Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-02-20
Immense WaterspOut-An Almost Mi
raculOuS Escape.

The Rhine, a sailing vessel of 1,O06
tons, which recently arrived at New York
from London, encountered an immense
waterspout about 200 miles out. John
Richardson, one of the seamen, describes
the phenomenon thus:
followed the direction of his eyes, and
there, sure enough, not more than half
mile from us, was the biggest water spout
that | had ever seen in all my life. 1t
lowered above the ship at least two hun
dred feet, and seemed to be the breadth
Of half the ocean. 1t was coming toward
US like steam engine, and the water for
hundreds of yards ahead of it was
boiling like water in kettle. We
braced the yards around, put the wheel
hard-a- port, and did everything that
lay in our power to get out of the way of
the terrible destruction that was rushing
upon us. There wasn't breath of wind
stirring, and there we lay right in the
path of the water spout, unable to do the
least thing TO save ourselves from the
death that we felt sure must come in few
moments.
There were about seventy Storage pas
sengers with US, the most of whom were
women and children, and the way they
screamed and went on was enough to take
the heart out of any man. One old
woman caught me around the legs, and
begged of me for Gods sake to save her,
VIII lie every one was rushing around try
ing to find some shield from the approach
ing crash. The captain swOre and went
on terribly because we couldn't move an
inch, and seemed to be going out Of his
mind, for | saw him deliberately knock a
man down who was standing near him.
Some Of the men ran down the fOrecastle
ladder that they might not see themselves
die
What I have been telling you now all
occurred in mOment but the water
spout had come much nearer to US, and
we could hear the fearful hiss and splash
of the water as it came whirling on. Just
then | heard a young gentleman in the
cabin ask the captain If he had gun on
board. The captain said 'tNO," and the
young mans face turned as white as
show, and | saw him shake all over He
put his hand to his head and staggered to-
ward the main hatch, and in another mo-
ment he would have fallen down "tween"
decks, when suddenly there was a cry
from above that sounded like mailman
1t was heard above the loud roar Of the
surging water, and every eye was turned
in the direction that it. came from. 1t
came from ''shipmate" that we called
"Jack." He was a smart fellow on his
feet, and was a regular monkey among
the ropes when he got aloft in a storm.
There he was with a heavy block of
wood in his hands that he held above his
head, and was shouting for us to "stand
from underr' He was On the main-yard
arm, the yard that carries the "storm
sail" you know We all ran forward,
and when the coast was clear, "Jack" gave
the block swing and sent it down on
deck as quick IA dash. 1t struck
piece of sheet iron that was near the main
hatch, and made terrific report that
| sounded like a lannon's. We kept our
| eyes on him, for he seemed about to fall,
but he caught hold of the "port bowlines"
and regained his balance. Just then the
ship careened over on her beam ends,
lurched back again, and then stood steady
| as before. Nearly every one was thrown
| down, and some of the passengers were
| badly hurt. AS soon as we got upon our
| feet we saw no more of the water-spout,
but in its stead the whole sea was just as
white as though it was composed of soap
suds.
We felt that it was over, and that the
noble "Jack" had saved us by ais cool
headedness; but it was some time before
we could recover from the paralysis that
seemed to have stricken us US.
| When we did recover, we felt as only
men can feel who have been snatched
from the jaws of death. Work seemed
pleasure after that, for it reminded us
that we had life in us.
There were on board, counting the
officers, crew, and all, about $50 persons,
and if that spout had struck us it would
have sent us, ship and all, to the bottom
of the sea, and no one could have known
what sunk us Ever since that day have
been convinced that the City Of Boston
was lost in this manner.
l suppose the water that was in the air
would have weighed 10000 tons; it
couldn't have been less; and as there was
a brig sailing, ten miles from US, in the
direction of the water spout's course, and
no one on board saw it, it must have
formed between us two, and reached its
immense proportions in about half an
| uour.
The following is given as the exact
composition of the Prussian House Of
Commons: National Liberals, 116; Con-
servatives, 50; Centre, So; Progressists,
As; New Conservatives, Gust formed), Al ;
Free Conservatives, SO; Poles, 10; indie
pendent, II; Liberal Centre, II; seats va