Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-10-16
gos Suseles Arrald-
Report of tn. ship olm.ra.

Captain Roy, of the ship Oimara,
which arrived from Liverpool at
this port yesterday, furnishes the
following interesting report of the
voyage:
Left Liverpool on June 9Th. Had
4 GOOD run out of the channel. but
very light winds from there to the
Equator, which we crossed in 2So
vest on the 9th of July. Thence to
Cspe Horn had good run. Passed
Staten Land Aug. I'd, So days out.
on the Sd of August, in latitude 5Se
eouth, longitude go west, had q
heavy gale from the Westward
with snow squalls in quick success
sion. At 1880 A. M. on the 4th the
chip was brilliantly lighted up
With st. Elmo's fire, or Jack-o-lan-
terms, ~ they are called. At each
masthead was large ball OF fire,
very much resembling an electric
light, but of O softer, bluer appear
ance. On all the weather yard
arms, from the lower topsail yards
up, were other large fire balls,
while up the lifts along the foot
ropes, topmast and topgallant rig
cling aud weather side OF the masts
were covered with small star-like
lights. Those on the masts clus-
tered together and moved into each
other, forming, as it were, q band
Of fire. A large light hung at the
raft end, while ali along the chain
span was lined with smaller lights.
The night had previously been
pitchy dark, but during this dis
play the ship Ito use one Of the
sailors similes) was lighted up
like music hall; every rope was
distinctly visible. The snow at
this time was flying through the
rigging In dense clouds, but did not
seem to touch or in any way affect
the lights. This lasted for about
twenty minutes, during which the
chip presented a strange, weird
sight. When the squall began to
Abate the lights entirely disap-
peared.
A few of these fire balls III they
may be termed such) are COM
mon occurrence at sea but this was
q very exceptional one. Amongst
some they are regarded as the pres
curs0rs OF bad wheather,a and In this
instance the general opinion was
amply verified as from that date
until the Goth Aug, nothing was
encountered but u succession OF
heavy gales from the westward,
with snow, hail, and sleet and ac-
companied by an intensity of cold
rarely experienced in that part OF
the world, the ship being covered
with snow and ice to such an ex-
tent as to make it matter of ex.
treme difficulty to manage, as a
number of the crew were laid up
through frost bites and injuries re-
ceived about the decks.
On the Goth had q snow-storm
from the southeast which lasted
thirty-six hours, after which the
weather was much milder, although
hard westerly gales still prevailed.
August 2sth, in latitude So south,
crossed the Equator in the Pacific
in 116e west. September Ath, 100
days out, thence to latitude go
north longitude 1852 west, had
nothing but light, battling winds
from northeast to north. Tackled
on the 9Th inst, and as we ap-
preached the land, found the winds
veer to northwest. Sighted Santa
Rosa on the 18th and arrived here
on the 18th inst, all we'll. On the
26th of September, latitude 10
north longitude 1879 west, passed a
boats mast with sail attached;
also the broken top-m asst of q large
vessel, apparently not long in the
water. Next day passed some
wreckage-boards, barrels, ETC.;
nothing else to be seen from aloft.
Aug. 18th sigualled British
barque "Aconcsgua," from Liver
pool, 90 days out, in latitude so
south, $50 west.
Aug. 18th signalled large iron
ship showing v. r. D. F., latitude
So south, longitude $50 west; also
American ship showing 1T. F. H.,
Baltimore to San Francisco, 40
days out, latitude 10 south, longi-
tude 20 west.
WILLIAM Roy.