The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-10-26
A STORI~AT SEA.
The Steamship Arago in a Cyclone.


Mr. Cassidy, of the Albany Argus, who
arrived from Europe in the Arago on Sat
urlay, thus graphically y describes a furious
storm with which the steamer had to bat
tie:
eve 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 lushed it into rage. If we
| had contendea face to face with it we world
have caught some severe blows, but the
captain put the vessel into the trough Of the
sea, and though she rocked ftaltu!ly she
rode safely and moved apace on her course.
AS We laborcd in this valley Of waters
the whole ocean to the horizon lifted itself
up, and above its level rose the ascending
wave to fall again, and rise again upon the
other side. We hung and swayed like
pendulum. There was Niagara on each
side Of US, and another pouring its green
waters and scattering its spray at our stern.
There was a. fascination in the scene, which
the slight ingredient OF danger added to. =
Fortunately it lasted only about twelve
hours, though when the wind abated the
sea still rolled, and the ship labored in her
pitched, and the bright sun which had
li2htened the scene Disappeared The rain
drove us into the 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
southeast wind gave us rain, and once or
twice little furry of snow-a phenomenon
which had preceded the gale Of Tuesday,
N n hnI tv-n bno 81
who, as well as our own commander, saw
mischief in the aspect fthe heavens The
barometer fell suddenly an inch or more
1T there Is not q storm, and Il rOuSing 0ne,'
said one Of them, there is no use for ba-
rometer and you had better throw it over
board But the barometer was right In its
warnings; and the wind which, by this
time, had nearly boxed thc whole compass,
veercd to the northwest, and came upon us
with the suddenncsS OF a simeon. The little
sail we We're under was taken in in time. 1t
came on, as the sailors say, butt end fore
most, and for tOur hours the Arago went
through a tempest such as 1t never before
encountered. The roll, as she was put in
the trough of the sea, was bad enough; but
once III Il while she Encountered sea that
shook the vessel, and made every timber in
her strong frame tremble and Guiver. 1t
was dark. The wind which in ,he preyious
gale had sung through the ,hrouds. sound
inc like plaiotiyo voices in the distance
ealing for HELM, now shriel,c1 anor;Iv and
in hoarsc threats. The darkness was Also,
lutte. and As the waves LroFe anainst the
siles Of Tho vassnl The oir vas ALA with
the scattered waters-the ssnoon.drift' as
# IS caIjc3-and one conld not see across
the vessel Waves Do not ,isc mountains
high, cxccnt in ncwsnaner naraoranhs and
nanticaI nnveis wilton hv jandSmcn The
h;nhcst unbrolcn waves We estimated ar
from t,ronty,fiyn 70 ,birtv fcnt in hi@Lt ~
nIt vhen thar I,sh aTainst the .i,Ics or
how. The ton brSaks off and sources over
wheel horsn and Iriloe and over smoke
etacL anI f,II;nr swrors along the deck
whole horebns5. FIJI ot once The wnioht
too :. ;nn1nnyn a,,I 1gLon . fong and
heavy wave strikes broal>iIe araiDst the
vessel il i a. ofa hammer of 100 tons had
been let drive at i. L s1nashcs ion work.
and sn3,,s asrn9cr the strongest hands Of
o+o,l ,a'-;I,. : a .-t.r,,, ,-,- ~, np1 A.