The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-04
ROUGH WEATHER At SEA
The Tempe-tuous Voyage Of the 1domenc-An
Interesting story from Log Book.

On Jan. II the iron ship Idomene, Capt.
Casey, master, left Calcutta for New York, hav-
ing on board Full cargo, and a crew twenty
seven In number On March 20, latitude 90 %
south, longitude 90 A. west, the trouble began,
with variable squalls and storms Of heavy rain,
thunder and vivid lightning. The electric dis
play was binding In its briliancy. Itseemed as
though the flashes were a minute In duration,
and close did they come together that their
light was almost continuous. Upon the mast
heads and the yard arms played electric lights
like balls OF are, dancing from point to point,
1ckerirg like will o. the wisps over all the rig
cling. The Equator was crossed on March 20,
and from that time until April IS, when the
Idomene had reached latitude 300 2y north and
longitude roo 81 west, about $40 miles from
Sandy Hook, nothing remarkable TRANSFERRED;
but thenceforward, until a Sanky Hook pilot
was taken on board, Capt. Casey says that he
never saw such boisterous and unsettled
weather on this coast.
The log book tells the story, In the ain, as
follows: On April q the most furious storm Of
this tempestuous voyage was encountered, the
Idomene being on this date In the Gulf Stream,
q little more than a degree above the latitude Of
Hatteras. At noon, when the vessel was under
lower topsas and foreto mast stay sails, a hard
northerly gale was struck. very high and
confused sea WAS running. AS Cant. Casey sais,
tire One minute her Jibboom would be clear
under water and the next her stern would be
submerged. One half the time she was standing
nearly straight up, with one end pointed at the
sky and the other half equally az near straight
with the other end up. Twice tho entire jib.
boom was thrust down out OF sight In the sea"
Landsmcn may get some idea OF the violent
motion which was necessary To cause this sub
mergence from knowledge OF the fact at,
when riding on a calm sea, the point OF the lido
mene's JIoboom Is forty feet above the surface
OF the water and about TWENTY-FIVE above the
deck but one, moro gigantic than It's fellows,
dashed over the stern, seeming 10 seize the op-
portunity TO do so when the 1tbboom was strug-
Cling up toward the zenith, and very nearlv
made clean sweep Of all the belongings Of that
part Of the deck. 1t dashed away from his post
the man who was at the wheel, broke one spoke
OF the wheel, and fractured the rim, washed
away the gratings about the steering gear and
| the poop ladder, tore the pinnacle loose and
| hurled II along the deck. burst open the after
cabin doors, shiveting them aud the heavy teak
bar which held them, aud deluged the cabin
with water.
10 the northwest appeared at this time whirl-
Winds and water spouts, some OF the latter In
threatening proximity to the ve'sel One great
water spout burst. 1t was deemed five miles
away, yet the hot vapor II DISCHARGED swept over
the ships deck like steam from boiler, mo-
mentarily obscuring the sky. Fearing the power
OF tho whirlwnds. which sometimes tear the
masts out OF ships. even when no sails are set,
Can't. Casey took all necessary precau Tons. The
maintopsail was goose winged" and the fore
topmast aud mlzze1 staYsails were the only
| others set. Through all that night the storm
ragged and the sea ran high, compelling the
| keeping OF the ship on a port tack until she was
| driven LOO miles out OF her course toward the
| east.
| AT q o'clock on the morning Of April 2S the
storm had moderated, tut at 0 o'clock In the
| evening heavy squl lis set In and sudden shifts
OF wind attended by rain and terrific thunder
aud lightning. necessitated the fIrling Of the
! fore ana miZZen tOpsails aud the mainsa l..
W orse grew the weather that niaht aud durir z
the next 4 ", compelling the Turing Of the fore
sail and fore aud miZzen lower tou-ails Again
| the vesst WIS driven on to toe northeast. On
| Nav another northwestern gle was encount-
| cred before davbtelk, but later IN the dav the
| weather moderated, and that gfternOon, fifty
mile. from Sandy HoOk, "A pilot was t.ken on
! board.
| Yesterday afternoon the idomene was laid up
along side the Empire Doc, In safety.