The New York herald., 1874-12-04
A TYPHOON OF THE PAST.
Extract from . Private Journal.
UN1TRD STATES FRIGAFE MINNEsOTA


UNITED STATES FRIaArE M1NNEs0rA,l
Oct. 81, 1856. I
Only thousand miles from the haven where We
would be, and all bright and hopeful for what is
thousand miles to those who have noated 30
many since We lett the capes OF tine chesapeake
more than three months agoY The word '.noat',
b the very one, for except the westwardly gales
or the Cape OF Good Hope, which are In more
senses than one De ri0geuy, we have truly sailed
upon summer sea. Alas however, for those
who 60 down to the sea, especially che China sea,
IN shipsI TIE yyphoon season. as We thought, was
over, for we are on the edge Of Novem-
ber, when. unless exceptionally, the books
say they are not. Last night at sunset
was walking, as is my custom Of an afternoon,
with the captain on the poop. 1t was warm, bus
not oppressively SO, and the sun went down in
heavy banks OF rather rose-tinted cloudsS heavy
swell setting from the southward. The midsnip-
man on duty reported q sudden fall or the barom-
eter-Tay Toriceiii, or whoever it was who In
vented those inches OF mercury, be forever
biessed-had suddenly iallen from 80 to 2a7s,
and not long arterwards to 2013-2o.l5 Is typhoon
range. The royal yards and other light spars
we're sent down, and the shot, which In good
weather ostentatousiy strewed the deck, went 70
cnange. that / am aware Of was made
during the night, which, however, was an
strong beszs 5n
sgnlncant in the weather till ABOUT eleven A. M,
when the barometer made another great iall
the WIND, with rain, blowing nercety. From mo-
Ment to moment the war OF the elements In
creased. Then began . series OF precautions,
rapidly but deliberately made. which plainly
showed what was expected and feared. Snot
and anchors housed, ports closed and at laat
darsness 7Se 1s se
only SAIL set when the fury OF the tempest broke,
was blown to pieces, ana the bolt rope, which was
SHOWN to me the next day as curiosity,
wan twisted by the force OF the wind
down by the force OF the wind, aud the thunder,
which during both night and day was incessant,
was almost lnaudlble In the superior noise OF the
elements below. The sailors could not be got aioit,
Men were knocked down by the iorce OF the wind
rushing through the spar deck ports, and the
omcers had to crawl under the guns to get from
one part Oh the ship TO another. The engine, our
and, though severely tried, never gave way or
paused for q moment. Here, too was the great
danger, Tor had the masts gone, and thanks to
Kentucky protected hemp) they were always In
have been ouled and torn out the stern Of the ship.
All day and all the early night did the Engineer
in.Chle1 stand with his hands on that part OF the
machine which stops Its motion, ready. without
ORDERS 10 arrest IL the instant he saw the masts
30. between seven and ten at night, having
lasted more than twelve hours, 1t was at the
worst. The captain has told me since he had no
nope OF saving the masts, and with the masts
must have gone the ship. Bedtime brought no
consolation, and all that had no duty, II they
slept slept from exhaustion. About Inidnlght
came the glad news that the mercury mad made
4 marvellous Jump upwards and the storm was
Ibreaking. and presently the moon shone out, look
ing down on an almost wrecked snip yesterday
90 proud In her strength ana beauty, and an ex.
1,nauated crew. And so ended my day and night Of
f-s typhoon, and may never see or feel another.