electrical
principle in the air. Lucretus refers to it in
the following terms =
Hence, with much ease, the meteor may we trace
Termed, from its essence, Prester by the Greeks,
That oft from heaven wide hovers 1ar the deep
Like vast column, gradual from the Skies
Prone DER the waves, descends it the vexed tide
Boiling amain beneath its mighty whiSI,
And with destruction the stoutest ship
Threatning that dares the bOstrous scene approach
Wa:ersPOu,s exhibit various aspects, but
frequent appearance mas been thus described,
- - ""o ONSH OOoOANOu at sea- OUu6T d U6nSe
cloud, circular area Of the ocean, in diameter
from 100 TO 100 yards, shows great dstur-
bance, the water rushing toward The centre Of
the agltated mass, from whence it rises in
spiral manner towards the clouds, assuming
trumpet shape with the broad end downward
Al the same time, the clond assumes similar
form, but the position of The cone is inverted.
and its lower extremity or apex, gradually
nnites with the upper extremity Of the ascend
ing column Of water. AT The point Of iunc-
ton, the diameter is not more than two or three
feet. There is thus column Of water and
vapor formed extending from The sea TO the
cloud, Thin in the middle, and broad at the two
extremities, the sides of which are dark, which
gives II the appearance of hollow tube. 1t
moves with the wind, and even n calm wealth
er, when no wind is perceptible, the position
shifts. Sometimes the spout preserves the
perpendicular IN its motion, but frequently
from the wind not acting with equal force upon
its upper and lower eztremities, or the one be-
ing more susceptible of impulsioB than the
other it assumes an inclined position, and the
column is speedily rnptured by the unequal We
locity of its parts. A few minutes suffice in
general for the duration Of the phenomenon,
but several have been known 10 continue for
near an hour. Instances Of repeated disrnp-
tion and formation have been witnessed, and in
the Mediterranean. as many as sixteen water
spouts have been observed at the same time
The mariners of former days were accustomed
to discharge artillery at these moving columns,
to accelerate thcfr fail, fearful Of their ships
being crossed BY them. and sunk or damaged
practice alluded 10 by FaIconer in The opening
Of the second canto Of The Shipwreck but
the principal danger arises from the wind blow
ing in sudden gnsts in their vicinity, from all
points Of the compass, sufficient to capsize
small vessels carrying nhnch sail. Wafer
spOnts on land are not uncommon, and in this
case there is no ascending column Of water, but
only descending inverted cone Of vapor.-
Vivid flashes Of lightning frequently issue from
thefs, and deluges Of rain attend their disrup-
tfon. a remarkable spout appeared and burst
on Emott moOt, near Coin in Lancashire, in
the year t7Is, about mile distant from some
laborets digging peat, whose attention was
directed to it by hearing an unusual noise in
the air. Upon leaving the spo. in alarm, they
found small ripping stream converted into
roaring food, though no rain had fallen on the
moor and al the immediate scene Of action,
the earth had beer swept away To- the depth Of
seven feet, the naked rock appeared, and an
excavation had been made in the ground by the
force of the water dischargfng from the spout,
upwards of half mile in length.