Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-04-03
From the New Albany Tribune.
Waterspouts---A True Sketch.
BY A "SALT.'

/ Every Tcauer Has, no uOupt, seen Qc-
scription on paper of these singular phe-
nomena, but few, even of those who ego
down to the sea in ships" have been so for
tunate-or unfortunate-as to obtain a near
view of them i'apropia persona. When seen
at distance, they present the appearance
of volume of water poured from heavy
cloud which assumes the appearance, and
takes upon itself, the Office of tunnel
The ocean, at the point where the column
of water strikes it, is lashed into foam,
which, against dark horizon, may be seen
at distance of miles. Impelled, seem
ingly, by an upper current of air, they
move along the surface of the water, when
not cats paw can be discerned to ruff1e
the CLASSY mirror of the deep. When too
near to be welcome neighbors, the curious
connection between sea and sky may be
broken by discharge Of cannon, or even
of musket, as will appear in the incident
] am about to narrate will not pre-
sumo to speculate on their cause-oi
their effect l can speak somewhat know
ingly.
Several opportunities had been offered me
of seeing water spouts at a distance, and
the wish for nearer view was, perhaps
natural, though l mnst confess to rather an
uneasy feeling when it was unexpectedly
gratifed. The good ship, of whose crew
| formed an unit, was at the time, cruising
for whales in the vicinity of the Gallipago
Islands, lying on the cline" in the Pacific
Ocean. Being fright whaler," our ener-
gies were mainly directed to the destruc-
ton of the mighty denizens of the far
northern regions. We had toied hard
through months of cOld dreary weather, in
the attitudes where the changes of day and
night occur but semi-occasionallv, and
were now on sort of rowing commission
in more genial climes, ready to snap up any
stray sperm whale providence might cast
in our way.
1t Glanced to be my s'trick" at mast
head at four bells Go o'clock of a beauti-
full calm forenoon. The sky was clear over
head, and though heavy black clouds, evi-
IDENTIFY charged with moisture, were hang
ing around the horizon. none of them show
ed an inclination to wiring out in our neigh
borhood. Whales were decidedly scarce
Since "stowing down" the greasy part OF
fourwhich we had picked out of a ''school'
on the coast of California a month previ-
Gus, the watchful mast-heads had been un-
able to "raise" "single blow" to vary the
monotony of the scene. The exerton of
holding ones head erect for two long hours
is by no means insignificant, particularly
in sleepy weather, unless there are induce
ments sufficient to warrant such an outlay
of muscular effort So contented myself
with an occasional glance across the water
and around the horizon, and directed nv
chief attention to the more interesting
scene on deck, where the "watch" were
busily engaged in the details of the man.
ufacture of different fancy articles from the
ivory tusks of the walrus, plentiful sup
ply of which we had procured during our
cruise in the neighborhood Of Behring' S
Straits. My attention was suddenly direct
ed to a sort of Kissing noise apparently on
our larboard beam, but though l scanned
every foot of water within view | could
see nothing out of the common order of
things.
l was growing deeply interested in the
movements of the turning lathe on deck,
when the same curious noise, now palmer
than before, assured me that something un-
usual was agitating the surface of the wa
ter in that direction. My careful glance at
elength discovered little "white water
about mile off, four points on our larboard
bow. My first impression was that it was
caused by "school" Of black fish, and
was evidently nearing us, concluded to
satisfy myself before disturbing the occu-
pations Of the iron workers on deck. The
kissing noise grew plainer--the white wa
ter came nearer, until it was scarcely IA
quarter of a mile off, but still could make
nothing of it. At length happening to cast
my eyes upward, what was my astonish-
ment-I may as well say terror--to behold
a single black cloud, nearly overhead, moth
ing formidable in size, but fearfully black,
and from its under surface pedent the ON
inous tunnel. There was no need of a
second look--here was an incipient water
spout, by this time only few cables length
from the ship, and coming directly upon
us. could plainly distinguish the agitated
surface of The water whirled round as
though acted on by violent circular cur
rent of air. / hcsitated no longer to use
my lungs. There Is water spout form
ing, close aboard, on our larboard bow" |
shouted to the mate who was putting the