The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-20
8, fssI aud aefucs

Wa wore not destined, however; 70 psss
.hrnuvh scpfteless, for on tho seconu wy ~
,ha cloudy oyeros It of thesky, togctnek WIZ. ~
~. u,arn;ng az that little guardsan7auEe,. ~, "
~ n,.riner.-tbe barometer-indlea,eu 'ne
w. aro hah;,;tv ,f storm. We prepared ior ~,
p " r,r,,,oasely for us that we ose, lor ere
s...nr bo,,rs elapsed one OF those terrific
InaS from whose clutch so few escape
~ tell the tale, came whirling upon us WIN
tpe ri,ry of a demon. The storm-k,ng
i. xraei ~ was abroad in all his wrath; bnt
our noble ship was prepared for the stfng-
ole. for we knew it would be fight Tor lie
or death. When the full force OF the gaze
frat struck her she staggered like l~tns
being in agony, but soon recovering hersen
rose IA the now mountainous waves, deper-
mined to do or die.
: The. shin was " hove tov on the starboara
tack, with the wind from the southwark aha
westward. which blew with force t!ae
st every momeat to tear the FIG
cling 70 pieces, while the huge waves, stas-
ecring like drunken men, hurled tneis
sledse. hammer blows against her Dows, ahu
deldsed her decks with torrents OF waeel
that swept everything not secured oeiao
them. tor
nado sweeping in mad fury over Inc earth,
Ieyelliue forests and crushing buildings III
il wild career; but the seaman only mas re-
allied the effect OF that greater power which
comes from the combined rage OF the Wand
and waves. "a 90
Such was the height Of the sea, and SO
deep did the ship roll beneath the curling
crests of the now increasing waves as they
broke over her, that several times thought
it impossible for her to recover, but rlsihs
from her Watery bath she shook the spray
from her bow and "scemed to dare Tue e'e-
ments to strike" aour
The scene was one of terrific grandeur
the white crests OF the waves rslItn go ou
breaking like so many ayalanches Oh t 49,,
Threatened to cngulf everything oelolo 49,
Night soon came on, but oroiiout ~ 49, ~
ment of the storm, which even ses art.uosS
increase in its wild fury. ahe iuey os., 49,
closed around the struggling snip, anu "as
broken ut intervals by the lurid stieAA'
which shot athwart the sky, AIDING Sran-
5eur and sublimity to the scene almost III
The wild. weird music of the wind as II
whistled through the straining cordase, to-
gether with the sursing swash OF tue na ,3
as they broke over the ships slde, Soulueo
like means from the regions Oh lhe Gun
demned.
The heavy rolling and pitching OF the YES.
sci prevented any sleep for that n'gh', as ~
was rs much rs any one could 90 10 ma,htaIn
their. status with all their wits ABOUT tnetn'
I ATTEMPTED to snatch few hours repose'
and sought my stateroom for tnat PURPOSE
but was suddenly awakened oy hndlns NY
,eIf hurled in the middle Of the moor,
- n,;yed upU in an endless confusion of
hairs. tables. books, &C., whittier had been
,ent by a sudden "lee lurch." finally gave
I uD az a bad job and reported on deck,
ybere the wind and waves still continued
heir Bachanaian revels, seeming deter
mined to root up the very foundations OF the
ieep.
This scene lasted until the next day, when,
,ayins reached the outer edge Of the cyclone,
re ran clear of it entirely, although the sea
on,inued quite rough for several days after.
1t is not always that vessels are attended
Nth such good luck on these occasions, and
nany good ship and noble crew have gone
own in their death struggles with these de-
mons Of destruction, with no one to hear
heir despairing cry save the lone sea bird,
which hoyers DER the laundering wreck.
,ut, fortunately for US, our ship was strong,
'ur captain was skilful in her management
nd we weathered the gale successfully.
One Of the most remarkable pecnllaritles
# these cyclones, or rotatory storms, Is that
whatever course they may take progressively
hey invariably whirl on their own axis
in the northern hemisphere) from rsght 10
eft, or against the sun-that IS, contrary 10
he movements of the hands Of watch.
This is also a peculiarly of all parasitlcal
plants in the same hemisphere. Let any OF
our readers notice the running vines IN bis
,arden, or hanging from his house-top, anu
&c will find them winding in spiral curves
lround their support from right to left-or,
against the hands of a watch. They may De
orced in an opposite direction and secured,
but in short time will inevitably resume
heir former course. Such is the perfection
If the Divine economy that the gossamer
bread which hangs from the maiden's bower
IS governed by the same laws that rules the
In their fury and guides the
planets in their orbits. :.
Several days after the storm terminated
we entered the "trade wind" region, and
were soon "bowling" along. with fresh
breezes aud smooth seas until we reached
the equatorial doldrums" or calm belts,
which Is one of the most disagreeable spots
on the globe. The dense, close atmosphere
is almost insuferable it Is refreshed occa-
by a Thunderstorm, during which
the rain pours down in perfect torrents; but
O hot. glowing sun soon heats it again, and
causes q degree of lassitude almost uncon-
querable. Fortunately we steamed over
these "belts," and soon arrived near the
slime" when we we're met by the fresh south
east trades, which brought with them splen-
beyond description.
~ ST. PAyL's ISLANDS.
On the morning Of the 9th of December
we sighted the Peuedos de San Pedro, or
St. Paups Isets, cluster of five or six
steep rocks entirely free from verdure ofany
kind, and almost W bite with the numberless
eggs deposited by sea birds. Myrlads of sea
foul Of every description lowered over the
submits with the most discordant screams
us we approached their babitations. 1t is a
great resort for numberless fish, which feed
around the rocks, and which are easily hook.
ed, us they bite very rapidly; but for every
three thus caught the sharks, which abound
here, and are very ravenous, will get two,
snatching them from the hooks ere you can
pull them on board.
These islands are most remarkable clus-
ter, and must have been caused by some
violent volcanic agency, as they are i've hum
bred miles from any land and no "sound-
Jugs" near them. They are rapidly
wasting away from the continual
wash Of the sea, which breaks against
them with great force. They are also
frequently used as target for tue great guns
of passing men-of.war, and on such occa.
sions there Is ruin and destruction carried
into the habitations Of the sea-fowls. Hav-
ing practiced with our guns for short time
We =" filled away" and kept on our journey