The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-30
the Loss OF the EVENING STAR.
How She Might Have Been Saved.
TO THE EDITOR or TIE HERALD.

This vessel lost of the coast Of Florida about two
hundred miles from tho port Of Fernandina II appears
f.om the testimony Of the mate that the gale CON-
menced blowing from the southeast; then hauled to
and then the northeast after which IL fell almost
dead calm. and then Il came out violently from the
northwest II appears also that the ship was steering
south, and afterwards southwest, and lastly sSw In
order form better idea OF the OF the loss or
this vessel II will be necessary TO truce the probable
direction Of the storm, and this only be done by
sketch Of the coast OF the United States II seems that
the Evening Star first felt the gale when she about
in the latitude Of Charleston the wind being southeast
The ship then steering south; afterwards she
kept away southwest and finally >sw. II seems evi.
dent thar had the vessel been steered east, she
would have avoided the most Of the storm and would
have been out OF It's Influence; by keep
ing her away southwest aud afterwards SS.w. she
inudicously pushed further and further towards the
centre where it was calm. At this time there
tremendous heavy sea- and when the wind again sprung
mp furously from the northwest the ship went driving
into heavy head sea, until she was finally swamped
Every seaman knows what IL IA 10 drive his ship into
heavy head seahow IL shakes and racks it-and also
knows how often whole green seas the bows
vessels would study up the theory OF storms, rs nrst
published BY Mr. W. {; Redned. and afterwards more
deliberately by Colonel Reed, OF the British army, and
more recently by Mr. Pddngton in his Sailors Horn book
think the number Of disasters would be greatly
decreased Tor captain VINO UNDERSTANDS TINS theory
nearly always avoid the strength Of the galen fact
always do so vicinity of land does not prevent him.
This storm passed like wire over the island OF Bermuda,
probably the eastern edge Of It, The western edge
felt at Cape Hatteras rs the United states steamer
Memphis had to run IN for shelter INTO
Hatteras inlet. think II very probable that The
centre Of the storm along on the eastern edge
OF the Gulf stream and IL advanced TO the northward
and eastward expanded as TO embrace larger extent
OF the ocean, wnen as matter Of course, the wind
would become less violent II also probable that this
storm passed the windward West India island and
had its origin somewhere not far from the mouth OF the
river Ornoco or Amazon u lamentabe Just think
that ship captains are VIGOROUSLY ignorant Of this
theory of storms, which Is smpls beautiful, and.
by little study and care, be easily mastered by any
seaman who read and write. think t is the dnty
Of ship owners arsot insurance Offices TO exact know
ledge OF this theory from the captains Of their YES
sells, and TO provide every vessel sailing under tho
American flag with copy OF Pddngtons Sailors Horn
Book. In conclusion, attribute the loss Of the Even
ing Star to the want OF Judgment In steering her into
the Storm instead or out Of IT, which should have been
DONE and would have been done, doubtless, bad ths
captain had any knowledge OF the law OF storms
w. ?. BUCKNER, Lieutenant
ORDNANCE orrIcE, NAVY Yam, y. y, Oct. Is. 1906