New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-10-23
A storm at Sea,
I'M srEANsnIr LEGO EN 4 CYCLONE.

Mr.. Cassidy, Of the Albany Argus, who arrived
from Europe in the AraEo on Saturday, thus
graphically describes furious storm with which
the steamer had to baLtie
"We were six days out, when cyclone caught |
us under one of its wings, and sent us whirling.
The constant wind had raised the sea into full
motion before the gale came on, which dashed it
into rage. II we had cOntendad face to face with
it, we would have caught some severe blows, but
our captain put the vessel into the trough Of the
sea, and though she rocked fearfuly she rode
safely and moved apace on her course
6 AS We iabored in the valley OF waters the
whole ocean TO the horizon lifted itself up, and
above its level rose the ascending wave to fall
again ANA rise again upon the other side. We
hung aud swaycd like pendulum. There was a
Niagara on each side Of u.s. and another pouring
its green waters aud scattering its spray at our
stern. There was fascination in the scene,
which the Slight ingredient of danger perhaps ad-
ded to. Fortunately it lasted only about twelve
hours, though when the wind abated the sea still
rolled, and the ship labored in her course. All
next day the vessel tossed and pitched, and the
bright sun, which had lightened the scene disap-
peared. The rain drove US into our cabins, and
the day was one Of discomfort; till the night
rocked US in our uneasy cradle to unpleasant
dreams
The day passed silently and sadly. The south
east wind gave US rain, and once or twice little
furry Of snOw--a phenomenon which had pre-
coded the gale Of Tuesday. We had two or
three captains on board, who, as well as our
own commander. saw mischief in tae aspect of
the heavens. The barometer fell suddenly an
inch or more. If there is not a storm and a
rousing one, said one of them, there is no use
for barometer, and you had better throw it
overboard But the barometer right in its
warnings; and the wind which, by this time, had
nearly boxed the whole compass veered to the
northwest, and came upon US with the suddenness
of q simeon. The little sail we were under was
taken in in time. 1t came on, as the sailors say,
%butt end foremost and for four hours the Arago
went through tempest such as 1t never before en-
cOuntered. The roll, as she was put in the trough
of the sea, was bad enOngh but once in while
she encountered sea that shook the vessel, and
made every timber in her strong frame tremble
and quiver 1t was dark. The wind which, in
the previous gale, had sung through the shrouds,
sounding like plaintive voices calling for help,
now shrieked angriy and ii hoarse threats. The
darkness was absolute; and as the waves broke
against the sides of the vessel, the air filled
with the scattered waters--the spoondritt,' as it
is caed-and one could not see across the vessel.
Waves do not rise mountains high except in
newspaper paragraphs andnautical novels written
by landsmen. The highest unbroken waves we
estimated at from Is to SO feet in height. But
when they dash against the sides or bow, the top
breaks off and surges over wheelhouse and bridge
and over smOke-stack, and falling, sweeps along
the deck whole hogsheads full at once. The
weight, too, is immense; and when a long and
heavy wave strikes broadside against the vessel
it is as Of hammer of 100 tons had been let
drive at it. It smashes iron work. and snaps
asunder the strongest bands of steel. Luckily the
storm was brief, and ddIts worst in the beginning.
If it had been protracted much longer, the ship
couln not nave sGoou 1t. as II ""5 M, n"fui9 d
pounIos worm Of aalnage was as onne, dne STEPS
on tne Wheelhouse we're TORN gu ~ an asGenang
wave. Some iron bolts that held the boats were
snapped asuader. one OF our se sec ; pas
senGefs, tossed across tne aeek, naa ms rio.
broken; out, win these exceptions, we roae oul
the storm triaMpGantly me passengers were
variously affected, but on the whole behaved ad
mira anyilpatt.calahrly the ladies'; Ihey we're ear
S -l> puS st,etiU 0iu "p9oa "0 ois
two boisterous fellows, whom we had mistaken
1or dareaeViis' LOOK 10 lfantie lamentations anc