The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-10-15
A TY P H DON.
An American Mddy's Experience During the
Late Gale at NagaSaki.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE GALE.

GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE GALE.
The following extract from a letter written by
Midshipman M. A. Shuieldt OF the Hartford. to his
father. Captain r. W. Shufeldt, now stationed at
Annapolis, descriptive or the terrific typhoon which
swept over the harbor OF Nagasak last August,
VIII be found OF INTEREST,"
1 have lots or news; first and foremost comes the
great typhoon which swept over this CITY
about two weeks ago, the strongest one. accord
Ing to the Nagasaki Gazette and IN the mind OF the
coolest fnhabitanf. that this coast has seen for
seventy years. II you remember how completely
land-locked TINS harbor is, what good holding
ground. &c. you can better imagine the force OF
the gale. We 1.-THE HARTFORD were anchored in
about the middle OF the bay. with both bowers
down and forty i've fathoms Of chain on one and
thirty on the other. The bay was crowded with
vessels Of all descriptions merchantmen,
steamers and besides the Ashuelot, Kearsarge
and Saco, the Japanese ironcad Azuma Khan
1.-THE old SrOnewalp and three English gunboats.
At dusk 1t was overcast and rainy, with strong
pufs OF wind, the barometer falling rapidly. I
was standing on the forccaste about eight
p. NJ, and then 1t began to increase. and
/ could hear anchors being let go ana
chains veered all over the harbor. ran
below and took look at the barometer-2a.I1,
falling rapidly; at nine O'Clock 1851, and the
wind bowling and shrieking; our topgallantmasts
were on deck and everything snug aloft About
three bells we veered to sixty fathoms on both
chains, and brought up on both anchors with
sharp tug which started them both out OF the
mud and the ship dragged about two lengths
then let go the starbOard sheet and dragged in
about ten seconds more, when we fetched up on
the sheet, which brought the ship up and swung
on for an instant,
BROADsIDE TO THE WIND,
when, after fearful careen, she slowly rghted
and swung "head to-" Ten minutes after, with
barometer at 1881, the wind blowing so hard that
1t was utterly impossible to walk forward, except
to crawl on your belly, something white flashed
by, and away went our foretopgallant sail, saying
''good-by'' to the yard as neat as could be, the
latter being at the time dashed in the rtggng and
then, with gans OF distress firing all over the harbor
an immense black object doomed up on our port
bow and came down rapidly upon rs. when the
Admiral rushed to the port on the half deck and
sang out to stand by to veer on all chalns and to
let 60 the starboard sheet. Down came the i'm
mense steamer with three anchors down and GO
ing ahead with her engines full speed, still passing
us stern foremost at the rate OF about i've knots
an hour. l was standing aft, when heard Cap.
tain Dekra1t say, admiral she'll loul usl she'll
foul usp' A sudden, powerful pun OF wind, and
the gallant old Hartford brought up sharp on her
starboard anchors and swung slightly but rapidly
to starbOard, causing the dragging steamer to
sheer our quarter and carry away the gig. She
was soon lost in
THE PITCHY DARKNESS.
A few minutes after the Saco went by US steamin9
all her might and four anchors down. yet steadily
dragging on the rocks. Then the Kearsarge be-
gan to send on all kinds OF fireworks and
we saw the Ashuelot and German brig
which was athwart her hawser 60 drifting
OF. About eleven O'Clock the force OF the
wind was something terrifc-utterly impossible
to describe. At seven bells the barometer was
2S.13 The bowling Of the gale was so fearful that
1t was Impossible to hear a yell in your very ear.
and the rain came down like knife blades. We
heard the swapping OF the masts of an immense
Danish merchantmen, anchored little OIL our
starb0ard bow, where she evidently had parted
her chains. She went by us like FASH then two
immense junks came tearing down on US, and
striking our taut cables, were blown high
and dry on them, as 1t were, which caused us to
surge ahead, when the poor devils sank with their
living cargoes. One only came over our bow, with
head bleeding, and he sought protection. we
were now under full head OF steam, and slowly
dragging At twelve, with the barometer at 2S10.
1t fell almost calm for about two minutes then,
with o yell like
TEN THOUSAND DEMONS,
1t came out In exactly the opposite direction, ana
then, blowing all the time just as hard, followed
the compass right around. The Saco went by US
again, and the immense feet OF iunks went crash-
ing and sinking all over the harbor. Through the
almost impenetrable gloom l could make out the
Stonewan close aboard by the Fash or ner minute
guns Our ship rolled in the m0untain-lockcd
harbor OF Nagasaki as heavily as In heavy ocean
swell. About halEpast oneA M. the barometer
jumped from IS to 2s47 anu began rapidly to
rise. could not help but wonder at the great
power this little instrument had to relieve human
anxiety. The Admiraps face Of dull care immedi-
a,ely frightened, and in TACT all felt as II an inn
mense weight was lifted, for many thought that II
our anchors held we might be
RUN DOWN AND FoUNDERED.
The typhoon rapidly abated, and soon Tan
hands" had gone below to catch little rest dur
ing the few remaining hours The morning broke
clear and calm, but with wreck and destruction
on every side. The mast heads OF dozens OF junks
were visible sticking out OF the water all around
us. On the right hand rocky shore were piled
i've large steamships, the majority OF them blown
completely out OF their element, high and dry,
with masts and sails in inextricaDle confusion.
The majority Of the merchantmen had lost all
their masts and spars. One OF the largest foun-
dered at her anchors others total wrecks and piled
in every imaginable way on the rocks; the shores
lined with broken junks and sampans, and the
water
COVERED WITH DEAD BODIES
and debris OF every kind. The Stonewan had
parted both her chains and gone ashore and
flied, with large hole In her side. Ashore the
destruction was awful The solid stone "bundn
was torn to pieces, and the rocks and stones.
weighing on an average half ton apiece, thrown
across the street and into the gardens or the
houses facing. All the latter were down, including
the Governors new palace. The streets were
filed with timber, beams bricks, tiles, broken
limbs Of trees, and the whole city presenting on
every side wreck, desolation and death. The Japs
themselves were driven nearly wild. and go
around now with the longest faces In the word.
Poor fellowsl they deserve all the pity tmagina-
Bile. Eighty junks were sunk in this harbor alone